Poor Hope is a big dog with a big problem. Itching. Hope suffers from watery gunky eyes, yellow runny nose and red raw ears. She can’t seem to leave them alone and is constantly licking and scratching.
When Lynne brings Hope to the Pet Shame Clinic, Marc gets to work straight away and rules out fleas and other conditions to arrive at a diagnosis of house dust mite allergy. House dust mites are very common and very prolific. Marc suggests that amongst other treatments, Lynne acquires a dehumidifier. House dust mite colonies start becoming dehydrated when humidity is 60% or less, so a dehumidifier helps by stopping their reproduction and eventually killing them off.
Hope is also booked to start a program of immunotherapy whereby the offending allergen is identified and then used to make a vaccine which is injected every month to build up resistance. These ‘de-sensitising’ injections can take up to a year to be fully effective but are a big step towards tackling the problem. Hope is also off to the dog grooming parlour where she gets a medicated shampoo and blow dry.
Back at home Lynne is working even harder at a thorough routine of vacuuming, wiping and cleaning and has installed the recommended air filter and dehumidifier. When Hope returns to the Clinic to see Marc he sees a significant improvement and a more ‘rested’ Hope.
PDSA Senior Vet, Sean Wensley, says: “Excessive licking or scratching can indicate ill health in pets. Having irritated skin can be very distressing and it is important that the reason for the itchiness is found. This requires a visit to the vet. As in Hope’s case, common causes of scratching, such as fleas, need to be ruled out first. Flea infestations are common, so owners should talk to their vet about effective flea control. In Hope’s case, a different parasite – the house dust mite – was diagnosed as the cause of her problem, and she needed treatment to control her allergic response.”
For further information on caring for dogs, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/dogs.
