An issue not to be sneezed at; RECORD PETS.

Byline: NEIL McINTOSH

MANY conditions which occur in humans have very similar symptoms and treatment when we see them in dogs.

Unfortunately, this is not true for allergies. In humans, inhaled allergies, such as hay fever, result in sneezing, gastro-intestinal symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea and tummy pain.

In dogs, both types produce itchy skin. This makes diagnosing the cause of allergies in canines very difficult. The situation is made worse by the fact that many allergic dogs will develop other conditions as a result.

Their inflamed skin is more easily invaded by bacteria and yeasts that can create even more itching and redness.

Face rubbing and foot chewing then spreads these bugs to other sites so that, eventually, patients don't look like allergy cases at all.

Just to complicate matters even more, mites such as sarcoptes and demodex or the fungal infection ringworm may take advantage of the damaged skin and cause infection. It is often only when treatment for these conditions fails that it is appreciated that allergy is the root cause.

With the exception of flea allergy, inhaled allergy is the most common allergic skin disease seen in dogs, affecting about 15 per cent of the population.

The most likely causes, or allergens, are grass, tree and weed pollens, house dust and house dust mite.

As a result, inhaled allergy frequently has a seasonal incidence, peaking around the summer months in a similar manner to human hay fever. However, the house dust mite factor can keep it going all year.

Typically, inhaled allergy is first seen in dogs when they are over one year old, as previous exposure to allergens is needed to allow the condition to occur.

Breeds most often affected includes Westies, Cairns, Labradors and German Shepherds.

Food allergies are even more awkward. They can occur immediately after eating problem foods or days later. Owners often blame newly-introduced foodstuffs but, on most occasions, dogs only become allergic to dietary components that they have been eating for more than two years.

The most common causes are beef, wheat and milk, but we have found allergies to rice, soya and even duck.

Many dogs are affected by both inhaled and food allergy so that their symptoms are worse in summer, when the pollen count is high, and never quite disappear over winter because the diet problem rumbles on.

If your dog is affected and you dread the scratching that is just around the corner, there is now a blood test available that can diagnose the allergens that create the problem.

By discovering these and reducing the number in your dog's environment, you may not cure the condition, but you might reduce it to an acceptable level.

Write to Neil the Vet at: Daily Record, One Central Quay, Glasgow G3 8DA with any pet queries or issues you would like him to address.

SHOW NEWS

APRIL 6: Scottish Dachshund Club's 100th Year Championship Show in Easterbrook Pavilion, Creighton Royal Estate, Dumfries. Labrador Club of Scotland's Championship show in Magnum Leisure Centre, Harbourside, Irvine. Dalmatian Club of Scotland's Championship Show in Loreburn Hall, Dumfries.

April 7: Scottish Collie Club's Open Show in Cochrane Hall, Alva. Scottish Siberian Husky Club's Open Show in Hareleeshill Sports Barn, Donaldson Road, Larkhall. Poodle Club of Scotland's Open Show in Corn Exchange, Haddington. Angus and Kincardineshire Canine Association's Limited Show in Arbroath Community Centre. Machars Canine Club's Open Show in Stranraer Millennium Centre.

April 10: Tayside, Lochee and District Canine Club's Evening Limited Show in Arbroath Community Centre.