PET HEALTH BULLETIN Summer 2011/12 1. An Itchy Dog
possible. Fly repellent containing permethrin or pyrethrin can be
warmer, is your dog starting to itch? Are they
rubbing, scratching and chewing their skin until
it becomes bald, red, inflamed and painful?
If so, let us explore some of the most common
If Fluffy suddenly starts itching after venturing out to bush or farmland,
Fleas are the most common cause of itching in a
dog. Fleas are rampant in summer as the heat
speeds up their breeding. All it takes is one bite
from a flea to send our much beloved Fluffy into
a scratching frenzy. Therefore not seeing a flea
on them does not rule out a flea allergy. Often,
itchiness and hair loss occur over the lower back,
below the abdomen and around the eyes. Flea
bites are preventable by ensuring Fluffy is on a
good flea control regime. Monthly “spot on" (a
product applied to a dog's neck) preparations
such as Frontline, Advantage and Revolution are
a great way to keep the fleas at bay. These
products can be applied every fortnightly if the
monthly application of "spot on" such
itching is bad. Flea shampoos are limited in
efficacy as their effect wears off rapidly. All
other pets in the household should also be treated since fleas affect all animals that come in
contact. Flea bombs containing insect growth
regulator can be used at home to stop eggs and
larvae in the environment from hatching, thus
breaking the cycle. Vacuuming your house and
especially your pets’ living areas will remove
reaction to one or more airborne substances in the environment, usually
Stable fly and March fly bites are painful and
distressing for dogs. Stable flies target the bridge
of the nose and margins of the ears. The skin and
hair around those areas are thin and so are the
most accessible. The bite is to obtain a blood
meal and so the skin is often very irritated,
producing bloody crusts and scabs. Dogs shake
their head and scratch constantly due to the
discomfort. Though keeping your dog indoors
would prevent the exposure to these flies and
mosquitoes, keeping them inside is not always
corticosteroid based sprays and occasional
properties. Since their effects last for
antibiotics or even skin supplements (as
discussed later in the article). If you suspect
Fluffy has atopy, speak to your Veterinarian.
However, when it occurs, it often starts when
they are less than 6 months of age. Older dogs,
above 8 years of age can also develop food
behind this is that they help hydrate or
throughout the year. If you suspect Fluffy has
food allergy, your Veterinarian will formulate a
plan to exclude this possibility by putting them
on a special diet for up to 6 weeks. Re-introduce
the old diet again and observe if the itchiness
Dry skin and constant itching can be very
uncomfortable. Here are some tips for achieving
better skin health for your much loved dog.
condition will be. Prevention with monthly "spot on" products may spare
* Adding fatty acids helps the skin create a
tighter barrier from outside allergens. A good
source of this is Omega 3/6/9 oil at 1 ml per 7kg taken orally. A topical form, Essential 6 can be
2. Clinic News/ Staff News
used until the oral form is effective. Fish oil tablets at 50mg/kg once a day, sunflower oils at
2ml/kg once a day, flax seed oil or even evening
have a third consult room at the clinic.
primrose oil at 50mg/kg once a day are other
options. Oral fatty acids require a build up before
they work and therefore, they have to be given
for 6-12 weeks before any appreciable results
career with the CSIRO and we wish her the very best. We welcome Holly
* Soothing shampoo for sensitive skin. Aloveen
shampoo is a hypoallergenic shampoo that
contains aloe vera and oatmeal which have a soothing and anti-itching effect. Shampooing
3. Season’s greetings
also washes away the allergens from the coat. If
your pet is prone to recurrent infection in their
skin, your pet will benefit from the use of
medicated shampoo such as Pyohex or Malaseb.
antibacterial properties. Malaseb not only has Chlorohexidine, it also has Miconazole which gives it the anti-fungal and anti-bacterial
• ABSTRACTS PRESENTED IN NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL MEETING AND WORKSHOPS 1- Mohsen I. Afouna, Ibrahim S. Khattab and Indra K. Reddy. Demeclocycline Liposomal Formulations: Preparation, Characterization and Assessment of their Intra-ocular Pressure Lowering Effects using rabbit model, The 9th International Pharmaceutical Sciences Meeting and Exposition, Dec. (2005). 2- Mohsen I. Afouna,
771 F. Supp. 2d 556, *; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30107, ** UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, v. LAUREN STEVENS, Defendant. Case No.: RWT 10cr0694 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND 771 F. Supp. 2d 556 ; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30107 March 23, 2011, Decided COUNSEL: [**1] For Lauren Stevens, Defendant (1): filed multiple pretrial motions, most of which w
PET HEALTH BULLETIN 
corticosteroid based sprays and occasional
properties. Since their effects last for
antibiotics or even skin supplements (as
discussed later in the article). If you suspect
Fluffy has atopy, speak to your Veterinarian.
However, when it occurs, it often starts when
they are less than 6 months of age. Older dogs,
above 8 years of age can also develop food
behind this is that they help hydrate or
throughout the year. If you suspect Fluffy has
food allergy, your Veterinarian will formulate a
plan to exclude this possibility by putting them
on a special diet for up to 6 weeks. Re-introduce
the old diet again and observe if the itchiness
Dry skin and constant itching can be very
uncomfortable. Here are some tips for achieving
better skin health for your much loved dog.
condition will be. Prevention with monthly "spot on" products may spare
* Adding fatty acids helps the skin create a
tighter barrier from outside allergens. A good
source of this is Omega 3/6/9 oil at 1 ml per 7kg taken orally. A topical form, Essential 6 can be
2. Clinic News/ Staff News