Although there can be many causes of allergies and itchiness in dogs, the most common is a genetic inflammatory disease called atopic (allergic) dermatitis, or skin allergies. This site focuses on the treatment of dog allergies in a holistic way, while providing assessments of conventional therapies in an objective manner.

To determine what is best for your dog, doctors and pet owners alike must develop a holistic mindset. “Holistic” refers to a way of thinking, viewing the dog in its entirety, rather than just focusing on a particular set of problems and symptoms.

To tie all this together, here is my holistic approach to the allergic pet:

• Feed your pet a nutritious diet from puppyhood and practice an exercise program suited for your size dog.
• Establish a relationship with a holistic veterinarian for the regular care of your pet. All approaches are more successful when the dog is comfortable with medical procedures and the vet is acquainted with the dog.
• Once you see that your dog is scratching, obtain a correct diagnosis as soon as possible. Because allergies can make your dog terribly uncomfortable and susceptible to chronic skin infections, the sooner you start complementary therapies to make the pet feel better for the better for the pet.
• While atopic dermatitis is the most common cause of scratching, there are other causes. Some of these are opportunistic conditions that are secondary to the allergic condition. Others are separate conditions completely. Some of these causes are very serious diseases.
• Proper diagnostic testing is needed to the rule out other causes of scratching. This usually involves skin scrapings, skin cytology, fungal cultures, skin biopsies, skin cultures, and blood testing.
• If your pet is diagnosed with allergic dermatitis, discuss the numerous treatment options with your veterinarian. Pets that are severely itchy are often provided with traditional medical treatments, such as short-time low doses of corticosteroids or antihistamines, to give quick relief. Since most complementary therapies, especially dietary therapy and nutritional supplements take 1 to 2 months or more to “kick in,” conventional medical treatments may be needed for short-term relief.
• Practice prevention techniques for avoiding allergens.
• Give your dog frequent baths and conditioning with hypoallergenic products as these can often decrease the need for both conventional and other complementary approaches.
• If necessary and suggested by your veterinarian, use dietary therapy and nutritional and other supplements.
• Use acupuncture and/or homeopathy as needed. If nutritional therapies don’t give the desired results, keep the pet on the products to improve their overall nutritional health but use acupuncture and/or homeopathy to aid in decreasing inflammation and itching and stimulate the pet’s immune system.

Allergies may take months to properly treat with complementary therapies, as there is not “one” perfect therapy for every pet. Often your holistic veterinarian will need to try several therapies to determine which work best for your pet comfortably itchy most of the time. There are other causes of itching in pets in addition to allergic dermatitis, including mange, external and internal parasites, and other more serious problems. Therefore, a proper diagnosis is essential before choosing any therapy.
        
While conventional medications such as corticosteroids and antihistamines do have their place in the treatment of Some allergic pets, there are too many potential side effects from these drugs, particularly corticosteroids, to use them as the sole, long term therapy for all but the very few pets that do not improve with any other treatment.

Complementary therapies such as nutritional supplements, dietary therapy, acupuncture, herbal therapy, and homeopathy all have their place in the treatment of the pet with atopic dermatitis. Often they can serve as the sole therapy, although many times your doctor may combine them with lower doses of conventional medications to help your dog.

LONG-TERM APROACHES
For long term approaches, most dogs can be successfully maintained without side effects on a regime of nutritional supplements using products containing omega-3 fatty acids and raw food and glandular supplements plus Bathing and condition 2 to 3 times per week or daily during their most itchy seasons. Occasionally add homeopathy, acupuncture, or conventional medications if the pet is having a “bad day.”

Every doctor develops his favorite approach to dealing with various disorders such as Atopic dermatitis. In order to treat the pet holistically, it’s important to try to do what’s best for the pet’s overall health and well-being. The pet must be treated humanely and you must stay involved in treatment decisions for your pets.

There is no hard and fast rule to use when deciding what approach is best for a particular patient. I explain options to the owners I like to form a team whose goal is to do what’s best for the pet. When owners are involved, they are more likely to take an interest in the therapy. Additionally, they feel important to the pet’s outcome and are a vital member of the treatment team. This is a far different approach from the doctor who sees himself as “God” and uses “shotgun” therapy with no owner involvement. Pet owners love dedicated, kind-hearted people. It is essential that they be involved in the decision-making process, as they are ultimately responsible for their pets.