{"id":1266,"date":"2014-05-13T01:37:49","date_gmt":"2014-05-13T01:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/solveeczema.org\/eczemablog\/?p=1266"},"modified":"2022-08-10T07:07:02","modified_gmt":"2022-08-10T07:07:02","slug":"dogs-and-cats-get-eczema-too-feline-and-canine-atopic-dermatitis-also-on-the-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/solveeczema.org\/eczemablog\/?p=1266","title":{"rendered":"Dogs and Cats Get Eczema Too: Feline and Canine Atopic Dermatitis also on the Rise \u2014 How to Make a Healthier Home for Pets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Using SolveEczema.org<\/a> for dogs and cats with atopic dermatitis:<\/p>\n

\"Scratching<\/a>

Image courtesy of anankkml \/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/p><\/div>\n

Atopic dermatitis is not just a growing problem for people, more and more household pets are suffering as well. Horses can be affected, too. I will deal with this topic a little more in my book, but I felt like I had to write at least something now.\u00a0 Because dealing with this issue for dogs, cats, and horses is far easier than it is for babies, animals cannot help themselves by telling us how they feel, and these environmental aspects of the problem are addressable and not their fault.<\/p>\n

Households that try these environmental strategies may also find that in addition to helping skin, the animals may themselves end up less allergic, and be less allergenic to people.<\/p>\n

As I point out on the SolveEczema.org<\/a> website, these are my own ideas, they are novel;\u00a0 I am not a health professional and I am certainly not a vet.\u00a0 The ideas are the result of “citizen science”, consistent with the body of available mainstream research but have not themselves yet been the subject of such research.\u00a0 The information is supposed to augment the relationship between health professional and patient, not supplant it.\u00a0 I always strongly suggest people keep their health professionals in the loop, and that’s not just a liability disclaimer, it’s because it’s important.\u00a0 Your doctor or vet or naturopath knows you, your child, your pet, and if anything else is at issue or something goes wrong, they know what to do to keep you safe.\u00a0 Having a trusting, working relationship with a good health care provider is like gold.<\/p>\n

As I also point out on my website<\/a>, it’s necessary to read through the information before making any changes, and especially before making assumptions.\u00a0 People often incorrectly think they know what the site is about, and either take the wrong or inadequate measures, or dismiss it out of hand.<\/p>\n

For example, many people believe that because there is a genetic component to the susceptibility, that the problem cannot be primarily environmental in origin.\u00a0 There are actually fundamental reasons under the circumstances that the problem CAN’T be primarily genetic even when there is a strong genetic component, which I will discuss in the book.\u00a0 People \u2014 and pets \u2014 with the atopy, those WITH the genetic susceptibility, are the most likely to be HELPED by these environmental measures.<\/p>\n

The fundamental problem for cats and dogs is this:<\/p>\n

*The dust in people’s homes, which cats and dogs are more directly affected by even than people, is full of substances that significantly impact the permeability of their skin.\u00a0 The increased permeability leads to excessive water loss, dry skin, and more allergens crossing the skin barrier.\u00a0 The disrupted skin is also more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, and not just because of the broken skin, but because the substances inactivate important proteins.\u00a0 These substances also increase healing time of membranes.\u00a0 Solving this problem involves changing what is in the dust, which is very doable, not having a dust-free home which is impossible.<\/p>\n

*The surfaces dogs and cats spend most of theirs days lying on are coated with these same substances, which can be absorbed from contact.<\/p>\n

*Many of these substances are in the fertilizer and poison products sprayed around peoples grass and homes outside as well, which dogs and cats also spend a lot of time in contact with.<\/p>\n

*Most commercial cat litters are full of these substances.\u00a0 When a cat grooms herself, she not only ingests them, she also dissolves these substances into the dander, making the dander even more allergenic than otherwise.\u00a0 When a cat walks around the house, these substances are tracked around the house and added to the dust of the home.<\/p>\n

*Most products used to wash dogs, even “natural” ones, contain these substances, and residues left in their coats (and there are ALWAYS residues) cause the same problems described above.<\/p>\n

\"boy<\/a>

Image courtesy of Ashley Cox \/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/p><\/div>\n

Trying the strategies from the website does not have to be a lot of work.\u00a0 Please be aware that the site is geared to people with infants who have the most permeable skin and greatest susceptibilities, and who need to see the fastest, most dramatic results.\u00a0 To help animals, you don’t have to sweat the small stuff, just be aware of what measures will have the greatest benefit and impact.<\/p>\n

A few things to remember:<\/p>\n

*Please only make changes AFTER reading and understanding the website.\u00a0 Begin with the slideshow overview to understand.\u00a0 It is 45 minutes long, only 6 slides.\u00a0 My apologies to everyone, I originally made it for a crowdfunding for the book, I am not a media person, and the video puts even ME to sleep (sorry!).\u00a0 It is still the most up-to-date summary and worth beginning with:\u00a0 http:\/\/vimeo.com\/33522513<\/a><\/p>\n

*Helping a cat or dog with AD is not as difficult as helping an infant human \u2014 the whole house has to get on board, but you won’t have to sweat the small stuff (like makeup or deodorant) \u2014 however, the same principles apply.<\/p>\n

*Keep your vet in the loop. Treat as recommended by your vet, especially for bacterial or fungal problems that may have developed, as well as flea control.\u00a0 Where treatment product choices are possible, choose only products that don’t contain detergents as defined on the SolveEczema.org<\/a> website.\u00a0 DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS! (People are almost always wrong when they assume.)<\/p>\n

*Treating fungal problems is more of an art, and can sometimes require long-term application.\u00a0 Treatment fungal problems initially can cause Jarisch-Herxheimer responses, known as “die-off” reactions, which seem to make things worse.\u00a0 This disruption in the membrane can actually make things worse and stymie results, plus it’s just uncomfortable for the pet patient, so effective antifungal treatment may involve both using a steroid temporarily with the antifungal, followed by longer-term antifungal therapy.\u00a0 To minimize die-off for a known fungal problem, sometimes it’s necessary to back off the treatment and begin very, very slowly, with very small amounts ramped up to full strength, and to treat for a very long time.\u00a0 Switch treatments if one no longer seems to work.<\/p>\n

*Getting a good well-filtered vacuum is an essential step.<\/p>\n

\"vacuuming\"<\/a>

Image courtesy of artur84 \/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/p><\/div>\n

*If you have carpeting, especially old carpeting, consider removing it and replacing it with some kind of non-allergic surface like hardwood flooring or Marmoleum\/natural lineoleum, perhaps with area rugs as necessary (washed only with non-detergent products).\u00a0 A friend clued me in to a way to find Marmoleum cheaper:\u00a0 Talk to the local supplier and ask if you can add square footage to the next really large order they get (provided you like the material).\u00a0 We know someone who got really high quality Marmoleum for the price of cheap vinyl that way.\u00a0 Natural linoleum is not as easy to install and it’s better to have an experienced pro do this.<\/p>\n

*Can you wash out the cover of your pet’s bed or bedding?\u00a0 Follow the SolveEczema.org<\/a> website strategies for superwashing.\u00a0 If you have hard water, it may take more washing than suggested.\u00a0 Use one or two washes with just 2 cups of white vinegar in the wash.<\/p>\n

*Remember that the dust in your home is mostly made up of your skin cells, hair, and lint, and that your pet spends most of their day in it.\u00a0 Marketing is powerful \u2014\u00a0 even if there are better ones out there, people can be very strongly and irrationally attached to their personal care products (especially since there can be worse ones out there).\u00a0 You’re just changing what you use in order to help your pet, and it does not have to be a compromise, you can find things you like as much or better, but you may find some you like less in the process.\u00a0 Don’t give up!<\/p>\n

*For most good products, the biggest influence on whether new products work well and produce lovely results, in my experience, is not the products themselves but the hardness of the water.\u00a0 It will be more difficult to find acceptable products for people with hard water.<\/p>\n

*If you don’t have time to superwash the laundry, you can take a lower-key approach that may take longer and produce results more slowly over time, but is far less work.\u00a0 First, switch to a very benign detergent like Planet (the only syndet I feel comfortable recommending) for a few weeks.\u00a0 Then switch to just using baking soda and\/or vinegar in the laundry for a few more weeks.\u00a0 Then switch to true soap in the laundry, but wash each load twice.\u00a0 Once with soap, and then once with just water.\u00a0 Be sure to follow all the directions about washing out the dryer of previous detergent residues, and be sure to clean out all the detergenty lint in the laundry room.<\/p>\n

*For cats, investigate non-clumping cat litters, like cedar chips.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the clumping litters are the ones with significant amounts of detergents or clays that are very hydrophilic and could theoretically cause the same problems.<\/p>\n

*Take a look at the ingredients of the products you use in your yard and patio \u2014 detergents are very commonly used in all kinds of products like fertilizers and poisons because they reduce surface tension and spread products more evenly. \u00a0example link<\/a><\/p>\n

\"dog<\/a>

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic \/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/p><\/div>\n

*In the case of benefiting just the animals, you also don’t have to switch your dishwashing products, but I recommend doing so anyway as a healthy step for the benefit of everyone’s mucous membranes.\u00a0 Our digestive systems make up a goodly portion of our bodies’ immune systems.\u00a0 If you don’t take this step, do at least buy non-detergent soaps to wash the water bowls and toys of pets with AD.<\/p>\n

*You can’t necessarily use bathing to control exposures of animals as you can children, but you probably won’t need to.\u00a0 But still, use baths judiciously relative to exposures, as “eczema removal time”, such as when the dog (or cat, IF appropriate) is scratching from spending time in the yard.<\/p>\n

*With pet fur, it’s also probably impractical to moisturize.\u00a0 People who use the site strategies usually find over time that they no longer need to anyway.\u00a0 Absent these abnormal environmental influences, a pet’s skin should not need moisturizing.\u00a0 As with humans, the creamy absorbing moisturizers can backfire and cause more water loss later (see SolveEczema.org blog posts about dry skin<\/a>).<\/p>\n

*Most vet sites recommend to control other environmental allergens like mold and dust mites. \u00a0I will write more about this contributor to dermatitis for people, too, soon.<\/p>\n

*Remember that even people who do not get eczema themselves usually benefit from these steps in the health of their skin and other membranes.\u00a0 it may not be apparent at the beginning, but a few months into this, pay attention to your own skin \u2014 you may find it’s better than you ever remember.\u00a0 If not, you should find better products, because they exist!<\/p>\n

*Although all members of a household usually benefits from the SolveEczema.org<\/a> strategies, it’s normal for pets to have eczema but not the humans, or vice versa, or for both to have it. \u00a0(The reason for that should be evident from reading the site and blog.)<\/p>\n

*I know how difficult it can be to change products. \u00a0Marketing is very powerful, even when people are aware of it. \u00a0I remember what that’s like, but now feel much happier with most of the best products I’ve found.\u00a0 That said, dogs and cats are likely to see some results even if there is a “holdout” in the household. \u00a0If you try the site strategies for your pets with eczema, please let me know how it goes.<\/p>\n

I have listed some pet products on my Amazon astore, which is there for people’s convenience, but there are other products out there, and the site discusses how to evaluate them. \u00a0When people purchase through those links, I receive a small percentage without increasing the buyer’s price (usually on the order of $15\/month, not significant, but I need to say so in case it makes a difference to people one way or another). \u00a0The link is: \u00a0http:\/\/astore.amazon.com\/solvsblogastore-20<\/a><\/p>\n

Use a search engine to learn about “canine atopic dermatitis” \u2014 although I don’t necessarily agree with various sites about what to do about it, it’s clear that it’s a growing problem.<\/p>\n

If you are helped by these strategies, please consider returning to the website donations page and making a donation \u2014 most people don’t (and that’s okay, that’s obviously not why I do this!), but they do help. \u00a0People are often willing to pay far more for treatments that don’t work, so if this has been worthwhile to you, please consider a donation, it does help. \u00a0Thanks!
\nA.J. Lumsdaine<\/p>\n

http:\/\/solveeczema.org\/donate.html<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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