Month: December 2020

Posted on by — 4 Comments

DITCH THE ITCH – Canine Atopic Dermatitis FAQ Guide

Scratches, Itches, and the hell of hair loss, there often comes a moment when your pet is really irritated and tired of scratching because something on their skin (or maybe inside) keeps bothering them. Is your pet annoyed and itchy? Does it have constant irritation on the skin? Why is this happening? What’s wrong? Let’s find out! In this mini-FAQ guide, we will share with you the causes, effects, and treatment of this vicious cycle of skin irritation.

Tanvi Shendye

Final Year Student, Bombay Veterinary College, Mumbai

WHAT IS THIS CONDITION CALLED?

Atopic Dermatitis is a kind of skin disease wherein your pet has flares and periods of constant irritation. They scratch their bodies with their paw vigorously as if something’s bothering them endlessly. More often than not, it is an allergic reaction to allergens (outside particles). Allergy can be due to food or environmental pollutants or dust mites. Dermatitis means Derm – Skin, and itis – inflammation, dermatitis hence is an inflammation of the skin. The inflammation is due to allergens or bacteria or fungus or due to trauma caused to the skin by constant scratch bites, etc. Also, it could be because of parasites such as ticks, fleas, and mites.

BUT WHAT EXACTLY CAUSES THIS CONDITION?

The reasons are many, we have shortlisted the main ones for you.

  1. Bacterial Disease
    There is a number of bacterias that reside on the surface of our skin, and they’re majorly harmless. They’re known as commensals (they do not cause any damage to the skin). However In conditions such as allergies/Hypothyroidism or flea allergy, the immune system gets triggered and reacts with normal skin flora, and hence hypersensitivity occurs.Also, In immuno-deficient or compromised pets, bacterial infection occurs concurrently with fungal or yeast infection.
  2. Fungal or Yeast InfectionDue to low immunity, fungal organisms have the ability to attack normal skin and hence cause infection, and the same goes for yeast as well. More often than not, mixed infection is seen. i.e., bacterial and fungal organisms are present, triggering itching and skin allergy.
  3. AllergiesDue to some food allergies or non-specific allergies such as air pollutants or dust mites, dogs may get itchy and get dermatitis.
    For example, some dogs may not tolerate wheat, and hence if given ‘Rotis’ or flatbread made out of wheat, they start showing Fur loss or itching.
  4. Fleas and Ticks.

    The most dreaded parasites, ticks, and fleas are the forerunners in causing itching and pruritus and consequently leading to dermatitis. These ectoparasites dwell on the skin or the fur regions and feed on the blood of the host. Fleas bite and suck blood while ticks attach to one point. Nevertheless, both these parasites are extremely irritating to the skin of the pets and cause inflammation.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS TO WATCH OUT FOR?

If you wonder what exactly is wrong with my pet, and if they have atopic dermatitis or not, watch out for the signs!

Most signs develop secondary to self-trauma (excessive itching) and/or due to the presence of secondary bacterial infections.1. Constant itching and scratching.

You can’t find any reason why your pet keeps scratching its ears or skin. They keep on scratching their paws or their ears, or their abdominal region. They often bite the sites of irritation. This causes aggravation of the condition.

Where do they scratch exactly?

  1. Ear Pinna
  2. Armpit area (front legs)
  3. Ventral Abdomen.
  4. They try to bite their back or chest area
  5. Groin area
  6. Thighs and legs
  7. Elbow or Carpal joints
  8. Paws

2. They’re constantly irritated.

They keep on biting their own skin as if something’s constantly bothering them.

3. Redness of the skin

Due to itching, scratching, and biting, the skin gets inflamed, and hence the skin appears reddish. This is due to excessive mechanical trauma caused by constant scratching of the skin surface. Sometimes due to biting own skin too, redness is seen. Again, this could be because of trauma or because of infectious agents.

4. Loss of fur

Fur loss is evident as you start observing a lot of fur lying on the ground or on your sofa or bed.

Due to the infection, and again due to scratching, fur loss is observed. And hence you can evidently see the redness of the skin along with excessive loss of fur and scaly appearance of the skin.

5. Smell

Sometimes, the skin which is affected by this infection will start to smell. Reason? Bacterial and Fungal overgrowth and infection.

These organisms, when affecting the skin, cause damage to the skin, and off-odors start emanating from the skin.

6. Papules

Due to infection, the area can appear swollen (a little bulgy). It is a small, raised, and tender bulge in the skin. It may or may not be painful. Yes, it is due to excessive irritation of the skin layer.

It’s interesting to note that certain breeds are predisposed to Atopic Dermatitis. A few examples are –

  1. Boxers
  2. Lab Retrievers
  3. Lhasa Apso
  4. Shih Tzu
  5. Dalmatian
  6. Golden Retriever

HOW TO DIAGNOSE THIS CONDITION?

It’s a pretty simple task if you start ruling out the probable causes one by one.

  1. Rule out food allergies.

Your vet will guide you on the best about this. They will ask you questions such as your pet’s food history and if milk/meat/wheat is causing the irritation.

  1. Rule out ectoparasites

If your pet has fleas or ticks, that could be one of the prime reasons for pruritus and itching. Fleas have the nature of biting the skin of animals and sucking blood, while ticks have the nature of attachment and sucking blood. Both of which are seriously annoying to pets and can lead to further infection and dermatitis.

  1. Rule out other ectoparasites.

Demodex, and Sarcoptes are mites that burrow under the skin and cause massive damage. The condition they cause is called “Mange,” and depending upon the causative agent, they’re referred to as Demodectic Mange or Sarcoptic Mange.

Your vet will perform a skin scrapping exam to check out the causative organism under the microscope.

  1. Microscopic examination

To find out if the infection is due to fungal or yeast organisms, skim scrapping is again very essential to check out if it’s a fungus or mites that are leading to skin infection and dermatitis.

HOW TO TREAT? WHAT IS THE TREATMENT PROTOCOL FOR ATOPIC DERMATITIS?

The treatment of dermatitis usually takes a few weeks to a few months depending upon the severity of the condition. The smaller or local lesion will take a few weeks or even days to get cured; however, generalized lesions will take a lot more time!

Patience is the key.

  1. Medicated baths and shampoos

Certain medicinal shampoos containing Benzyl Benzoate or Ketoconazole etc. are effective against various infectious organisms. These drugs in the shampoo act on the skin surface and work effectively against the microorganisms causing the skin disorder.

  1. Oral medications

Certain corticosteroid drugs are also effective against itching.

Homeopathic Veterinary Medicine

  1. Along with the conventional route of medication, our product DERMISULE for pets is the best remedy for dogs suffering from different skin conditions like eczema, allergies, rashes, lesions with hair loss, redness, dryness, scaly, pus, or bloody discharge. Specific or general lesions or spots, as in Mange disease, can also be improved.

    Dermatitis is a really awful condition that causes havoc in the lives of pets, but it’s easily manageable if caught early on.

    Do not delay if your pet shows symptoms of excessive itching or fur loss, or redness. It’s easily treatable with conventional medicine and our amazing product DERMISULE, which manages skin conditions very effectively and efficiently. Quick action is necessary for quickly treating the skin issue. Dermisule is effective in the apt management of skin conditions. It’s important to note that skin diseases and disorders can quickly spread throughout the body. With patience and vigilance, you, as a pet owner, can manage this disease with ease.

    Let’s Ditch the itch with our product Dermisule, the medicine which works wonders like a fuel!

Homeopathic Solution For All Skin Issues in Dogs and Cats

Dermisule homeopathic remedy for skin infection in dogs and cats

DERMISULE For All Kinds of Skin Issues in Pets:

DERMISULE for pets is the best remedy for dogs suffering from different skin conditions like eczema, allergies, rashes, lesions with hair loss, redness, dry, scaly, pus, or bloody discharge. Specific or general lesions or spots as in Mange disease can also be improved.
 
Me & My SKIN & COAT Pet Supplement for skin infection in pets

ME and MY SKIN AND COAT Homeopathic Supplement

Me & My SKIN & COAT Pet Supplement is a peerless medicine for our pet’s skin and coat. It helps reattain natural skin and coat after injuries, chaps, cracks, scaly eruptions, or any acute skin lesion in pets. It is highly recommended to treat hair fall for any reason.
Me & My IMMUNITY Pet Supplement for boosting immunity

ME and MY IMMUNITY Homeopathic Supplement

Me & My IMMUNITY Pet Supplement is a unique formula of valuable supplements for Dogs & Cats which help in maintaining and raising the IMMUNITY of your lovable pets. It is made for weak and old pets as it improves immunity, helps better utilization of food, and allay minor ailments or complaints of non-specific nature. It also gives strength to the body’s mechanism for fighting against germs of all kinds.
 

GOHEAL SPRAY FOR Injury, FMD, and Burns 

GOHEAL SPRAY is the best Homeopathic Veterinary Medicine for external use only to treat animal wounds caused due to any injury, FMD, burns, etc. It can also be used for mouth ulcers and cuts or burns on sensitive parts of the body. GOHEAL SPRAY works very fast to stop bleeding and start healing immediately.
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Is Your Pet Facing Anorexia & Stress And Not Eating Anything | Homeopathy Remedy |

Have you ever had those days when your pet decides to go on a sudden hunger strike? Out of the blue, they refuse to eat their favorite food! In fact, nothing pleases them, no milk, no meat, and at times they even start refusing to drink water! What exactly is wrong with my pet? How to manage this condition? Is my pet sick? Let’s find out!

Tanvi Shendye

Final Year Student, Bombay Veterinary College, Mumbai

WHAT IS ANOREXIA?

Anorexia is a state or a condition wherein your pet has a reduced appetite or no appetite for food and water. In fact, even a poor appetite can be indicative of Anorexia which further can be indicative of something serious.

There are two types of Anorexia –

  1. True Anorexia and
  2. Pseudo (false) Anorexia.

True Anorexia – A condition where the pet doesn’t feel like eating and is not eating either. It works on both physical as well as mental levels.

Appetite is actually a psychological process, and hunger is a physical one.

Whereas in Pseudo Anorexia – the pet wishes to eat, wants to eat, and has the will to eat but doesn’t eat. Here there is a presence of appetite but no hunger.

HOW TO FIND OUT WHETHER MY PET HAS PSEUDO OR TRUE ANOREXIA?

In True Anorexia, you’ll find out that your pet is –

  1. It does not ‘feel’ like eating.
  2. Not looking at his/her bowl.
  3. Ignoring the call for food.
  4. Isolating itself.
  5. Even if you keep food in front of them, they just turn their head or walk away.
  6. When you offer them food to eat, they’ll not eat and not even look at it. (Even if it’s a meat product or their favorite food)

In Pseudo Anorexia, you will find-

  1. Your pet is going toward its food bowl to check it out.
  2. Drinking a little water.
  3. Puts his head near the bowl to eat but doesn’t eat.
  4. Sometimes they may lick/ or slightly chew or take the food piece in their mouth and then throw it. (Indicating that they wish to eat, but they can’t, because of some kind of sick feeling or illness)

WHAT ARE THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF ANOREXIA?

Anorexia is a broad umbrella term, and the cause for it can range from serious systemic illness to something as small as a mood swing behavior.

Hence it’s very important to distinguish between whether your pet has reduced appetite, pseudo or true Anorexia.

The causes of True Anorexia may include –

  • Systemic Infections
    The most common cause of Anorexia can be due to Liver Infection or Liver diseases, Pancreatic Diseases, or Kidney diseases. In fact, any system of the body, if affected by infection, can trigger Anorexia.
  • Cancer
    Cancer is a serious disease and can manifest itself rapidly in the body affecting multiple organs at times due to its malignant behavior.
  • Stress
    Psychology plays a HUGE role in our day-to-day lives. It does play an important role in our pets’ lives too! Sometimes changes in the environment, some sort of negative situations, the death of loved ones, separation from the owner, anxiety, etc., can trigger Anorexia. Food Hunger and Appetite is, in fact, as physical as it is a mental process.
  • Medicinal Side Effects.
  • Gastrointestinal Blockage
    If your pet is mischievous or accidentally while playing, swallows a foreign body such as a ball, Piece of Bone, socks, cloth, etc. It can lead to blockage of the intestinal tract. As a result, due to tract blockage by some foreign body, anorexia sets in.
  • Gastrointestinal Infection
    The most common cause of Anorexia is Gastrointestinal Infection. If your pet has ulcers in the tract or has recently recovered from Gastritis/ Enteritis/Parvo infection, or is showing signs of vomiting and /or diarrhea, it’s evident that Anorexia will be present (as there’s an Infection going on)

Whereas, the causes for Pseudo Anorexia include –

  • Change of feed.
    If you change your pets’ feed very suddenly, they’ll not feel like eating it. Therefore it’s best to avoid any sudden feed plan change. Your pet will take some time to get accustomed to the new feed routine or regime. Hence, that must always be taken into consideration.
  • Periodontal Disease
    Any disease involving the gums and teeth, such as gingivitis, can trigger this condition as it becomes painful for your pet to chew the food.
  • Food Burns
    If by accident your pet eats or drinks very hot food or hot milk, it can burn their mouth and hence they’ll be anorectic for a while until recovery.
  • Sexual Behaviour/ Heat in females.
    If there is a female dog or cat who is in heat nearby, there will be lost or diminished appetite of the male dog/cat.
  • Infection in the mouth cavity or throat.
    Gingivitis, Pharyngitis, Esophagitis, etc. It can cause inflammatory pain in the mouth and throat, and It can be a painful process, hence Anorexia is seen.
  • Environmental Factors
    Again, environment and psychology come to play here as well. A sudden change of environment, separation, anxiety, fear, trauma, etc., can lead to Anorexia.

MY PET IS SHOWING SIGNS OF ANOREXIA, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

  • As mentioned before, Anorexia is a broad umbrella term, and the cause for it can range from serious systemic illness to something as small as mood swing behavior. To properly diagnose is the key to good health.

    Quick diagnosis leads to quick response and treatment protocol which leads to a quicker recovery.

    Your Veterinarian will diagnose your pet based on the –

    • History
      The smallest details can help in forming a confirmatory diagnosis.
      i.e., Your Vet may ask you a series of questions such as –
      “Since how many days is your pet not eating.”
      “When was the last time your pet came in heat or was mated.”
      “Did your pet eat something from the road by accident?”
      “Does your pet have fleas and ticks?”
      “Does your pet have vomiting and loose motions?” Etc.
    • Laboratory Tests
      Your Veterinarian may run blood tests (Complete blood profiling, serum analysis, urine analysis, etc.) To rule out Infections (systemic illnesses such as Hepatitis, Gastritis, Kidney disease, etc.)

      Sometimes based on history, if your pet has eaten socks/balls/foreign body, an X-Ray will be taken to figure out if there is a blockage of the intestinal tract.

anorexia

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT PROTOCOL FOR ANOREXIA?

Anorexia is a condition that can be managed by giving some medicines, antibiotics, IV (Intra Venous) Fluids, or Saline to prevent excessive dehydration, which can lead to death.

PENTAVET – our amazing product, which is a combination of 5 Phos formulated exclusively for your beloved pets, is helpful in the general treatment and management of Anorexia. Each of these five phos has different special properties that work in their special way of treating the main underlying cause and thus improving Anorexia, which is exhibited first and foremost.

It is very effective and efficient in improving Anorexia in dogs and cats, which could be due to any of the underlying causes like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, deficiency, anxiety, constipation, liver problems, or any unknown acute or chronic illness etc.

Dosage – 20 drops 3 times a day or as directed by the doctor.

Anorexia can be a really strange condition. It could be because of a serious illness or because of something minor. However, as vigilant pet parents, we must never regard any disease or odd behavior of our pet as a minor one.

Regardless of the type, Anorexia as a symptom should be taken very seriously and should never be overlooked or ignored. Apt care and management must be provided for the best health of our pets. Quick diagnosis will lead to a quicker Treatment protocol, good recovery, and better results for the best health of your pet.

PENTAVET is a unique formulation made exclusively for your pets to help manage the underlying Anorexia along with the conventional medicine protocol.

Here’s to our pets; to eat or not eat if that is the question, PENTAVET is the answer!