1 / 20

WELCOME…

WELCOME…. CiTi VET. ITCHY PETS? SCRATCHING BENEATH THE SURFACE. Presented by : Dr. Peter van der Merwe. CiTi VET. WHAT IS ITCHINESS?. The desire to scratch, lick, rub, chew and nibble at skin surface in response to chemical stimulus.

abby
Download Presentation

WELCOME…

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. WELCOME… CiTiVET

  2. ITCHY PETS? SCRATCHING BENEATH THESURFACE Presented by : Dr. Peter van derMerwe CiTiVET

  3. WHAT IS ITCHINESS? • The desire to scratch, lick, rub, chew and nibble at skin surface in response to chemical stimulus. • Itchiness causes discomfort and decreases pet’s quality of life. • “An itchy pet is an unhappy pet” • Usually living with a frustrated owner

  4. THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF ITCHING: • External parasites : • Fleas • Mange mites • Lice

  5. Common causes of itching • Allergies: • Atopy (hayfever) • Caused by interaction of abnormal • Skin barrier genes • Immune function genes • Exposure to allergens & pathogens • Allergens incl house dust, dust & storage mites, pollens, moulds • Characterised by initial seasonal occurrence & “flare ups” • Flea bite allergy • Abnormal response to flea saliva • Often worse in atopic individuals • Food • Itchy skin sometimes with digestive upsets • Usually non seasonal -> ears, rears, paws • Contact allergies • Very rare,

  6. Bacteria Skin infections • Staphylococcus • Streptococcus • Yeast (Malessia)

  7. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SKIN? NORMAL SKIN

  8. NORMAL SKIN

  9. Inflamed skin

  10. Treatment Flea control • Adulticides on pet e.g Frontline, Advantage, Practic • Capstar • Enviromental control pyrethroids and methoprene • Sprays -> Flego, Ultrum Duration Treatment of mange mites • Revolution • Advocate • Amitraz dips such as Amitrax, Triatix Control skin infections • Bacteria – Anti bacterial shampoos and wipes • Antibiotics • Yeast – Shampoos • Anti Fungals (egKetazol)

  11. Treatment • Allergic skin disease • Atopy • Can’t be cured, only controlled • Multimodal approach is essential • First control parasite & microorganism infections • High quality diet especially fish based -> hypoallergenic formulations are best • Omega 3 supplementation • Barrier treatments • Allerderm – decreases secondary infections, less effect on itchiness • Shampoo – best is Allermyl but physical action of washing is most important, bath 1-2x weekly • Topical -> new cortisone spray Cortavance

  12. Treatment • Corticosteroids • Best given as short acting tablets eglenisilone • Many side effects including weight gain, urinary tract infections, increase risk of skin infections, decrease in bone and muscle strengths • Safe annual dose calculated as 30x dog’s body weight in milligrams of steroid i.e. 10 kg dog can take 300 mg of steroid over a year

  13. Treatment • Cyclosporin • New drug being launched today • Long term control not for use in controlling acute flare ups • Side effects • Very Expensive • Vomiting in approximately 30% of patients • Hriutism, gingival hyperplasia, urinary tract infections • Rare s/e unmasking systemic infections e.g. fungal infections and Toxoplasmosis • In humans may increase risk for lymphoma (cancer) – not proven in dogs

  14. Treatment • Antihistamines • Only work in 10% of patients • Generally safe and used with other treatments especially cortisone. • Main side effect is sedation but should be used with caution in animals with glaucoma, heart disease, urinary bladder problems

  15. Treatment • Immunotherapy • Based on blood tests of IgE levels • Problem ->approximately 30% of atopic dogs do not have raised IgE levels • Test does not indicate if raised IgE is causing symptoms, merely that IgE level is high • HOWEVER immunotherapy is the only treatment that allows us to reverse part of the pathology, works for majority of patients, reasonable cost

  16. Treatment • If all else fails • Gabbapentin -> acts on nerve endings • Maropitant (Cerenia) -> substance P • Pentoxfyline • Prayer

  17. Food Allergies • Diet trail essential for diagnosis, blood tests are inaccurate • Diagnosis confirmed by provocative exposure • List of common food allergens include • Beef, lamb, chicken • Soya • Maize, rice, wheat • avoid all protein treats, faeces (cat poop!!) • Commercial diet trail foods are superior to home cooked diets • Treatment -> avoid offending foods

  18. Acknowledgements • Thanks once again to all our client who continue to support us • Gennavan der Merwe • Tamsen Maritz • Royal Canin • Afrivet • Citivetstaff

  19. Questions?? • Itching to get answers??

More Related