Westie Foundation of America & The Fall Issue of WESTIE WELLNESS

 Derby's cute little face is the feature photo

in the Fall issue of WESTIE WELLNESS

published by the

WESTIE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA

ATOPIC DERMATITIS in the 21st Century

Information to help your allergic westie

Written By:  Valeria A. Fadok, 

DVM, PhD, Diplomate, ACVD

Gulf Coast Veterinary Dermatology,

Houston, TX

Is a skin disease associated with an allergic response

to a number of environmental allergens, including

pollens, molds, dusts, danders, mites, and

in some dogs, food as well.

Westies are one of many breeds predisposed

to atopic dermatitis, and there is no cure

of this chronic disease. BUT ...

successful management IS possible.

Ok Derby ...

We have learned a lot about canine atopic dermatitis in

the last 15 years.  We use to think that dogs were

exposed to their allergens through the mucus 

membranes of their nose and mouth, and that somehow,

these proteins made their way to the skin to cause

allergic reaction.  We now know that dogs

absorb most of their allergens through their

skin, which explains why we see the lesions where

we do:  the skin of the feet, the axillae, the abdomen,

the groin, as well as around the eyes and mouth.

Some dogs will have itchy ears and itchy rumps as well.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is

associate with genetic predispositions, and is caused

by abnormalities in immune function and in the

skin barrier.  Because atopic dermatitis in dogs is

very similar to that in people, we can use the

research done in humans and mice to understand

the canine disease, and use this understanding

to improve our options for treatments.

Please visit the Foundation's free Health eBook

by going to the website above.