Editor’s note: The University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital is a sponsor of Chambanamoms.com.
By Dr. Canaan Shores, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
Did you know even hairless animals can have skin and ear allergies? Well, now you do!
Meet Chunk, a middle-aged Sphynx cat that recently visited the urgent and convenient care service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Chunk’s owner noticed discharge coming from his ears. Chunk had also been rubbing his ears on his owner, shaking his head, and generally not feeling well.
Skin and ear allergies (the veterinary term for this is “atopic dermatitis”) are common among cats and dogs. Some pets, like Chunk, have inflammation only in their ears, while others have only skin problems. Very unlucky pets may have both ear and skin irritation. For the pets, allergies can be mildly annoying, downright painful, or anywhere in between.
“Otitis externa” — literally, inflammation, irritation or infection of the outer ear canal — typically causes excessive shaking of the head and pawing at the ears. Some pets will rub their ears on objects around the house to try to alleviate the discomfort. Pet owners often detect discharge, as well as a peculiar (and sometimes foul!) odor, from the ears.
Dermatitis, or inflammation of the skin, may bring about excessive scratching. Pets may rub their face, lick their paws, or directly scratch their skin. Cat owners may notice their pets overgrooming. Hair loss, redness of the skin, scabs, and wounds all may indicate skin allergies.
(A quick note: Ear and skin problems can be complex and stem from multiple causes. This brief article focuses only on atopic dermatitis, the most common cause of these problems.)
What causes skin allergies in pets? Some pets have a genetic predisposition to developing atopic dermatitis due to abnormalities of their skin and a heightened immune response to allergens.
On a microscopic level, the normal mechanisms that keep foreign material, such as pollen, molds, and dust, from getting into the inner layers of the skin break down or are not present. Because of this, these common substances make their way into the skin, where they are detected by the immune system. The immune system senses foreign material and launches an inflammatory reaction to the perceived threat.
Treatment of skin and ear allergies is varied and often requires multiple types of therapy used at the same time. In pets that are genetically predisposed to allergies, the condition cannot be cured. Rather, it must be managed throughout the pet’s life.
Thankfully, there have been many advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis, so most pets with this condition are able to live a happy and healthy life. Typically, primary care veterinarians are adept at addressing these concerns, but some pets require referral to a board-certified veterinary dermatologist, who specializes in diseases of the skin and ears. There are two dermatology specialists, Drs. Stephanie Bruner and Clarissa Souza, at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
So, what became of Chunk? He responded well to having his ears cleaned and receiving an administration of a long-acting ear medication.
And we think he enjoyed all the treats he received throughout his visit, too!
The University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital offers a full range of emergency, specialty, urgent, and primary care for dogs and cats, horses, zoological companion animals, and farm animals within its Large and Small Animal Clinics and Veterinary Medicine South Clinic.
The Urgent and Convenient Care service, led by Dr. Canaan Shores, is located in the South Clinic, 2100 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, across Hazelwood Drive from the Large and Small Animal Clinics. The Urgent and Convenient Care service sees dogs and cats. Its hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 217-244-2555 if you need to see the urgent care veterinarian.