Help stop the itch
There’s no cure for atopic dermatitis in dogs. But if you’re committed to your dog, it can be successfully managed.
Probably the most important thing that will help stop the itch is to follow your vet's advice closely and make sure any treatment is kept up and given on time. Don't stop treatments unless you are advised to do so by your vet. Without treatment signs will almost certainly come back, and that will mean the return of misery for you and your dog. It is also important to have regular check ups so that your vet can check for other factors like infections which could make your dog more itchy.
Long-term, your vet may also ask you to make allergen avoidance a major part of caring for your pet. See prevention tips for advice on how to do this. Our allergen locator may also be useful in finding out where most allergens are found around the home.
Help stop the itch>>
Prevention tips
Your vet may ask you to make allergen avoidance a major part of caring for your pet. This depends on whether it has been possible to identify the allergen(s) causing your dog’s problem and whether it is possible to eliminate these allergens. Pollens, for example, get everywhere and can be very difficult if not impossible to avoid. However, as one of the most common allergens is the house dust mite, you could
• Wash your dog's bedding regularly
• Wash soft furnishings regularly
• Prevent your dog from spending time in the bedroom (a favourite place for house dust mites)
• Vacuum frequently with a high efficiency particle air (HEPA) filter vacuum cleaner
• Use air dehydration and purification systems
• Use insecticides effective against house dust mites
In addition, it’s a good idea to ensure careful flea control at all times, as flea bites could cause a flare to occur, particularly if your dog is allergic to flea bites.
In some cases, these measures may be sufficient to reduce your pet's exposure to allergens enough to prevent itching.
If a food allergy is a possible cause of your dog’s atopic dermatitis, your vet may carry out a food elimination trial to find out which foods your dog is allergic to. Once identified, you can prevent flare-ups of atopic dermatitis by eliminating these foods from your dog’s diet .
Prevention Tips>>
Allergen locator
Find out where most allergens are found around the home so you can reduce the impact they have on your dog.
Allergen Locator>>
Effects on the family
Obviously, if you’ve got an itchy dog, you and your family will be feeling the effects too. No-one likes to see their pet suffering, so finding out what could be the cause of your dog’s itchiness is a great place to start. Use our quick quiz Atopic dermatitis test to see if the itching could be due to atopic dermatitis, the most common cause of skin disease.
It’s also an unpleasant fact that if your dog is itching, you and your family may find you’re itching too. Parasites such as fleas, mange and fungal infections such as ringworm all cause itchiness in dogs and can affect humans too, so it’s wise to get any itchy dog seen by a vet as quickly as possible.
Effects on the family>>
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
E45.com offers advice on children with dry skin and eczema
One in five children in the UK suffers from dry skin and eczema. Atopic eczema is the most common type of eczema in children. Thought to run in families, it can begin in babies from six weeks old and continue throughout childhood. Approximately two thirds of children will have 'grown out' of eczema by puberty.
Eczema in Children
Triggers for flare-ups in children are similar to those of adults, but you might want to watch out for the following too:
Triggers
• Soft toys -Wash teddies and soft toys regularly.
• Chlorine in swimming pools - Avoid chlorinated pools, look for ozone- or UV-purified, salt-water or fresh-water alternatives. Apply emollients before and after swimming.
• Certain foods e.g. milk and eggs - Consult your child's doctor or dietician if a food allergy is suspected.
Stress is a trigger, so keep an eye on your child's emotional state, particularly relating to stressful periods such as exam time at school.
Sources(last accessed May 2010)
Managing your child's eczema
When you have a baby or child with eczema, family life can be disrupted. Itching can sometimes cause sleep disturbance and flare-ups can add to the concern. Your child may not like being cuddled and may demand attention which can affect family dynamics.
Once children reach school age, their performance may be affected by lack of sleep and teasing if their eczema is obvious. Swimming and gym lessons can also be difficult for them. However, it is important that they are encouraged to lead as normal a school life as possible. Discussing your child's condition and treatments with their teacher at the beginning of the school year is a good idea, too.
Eczema management strategies for children
Most important of all, establishing an overall eczema management strategy early on and keeping to it can really help minimise symptoms. Eczema management strategies for children are basically the same as for adults:
• Help them avoid triggers when possible, especially soaps and perfumed bath or shower products. (Click here for more information on triggers.)
• Continue daily use of emollients between flare-ups, even when skin appears to be back to normal. (Click here for more information on emollients)
• If itching is a problem use an itch relief cream.
• Use steroid creams as specified by your healthcare professional.
• Keep hydrated: try drinking six to eight glasses of water a day.
• Stick to their management strategy and help them stay positive.
Don't let them scratch
Eczema can cause intense itching and your child may want to scratch. But scratching releases histamine, a chemical that makes the skin even itchier. This is referred to as 'the itch-scratch cycle'.
Managing Child Eczema
If itchy skin is a problem for your child, your healthcare professional may recommend an itch relief cream suitable for use by children. This both calms the itch and gently moisturises the skin.
Not letting your child scratch can seem impossible at times, but it is important because scratching can easily become an unconscious long-term habit. Keeping their nails cut short is essential and, if they simply have to scratch, gently pinch or pat the itchy area instead.
Here are a few other things you can try:
• Put 'scratch mittens' on babies.
• Put a cooling, damp flannel on the itchy area, try ice cubes or frozen peas in a dry cloth.
• Distract them with another activity e.g. a book, video or game.
• Praise older children for not scratching, rather than tell them off when they do.
Sources (last accessed May 2010)
Eczema in Children
Triggers for flare-ups in children are similar to those of adults, but you might want to watch out for the following too:
Triggers
• Soft toys -Wash teddies and soft toys regularly.
• Chlorine in swimming pools - Avoid chlorinated pools, look for ozone- or UV-purified, salt-water or fresh-water alternatives. Apply emollients before and after swimming.
• Certain foods e.g. milk and eggs - Consult your child's doctor or dietician if a food allergy is suspected.
Stress is a trigger, so keep an eye on your child's emotional state, particularly relating to stressful periods such as exam time at school.
Sources(last accessed May 2010)
Managing your child's eczema
When you have a baby or child with eczema, family life can be disrupted. Itching can sometimes cause sleep disturbance and flare-ups can add to the concern. Your child may not like being cuddled and may demand attention which can affect family dynamics.
Once children reach school age, their performance may be affected by lack of sleep and teasing if their eczema is obvious. Swimming and gym lessons can also be difficult for them. However, it is important that they are encouraged to lead as normal a school life as possible. Discussing your child's condition and treatments with their teacher at the beginning of the school year is a good idea, too.
Eczema management strategies for children
Most important of all, establishing an overall eczema management strategy early on and keeping to it can really help minimise symptoms. Eczema management strategies for children are basically the same as for adults:
• Help them avoid triggers when possible, especially soaps and perfumed bath or shower products. (Click here for more information on triggers.)
• Continue daily use of emollients between flare-ups, even when skin appears to be back to normal. (Click here for more information on emollients)
• If itching is a problem use an itch relief cream.
• Use steroid creams as specified by your healthcare professional.
• Keep hydrated: try drinking six to eight glasses of water a day.
• Stick to their management strategy and help them stay positive.
Don't let them scratch
Eczema can cause intense itching and your child may want to scratch. But scratching releases histamine, a chemical that makes the skin even itchier. This is referred to as 'the itch-scratch cycle'.
Managing Child Eczema
If itchy skin is a problem for your child, your healthcare professional may recommend an itch relief cream suitable for use by children. This both calms the itch and gently moisturises the skin.
Not letting your child scratch can seem impossible at times, but it is important because scratching can easily become an unconscious long-term habit. Keeping their nails cut short is essential and, if they simply have to scratch, gently pinch or pat the itchy area instead.
Here are a few other things you can try:
• Put 'scratch mittens' on babies.
• Put a cooling, damp flannel on the itchy area, try ice cubes or frozen peas in a dry cloth.
• Distract them with another activity e.g. a book, video or game.
• Praise older children for not scratching, rather than tell them off when they do.
Sources (last accessed May 2010)
Monday, 10 January 2011
Atopica.com offers free downloadable information for Vets on dog skin conditions
The free downloadable leaflets include the Atopica brochure, a true cost factsheet, a discomfort of Atopic Dermatitis factsheet, Get comfortable with Atopica dermatitis factsheet, Talking long term care factsheet, and a simple diagnosis factsheet.
The Atopica brochure includes a study carried out by PD Dr med vet Claude Favrot Dip ECVD, MsSc. Dr Favrot is a board-certified dermatologist based at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. He has a particular interest in atopic dermatitis and recently led a study which looked at over 1500 pruritic dogs, to identify factors that might aid in the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis.
Research shows that prior to a vet recommending Atopica, it’s tough being the owner of a pruritic dog and that, when asked, 86% of owners of atopic dogs said they felt frustrated and helpless. 44% of dog owners left their original vet and stayed with the one who prescribed Atopica. Help owners with a simple solution and prescribe Atopica with confidence.
The site also offers information on three clinical case studies. The case studies include the history of the dog, its clinical signs, final diagnosis and treatment.
Atopica.com also offers information on diagnosis techniques such as coat brush, food trial, Trichogram, deep skin scraping, superficial skin scraping, impression smear, swabs and tape strip.
There are also two documents available outlining product information on Atopica and Capster.
Free downloads>>
The Atopica brochure includes a study carried out by PD Dr med vet Claude Favrot Dip ECVD, MsSc. Dr Favrot is a board-certified dermatologist based at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. He has a particular interest in atopic dermatitis and recently led a study which looked at over 1500 pruritic dogs, to identify factors that might aid in the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis.
Research shows that prior to a vet recommending Atopica, it’s tough being the owner of a pruritic dog and that, when asked, 86% of owners of atopic dogs said they felt frustrated and helpless. 44% of dog owners left their original vet and stayed with the one who prescribed Atopica. Help owners with a simple solution and prescribe Atopica with confidence.
The site also offers information on three clinical case studies. The case studies include the history of the dog, its clinical signs, final diagnosis and treatment.
Atopica.com also offers information on diagnosis techniques such as coat brush, food trial, Trichogram, deep skin scraping, superficial skin scraping, impression smear, swabs and tape strip.
There are also two documents available outlining product information on Atopica and Capster.
Free downloads>>
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