Support for Pet Life comes from the Doug and Joni Lehman Family Charitable Fund.

A proud supporter of PBS Fort Wayne and an advocate for animal safety and well-being.

this is animal care in control, but we're really we're proud to service our community in a humane public safety capacity.

You make this possible by donating, fostering, adopting, and spaying and neutering your pets.

.

High and welcome to Pet Life .

I'm Emilie Henry and we're so glad you're joining us.

We all love our pets and this show will feature various experts each week providing information and tips to best care for our furry friends.

>> Tonight we're going to look at the dreaded itch what causes it in our pets and how we can help make them more comfortable and get rid of it.

I have plenty of questions but we want to hear from you too.

So feel free to give us a call or text your questions during the show and you don't need don't forget rather to give us your name and tell us where you're from and stick around until the end when we feature some adoptable pets that are looking for forever homes including one that will be right here in the studio.

>> But before we get to that, let's talk about pet allergies with our guest Angela Gallagher.

>> Angela, thanks for being back with us today.

Thank you.

>> Let's start with the dreaded itch.

If a dog is constantly scratching and licking and chewing their skin, what are some of the most common reasons?

>> Well, obviously the most obvious one especially here in Indiana is allergies.

>> But is that do people realize that I don't know until I was a dog owner that I realized how prevalent dog allergies were and that they kind of they caused myriad problems?

>> Yes, I people don't make the correlation necessarily.

But once you have a dog and then you start seeing seasonally the changes usually spring and then this time of year it's significant because the crops are coming out like earlier in the summer we had the wildfires that were blowing in all kinds of things into the air and the environment that land on the grass.

The dogs, you know, are walking the grass.

Sure.

So allergies seasonal or you know, they might be environmental tend to be the biggest reason why your dog is itching.

>> OK, so at what point do we know when occasional scratching has kind of crossed the line into an excessive problem?

>> So there's some clues.

One would be consistent hot spots on their skin loss of hair scooting over the scoot licking chewing ear debris or smell.

OK, also if they're flapping their ears their heads around.

>> Yeah the shaking.

Yeah.

Aha.

That is also another good indicator that there's definitely something beyond just an itch.

>> So are the allergies the first thing you think about when those things come up is that sort of like a red flag number one there are some allergies to deal with.

>> To me it typically is unless it's like in a time of year that it's not common like let's say in the winter when it's super cold allergy seem to be less of an issue.

Sure, people often want to say it's maybe a food allergy that is something that you'd really need to work with your veterinarian to do a controlled change of food because if you're just changing your food from beef to chicken or vice versa for a week you're not going to know.

>> Right.

OK, so what are some of the most common things that dogs react to?

Obviously we have the environmental things but so is that like it is for humans pollen kind of that type of pollen grasses, molds, dust mites I think uh, especially around this time of year because the crops are coming out which creates a lot of pollen which creates a lot of molds from it being sure up and then the combines are taking it out and it's all in the air because if you have allergies as a person your allergies are probably a little more severe at this time of year.

>> So what about just the environment in general, the humidity?

I mean the humidity makes me feel like I'm yeah, I'm not itchy necessarily but just kind of uncomfortable.

>> Is that the same for our pets?

Yeah.

You feel sticky.

Yes.

And so you know you're your skin is stickier.

They're going outside, they're walking around in it sticks to their paws then they look at their paws and they're ingesting it or they're scratching their ears and you know you're breaking down that skin barrier if they're scratching and right which allows, you know, different microbes and bacteria to enter into the system easier or so.

>> So the first time you were here we talked a lot about pet nutrition so knowing that there could be food allergies involved, you work with your vet and what is that going to look like?

>> Is it going to be like kind of an elimination diet type situation?

Yeah, they will do it like a controlled elimination.

So if they suspect it's poultry you're going to eliminate poultry and they'll substitute a different protein for that and then you're going to stay on it for a length of time to see if it is actually a food related allergy.

Right or is it environmental usually food really related allergies?

The symptoms are similar but different like they'll tend to get some gastrointestinal issues because their body, you know, doesn't like it doesn't want to wear seasonal allergies or environmental.

>> You don't typically have like any gastrointestinal issues.

OK, so what are just kind of an umbrella of symptoms that we can kind of help eliminate?

>> Yes.

Yeah.

Just make us think OK, I think maybe some allergies are happening so we have the poor licking rub in their face on furniture or the rug.

that?

Yes.

Yeah that's an indication that there's an allergy they have an itch OK rubbing like licking their belly you know licking their paws, chewing their paws ear problems like consistent your problems if it's like a lot of debris or build up and you're cleaning them extra cleaning doesn't necessarily mean it's a good thing.

OK, you should look in you it's like a consistent continual problem should probably get a hold of your vet because it could be an infection.

Sometimes you can get secondary infections from an allergy from the itching.

>> OK, so they're itching they break up in their skin you know so yeah a lot of things can happen after the to Yeah.

A secondary issue where you do need to see your vet.

>> Yes OK we have a text so we're going to see what our viewer question is.

>> Let me see here when it comes up OK this says if my dog has seasonal allergies can I still take him on a walk or should I keep him inside more?

>> That's Tom from Columbia City.

Thank you, Tom.

I would say definitely keep taking them on a walk but when you come back wipe your paws OK?

You know, kind of rinse off any of that debris that they're picking up because typically at least my dogs when they come back from inside they want to lick their paws and they want to you clean themselves whereas if you're wiping that off then you're taking away the thing that's an irritant so is just a warm washcloth and I want to wash the baby wipe or is that a bad thing or no.

>> You can use baby wipes you can use oh I use a warm washcloth just to get it off.

>> OK, so what is it about allergies that cause is the the poor licking for example is it just itchy or what.

>> It's itchy.

It's an irritant OK they that's how they communicate with us.

Hey something's going on right.

Yeah they can't say oh I got an itch you know like mites for example you know the little bites some dogs react to it some don't.

Yeah.

Fleas you know you could have flea bites and not necessarily have a dog with fleas.

Yeah.

>> So they could be you know highly reactive to fleabite but not necessarily be infested with fleas.

>> So that never even occurred to me.

But sure that makes sense mosquitoes you know.

>> Yeah OK so this this I hate to call it negative behavior but these behaviors that we're talking about like Paul licking and the obsessive scratching that kind of thing is it always a physical problem or can it be behavioral?

>> It could be behavioral as well.

Some dogs maybe have some anxiety and they're looking to soothe themselves and maybe address the anxiety.

>> But what's causing some anxiety because the more they like than they can make their paws draw and then you have opportunity then for , you know, additional issues that pop up, right?

>> Yeah.

That snowball that you talked about, are there clues that can help the pet owner kind of tell the difference between an allergy and a behavior so an allergy would be something that is going to occur after exposure.

OK, so they come back you go on a walk, they come back, they immediately start licking or scratching.

That would be lead me to believe it's an environmental issue.

OK, if you leave for example and your dog has anxiety they may you may come back home and you know, you see that their paws are all raw or anxious behavior then you would kind of be able to eliminate that.

>> OK, this is more behavioral versus an environmental so you really just have to be a detective kind of look for all of those context clues and try to put it together.

So we talked a little bit about your problems but what is the connection between allergies and those recurring ear is an ear infection or is it it can turn into an ear infection?

>> OK, so when the dogs are like scratching, you know, they're itchy, they're scratching their nails or things could have be dirty.

Sure they scratch they create tiny tears in that skin barrier which now allows bacteria and yeast and other things to have a place to grow.

>> Yeah, And so then what was maybe just an itchy ear now you have an infection because you know it incubates and it takes over.

So one of the things to make sure that you're always checking is paws and ears for sure.

>> If the ears have a smell you should definitely probably seek some veterinarian care because there's probably a ear infection that's starting or yeast overgrowth that could turn into a more severe ear infection.

>> It reminds me of having infants.

Yes.

They can't tell you and you just want what's best and you know, how do you get how do you get there?

Yeah.

OK, so you mentioned checking the ears and the paws for those who who might not know what are we looking for when it comes to healthy skin?

>> What does healthy skin or healthy coat look like?

So healthy skin is no flakes, no dry patches, no patches of lost hair where if you have a dog with longer hair and you brush their coats shiny and just like our hair right.

Yeah healthy hairy you brush and it has a nice shine to it for like the skin you know rough texture I mean that would mean it needs some moisture OK red and rawness it needs probably to be addressed because that you know like our skin if it's cracked or dry how painful sometimes that can be.

Yeah so their noses just making sure they're moist this might be a really stupid question but is there is there like doggie lotion or do we need to address that dry skin through food.

>> What are we actually you could do both like OK address the inside and outside OK so there are things you know Mega three mega six fatty acids which are found typically in fish oils right.

>> That you can add to the food to help them from the inside.

Sure.

And then provided they're not allergic, correct?

>> Yes.

And then on the outside it's just you know, appropriate bathing not using Hirsche soaps, OK, you know, gentle soaps made for you know, your dog.

Yeah.

Making sure that you're you know, moisturizing their paws in like severe cold which we're going to head into.

Yeah.

Getting some to put on so that when they're outside they're not you know, getting cracks or frostbite or different types of you know, skin issues with that.

>> OK, so my dogs had mittens I didn't know that that Paul Wax was a thing that exist.

>> It does exist.

OK, so now I know there's different you know, barriers that you can provide depending on the environment that they're in.

>> So OK, so if a dog is mild, itchy but otherwise healthy and happy, are there things that we can safely do at home to to be sure that they're comfortable if they're mildly itchy and it's like just for a short period I probably wouldn't be too concerned.

It could just be just like us sometimes you just get itchy and sure.

Now if it results in like some pus or broken skin or things like that probably there's more going on that you need to try to identify because the itching is a symptom.

>> Sure you need to identify what is causing it and work with a professional.

Now I know that Paul Wax is a thing I've had I've had too many dogs to not have known that.

But anyway, what are some other common remedies or products that we could look into?

Again, if it's mild, if it if it gets to the point where we're kind of questioning it, we should seek veterinarian care.

But but if it seems like it's you know, maybe just a mild case of a little something, what should we do?

>> One of my go to is coconut oil.

OK, putting it on the pores, put it on the nose.

You can even you know, put it on their skin and they can eat it.

>> So I was going to say now does that cost is that like oh this is delicious and now we have another looking problem.

>> They will they will like it off.

So I just hope that it gets, you know, absorbed and are so but yeah they will they will definitely look at OK and at what point do we seek care from the vet at what point do we say OK we got to call it this is no longer I would say any time you have something that's recurrent OK will not go away no matter like years no matter how much you clean them it just the ear infections don't stop.

You need to seek of your veterinarian care OK with like any skin rashes, anything that just will not go away with just you know doing cleansing and proper skin care and you know all of the the right things you need to because is something else that's causing it.

>> Sure.

So anything it's so persistent poor licking we we need to have that looked at.

>> OK, you just said something interesting.

You said you know you're doing all of the right things.

Give me kind of a short list of what are the right things you're having them groomed if that's necessary or or at least bathing them at home.

Yep.

Is colloidal oatmeal a thing for dogs?

>> Yes, my kids have eczema and we use that on them but is that is yes I actually use that on my little French bulldog skin allergies OK so we'll do like a soak in colonial oatmeal you can make a paste out of it and stick it on the side it is yes .

>> On the spot just to help relieve some of that itching and then like if the the skin is hot put some aloe on it.

OK, so yeah I mean there's a lot of things just be careful with essential oils because not all essential oils are good for dogs.

Sure.

Or cats yeah.

So it never put them on directly I mean essential oil should always be diluted.

>> Yeah.

And have a career and don't and don't use people's stuff on them because there are chemicals in there that you know are not good because they're going to lick it off they can figure out a way to get it off of them.

>> They will yes.

OK so for example the colloidal oatmeal now do you use a specific dog?

No.

OK, I just use colonial oatmeal OK like I will stick it in the bath over like a soak OK and then while he's in there I make a paste out of it and stick it on the itchy or spot ok it helps just calm down the skin.

It's great like you said for itching.

Yeah like and it's it's safe for dogs OK why is it important for pet owners to not assume that every itchy dog has the same problem because itching could be a variety of things.

>> I mean it could be anything from food to your environment to they got into something in the yard and you know so I mean it could be it's just them trying to communicate with us, hey, there's something going on here, OK?

>> we've come to my favorite part of the show a little rapid fire true or false if my dog is itchy it's probably just dry skin false.

>> Yeah.

See we already covered that dogs can have seasonal allergies just like people.

True if my dog is licking their paws it's probably just a bad habit loss recurring ear problems can be related to allergies.

>> True if my dog isn't losing hair they're itching probably isn't a serious problem.

>> OK bathing my dog more often will help with itching .

>> That one's tricky OK because if if you're bathing them too frequently and dry their skin out sure if you're bathing them I have found this with short hair dogs you can bathe a little more frequently because they have more oil because their skin their hair is short.

Sure.

Versus a long hair dog who all that oil is trapped underneath all that hair so you know brushing it helps bring out oil out.

So it just kind of depends on the breed and what the issue is.

>> OK, can we give a dog or I should say a pet but we've been talking pretty specifically about dogs and over the counter medicine like Benadryl if they're having seasonal allergies.

>> So I would consult with with your veterinarian office because the dog metabolizes Benadryl at a different rate than people do.

>> OK, so you want to make sure that for your dog's size that you're giving them a dose that's helpful.

>> Sure.

So I would check with your with your vet if my dog seems happy and is eating normally I don't need to worry about itching.

True.

OK, I can give my oh I already ask that one if the itching keeps coming back it's important to figure out what's causing it.

>> OK fantastic.

So overall if you had one piece of advice for again we'll say dog owners regarding the the cheese, the allergies what would you say that itching is a symptom and we all need to work to figure out why they're trying to tell us something.

>> Those poor baby well speaking of not a poor baby but a sweet sweet baby we have one over at adoption Corner.

So Angela, thank you so much.

I'm going to head over there and we will see you very soon.

Thank you.

Thank you .

OK, we are here with Amy Jo and the star of the show really harly sweet girl.

>> Oh my gosh yes.

OK she's eleven months eleven months old.

What type of dog is she is is she too so she has a lot of puppies still in her as you guys can see so I'm going to let her choose what to do.

>> She's obviously very energetic and I will recommend that even though we have no restrictions on her no age restrictions, no children restrictions, no dog restrictions however she is definitely going to need some training.

>> So leash walking is super fun because she just randomly like runs through your legs or in the back of your legs or she's just not quite sure which direction she wants to go so she could use some training for as far as basic manners, she doesn't have to prove you wrong.

>> Right.

I know hopefully I wore out a little bit but she does know how to sit OK but recommendations obviously for basic manners and also for some training.

>> OK, so those are things we can help with when someone I was going to say when someone comes to animal care and control and finds a pet that they think is perhaps ready for their forever home, do you have recommendations because I wouldn't know where to go.

Yes, we actually have a really cool program.

>> It's a behavior training certificate, OK, where trainer will actually come into your home and they will help you with those things.

So we have a variety of trainers from basic manners training etc.

to also something a little bit more extensive.

And we also have an app that after you adopt you can just pop it in and ask questions and they can give you videos and snippets and reading material so every type of learner will have a outlet, a resource.

Hey perfect now OK so you mentioned for Harley that there are no restrictions but are there things that that would probably be beneficial like should we should somebody maybe have a fenced yard, that type of thing?

You know, we always recommend it but it's not necessarily a requirement.

OK, so with her like I said, she loves to go on walks like she's just not sure how to do it right.

>> You know, she's just Kerry runs around in circles so I just let the leash go around me so curious.

>> Yes, she is absolutely.

But she is very young so she has that opportunity to learn.

>> Yeah.

And even when they're older they can learn new tricks as they say.

>> But she is a precious little baby angel and a really good car writer I will tell you that.

>> Oh nice.

Yeah OK.

Do you think that she would benefit from maybe having a more mature dog in the home to kind of help her learn the ropes?

She absolutely would because she's so loose and just easy going and again really doesn't have a care in the world.

>> So how are you having a partner for her to kind of learn from?

>> What do you see?

Oh my goodness.

But yes, obviously she's just eager right now she's actually pretty tired.

This is pretty tame so I don't want to fool our viewers, OK?

She has a lot of energy so we kind of walk her out backstage.

OK, perfect.

What should we know about Sheeter in general?

Is there something or I'm sure there are probably lots of things about the breed itself that maybe we should know she will require grooming regularly.

OK, so that is something especially with your other guest when they're talking about skin grooming is going to be important for her.

So you're going to want to have her groomed on a regular schedule not just for a cool haircut but also just to make her more comfortable.

Of course.

Yeah, OK, we want to remind everybody that if you are interested in Harly or any of the other pets that you saw earlier tonight, please don't call us here at PBS Fort Wayne although we'd love to hear from you but we need you to call Animal Care Control or scan that QR code because that's how you're going to be able to adopt Harley or any of the other oh sweet sweet pumpernickel.

>> I know, honey.

I know.

Thank you, Amy.

>> Thank you.

Harley, please come back and see us again.

We appreciate it.

Yes, Support for Pet Life comes from the Doug and Joni Lehman Family Charitable Fund.

A proud supporter of PBS Fort Wayne and an advocate for animal safety and well-being.

this is animal care in control, but we're really we're proud to service our community in a humane public safety capacity.

You make this possible by donating, fostering, adopting, and spaying and neutering your pets.