DENVER -- May 22,2008

On Sunday we were enjoying a sunny morning in the yard when suddenly, "AH-CHOO!" I sneezed. "What is all this fluffy white stuff floating around?" I complained. "It's making me sneeze!"

Marianne laughed and said "It's cotton from the cottonwood trees in the neighborhood. Some people sneeze because they are allergic to it, but I think it just tickles your nose."

I sneezed again and wondered, do animals have allergies? So I asked my vet, Dr. Vicksman. Coincidentally, he is a guest once a month on our Saturday morning news, and his topic this week happens to be allergies!

PARKER: Hey Dr. V! Do animals have allergies?

DR. V: Yes, they certainly do. One major symptom in dogs is itchy skin, though humans don't always realize that an allergy is causing it.

PARKER: Huh. Are there other signs of allergies in dogs besides itchy skin? Do they sneeze, get watery eyes, or have other symptoms?

DR. V: Itchy skin is the most common sign. Other clinical signs include ear infections, rashes, skin infections, but rarely respiratory and ocular signs, like sneezing and watery eyes. I don't think you're allergic to cottonwood trees, Parker.

PARKER: Huh. So what are dogs allergic to? Grass? Sticks? Cats?

DR. V: Food allergies represent about 20% of all allergies diagnosed. The other 80% are inhalant and contact.

PARKER: *GASP* FOOD?!?? ALL food? Not food! Oh my Dog, that's horrible! FOOD?!?!

DR.V: Parker, calm down! The allergy isn't to all food, just some of the ingredients.

PARKER: Whew, OK, I was really worried. I mean, FOOD. Jeez. I'm a Labrador, you don't joke around about food. *deep breath* I think I'm OK now. So what do you do for a food allergy?

DR. V: When we suspect a food allergy we put dogs on limited antigen diets or hydrolyzed diets and these are called hypoallergenic diets.

PARKER: Uh, can you Sesame Street that for me, Dr. V?

DR V: Oops, sorry. Limited antigen diets contain one source of protein that is rarely found in commercial dog food, often mixed with potato. For example, instead of beef, chicken or lamb and corn or wheat, the food would be duck and potato, venison and potato, or rabbit and potato.

PARKER: Stop, you're making me drool! What was the other diet you mentioned?

DR. V: A hydrolyzed diet is digested into such small particles that the body can not be allergic to it. These diets are prescription diets and are available through veterinarians only. When dogs go on a hypoallergenic diets they should be under veterinary supervision and they must go on these diets exclusively for 2 to 3 months to evaluate their response.

PARKER: Honestly? The first option sounds better. Duck and potato, yum. So if the human suspects his dog has an allergy but isn’t sure, should he try to figure it out on his own or take the dog to the vet? What information do you need to figure out what the allergy is?

DR. V: If the owner suspects an allergy it's best to have the dog checked by a veterinarian. Many times it can be difficult for us to know what the dog is allergic to without getting into advanced diagnostics like skin testing. Probably the most helpful information for the veterinarian is: Where does the dog itch and when did it start? Is it seasonal? Are other dogs or family members itchy? Is the dog licking itself? What is the dog's exposure to other dogs?

PARKER: So if I was allergic to my kibble and Marianne had to pick a different food, how would she know what to choose? The dog food section at the store is HUGE!

DR. V: That's a good question to ask the dog's vet because the answer is going to be different for each dog. I know you're hoping I'll tell Marianne you need to switch to duck and potato, but I think you're doing fine on your current kibble.

PARKER: Rats. Hey, what about treats? Oh no, can the allergic dogs still get treats?

DR. V: Sure, dogs can be allergic to the ingredients in treats just like they are allergic to the ingredients in kibble or canned food. Now don't panic, Parker, there are prescription hypoallergenic treats available.

PARKER: Thank goodness! What about my kitty friends? Do they get allergies too?

DR. V: Yes, we suspect that cats do have the same allergies, although it's a little different for them. Cats get itchy skin and lip sores that we suspect are caused by allergies. They also get allergic bronchitis, which can cause them to have difficulty breathing, like asthmatics. We also suspect that this is from allergens they breath in the air.

PARKER: What about other animals like hamsters or rats or birds or snakes?

DR. V: Although I only treat dogs and cats I believe its safe to assume that all mammals get allergies. As for reptiles and birds I am not sure but again I suspect that they do.

PARKER: Thanks for answering all my questions! I'll be sure to watch 7News this Saturday from 7-9 a.m. to hear what else you have to say about allergies.

Chow for now!

Parker

Questions or comments for Parker? Send them to Call7ForHelp@TheDenverChannel.com.

Would you like more information about Canine Companions for Independence, or puppy raising? Call 1-800-572-BARK or go to www.cci.org for details.