Allergic Conjunctivitis in Dogs

Allergic conjunctivitis, as well as sneezing and other evidence of allergy, is increasingly common in dogs. This may be related to where their environment, or to changes in their immunity due to, for example, diet and exercise.

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin layer of skin over the white of the eye and the inner surface of the lids. Allergy occurs when the immune system over-reacts to a stimulus, mistakenly thinking it is an infection or cancer that it needs to fight off.

A dog with allergic conjunctivitis is likely to have redness, swelling and watering of one or both (usually both) eyes. There may be thickening of the conjunctiva, and if the dog is irritated to the extent that it scratches the eyes, there may be corneal abrasions and other eye damage.

No treatment (”watchful waiting”) is a valid option if symptoms are very mild. If possible, allergen avoidance is important. Bathing the eyes with a cool flannel may relieve some soreness and itching.

More severe allergic conjunctivitis will be treated with anti-inflammatory or antihistamine eye drops and ointments, and if any secondary bacterial infection is suspected, an antibiotic drop may be added. Occasionally a steroid drop will be used if treatment is otherwise unsuccessful.

Allergy testing may be needed to find the cause of the allergy.

Most holistic therapists and vets will look to the diet for a source of allergy. It is worth trying a hypo-allergenic diet. In addition, allergens in the air are important, so it is worth checking out environmental dust and pollution. Antioxidant supplements can help boost the immunity and reduce allergy.

Herbal Remedies: Burdock, Rosemary and Meadowsweet can all help with allergic conjunctivitis. Burdock (Arctium lappa) helps with detoxification; Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, and Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) is another antiseptic and disinfectant. The eyes can be bathed in a decoction of fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare), Eyebright (Euphrasia officinallis) or elder flower (Sambucus nigra) to reduce soreness and inflammation.

Homeopathy: Apis mel can be used to rinse sore eyelids; arsen alb is used for more watery eyes.

Relaxation therapy, spiritual healing and general stress reducing measures will aid recovery from allergic conjunctivitis, as well as other ill-health. Healing work on the Brow chakra will particularly benefit the eyes.

Blue lace agate is useful for eye problems when using crystal healing or Outer Banks.

Flower Remedies: Bach remedies will help an underlying emotional problem which may be contributing to reduced immunity and allergy.

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Dr Alison Grimston, a holistic doctor and animal healer, has a natural animal therapy website informing the public about animal therapies while connecting and informing animal therapists. TheNaturallyHealthyPet.com

A dog breed that I have always found attractive and amiable is the Cocker Spaniel, My brother had a Cocker Spaniel crossbreed and this dog – Charlie – was a fantastic, energetic pet. There were problems with his socialisation, though: he was apt to snap at children, especially if they passed by his front gate.  I also met a Cocker Spaniel owner whose black Cocker puppy bit her in an unprovoked attack!  So I was surprised to see the breed described as follows:

• Conveniently sized and athletic
• Has a pretty feathered coat in a variety of colors
• Is lively and playful, with a tail-wagging nature
• Is usually polite with everyone
• Is peaceful with other pets

For me, the jury is out on their expected temperament. This is also a breed that sheds fur excessively, and I do not want to take on a dog that moults fur again. there is also a health insurance lead concern with this breed – they suffer from serious eye problems.

Hi, Kev here – I feel as if I am almost back to my old self after taking my new Selegiline tablets for a week. Remember, I was showing signs of dog dementia – also called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. This meant I was staring into corners, howling in the night and generally much less alert than normal. The vet told us to expect results after a month or two, but for me the change was very quick. By the third day I was much more settled at night, and at the weekend Mum and Dad noticed that my ears were up in that way that a dog looks when he is alert and ready for life. Then I started playbiting some passers-by who stopped to talk to me: they thought it was really funny, Mum thought it was amazing! I still sleep a lot during the day, of course, but I have made a point of going downstairs several times to get in the builders’ way. These are all the normal dog mischief things that I had stopped doing recently, so the news is positive. Stay tuned for my next health update …

I have to admit that old age is affecting me at last. I am no longer the youthfl dog who would play tag with Mum and Dad up till a year ago. Maybe the house moves have affected me badly, but over the past month I have been getting very agitated and confused at night, and I started barking as soon as Mum and Dad were getting ready for bed. This would sometimes go on for hours as Mum tried to comfort me and get me to settle for the night. I would mention that my bark is normally rarely heard, and I save it for times when I am excited about going for a walk. I was already taking Diazepam to help me sleep but it was obvious that something else was needed. Mum and Dad spoke to our vet, and he agreed that the symptoms are from Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, similar to Alzheiner’s disease in elderly people. He has prescribed me a two week course of Selegiline, this is the generic replacement for Anipryl. The active ingredient is L-Depreny, which works in the body to help prolong productive activity of the neurotransmitter Dopamine. This is intended to help restore my highly intelligent characteristics and give me an enjoyable old age.You cannot buy memory but you can help keep it sharp. I will report back in two weeks.

What You Should Know About Dog Allergies

Like people, dogs are not exempt from allergies. Your cuddly and furry friend will seem to be irritated at almost anything when these allergies attack. Just as with humans, these allergies are very uncomfortable and will need an immediate remedy to have things under control. There are five most common types of allergy that your dog can have namely food, flea, bacteria, contact and inhalant allergy. Each type of allergy has a particular characteristic which your dog can exhibit as a result of the condition.

Food allergy happens when your dog becomes sensitive to a particular food. Depending on your dog, food like beef, chicken, fish, eggs, or grains can trigger an allergy attack. You can tell that your dog is suffering from food allergy when you see him scratching or licking a certain part of his body. Other symptoms can also include coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Because of the complexity involve in identifying the ingredient that triggered the allergy attack, it would be best if you cook special meals for your furry friend. Read more »

I had a couple of times on my own over the last week. First, Mum went out to get the paella pan from the basement and she did not check whether the door was on the latch. She came back up with the pan and pushed the door — disaster!! It did not open. And I was still inside the house! For once she had her mobile phone with her so she rang Dad and told him what was happening. I was OK because I was warm, and the radio was playing. But it took over two hours till Dad could get home and open the door: in the meantime a very nice neighbour called Jay offered her a warm place to wait. When Dad got back they came towards the house to check on me and all was total silence. Why? Well I am more settled now that I live in one place, and I get lots of affection from my Mum and Dad. They are amazed that I can behave so well.