Johannesburg, 10 August22 – The human animal bond lies at the heart of pet ownership. The role our companion animals play in our lives and homes cannot be overstated. Home is where the heart is, and dogs, cats and other pets make sure there is even more heart to go around.
This bond means that the health of pets has become increasingly important. Our animals don’t only live in our homes. They are in our living areas, bedrooms, and sometimes even in our beds. They are on our couches and in our cars. We cohabitate with them which means life-threatening diseases aren’t all we need to worry about.
We need to focus on the overall health and wellness of our animals as well. How comfortable are they? “The comfort of pets can affect their owners,” says Tarryn Dent, Business Unit Lead: Companion Animals at Zoetis South Africa (Zoetis), a global animal health company. “Firstly, because pet owners love their animals and want them to be happy, and secondly because the comfort of their animals impacts on their own wellbeing. A pet that is constantly itching and scratching while we are trying to sleep, or has a slight odour or that is always uncomfortable impacts the entire household.”
In fact, according to research conducted by Zoetis, one in six pet owners complain about itching in their dogs. “Scratching is one of the top three reasons why people take their dog to the vet,” says Dent. “The good news is that it’s possible to spot the signs of irritation caused by skin conditions and treat them so your dog can continue to be its fun-loving and wonderful self.”
A focus on the holistic health and wellness of companion animals
Dogs love a good scratch, but how do you know when it’s a sign of an underlying skin condition? There are many reasons for an itch, from fleas or other parasites, to bacterial or yeast infections, or even an allergic reaction to food or their environment.
“15% to 20% of dogs struggling with itching have atopic dermatitis, which is a common allergic skin disease,” says Dent. “The most common causes of canine allergic dermatitis are flea allergy, food allergy, inhalant or contact allergy, and allergy to the normal bacterial flora and yeast organisms of the skin.”
Unfortunately, atopic dermatitis only rarely goes into remission or spontaneously resolves, and if left untreated, allergies can change a dog’s personality. “Sadly, the constant itch and frustration of dermatitis can lead dogs to shy away from people or even to become aggressive when touched. As humans, we know how difficult it can be to always be uncomfortable – it’s exactly the same for dogs,” says Dent.
It’s for this reason that Zoetis has invested heavily into research and development in this area resulting in a medication that alleviates the discomfort associated with dermatitis. “We understand what a big impact constant itching and discomfort can have on dogs and their households. As a holistic animal health provider, we aren’t only focusing on life threatening diseases – but on overall wellbeing as well,” says Dent.
Finding solutions to common skin diseases
When a dog suffers from canine atopic dermatitis, it’s immune system reacts inappropriately when the animal comes into contact with allergens found in the environment. The skin becomes itchy which leads to scratching until the dog’s skin gets damaged, leading to a secondary bacterial and yeast infection – which only amplifies the problem.
Zoetis’s solution is a single injection that gives veterinarians and pet owners an excellent opportunity to help control the itch without leading to any secondary signs that can be more difficult to manage than the itch itself.
“We have acquired a deeper scientific understanding of the causes of allergic skin conditions in dogs at the molecular level, which has allowed our team to develop novel, targeted, effective treatments based on these new insights,” says Dent.
Spotting the signs of an itch that needs attention
Treatment begins with the correct diagnosis however. Pet owners know their pets better than anyone else and so, if you see one or more of the following symptoms, Dent highly recommends that you visit your local veterinarian who will be able to diagnose the specific reason for the symptoms below:
- Regularly, licking, chewing, rubbing, biting or scratching the same part of the body or scooting (rubbing the bottom along the floor)
- Redness, darkening of the skin, sores, scabs or scratch marks
- Hair loss, bald spots, or thinning of fur due to itching
- Preoccupation with rubbing the face, paws, sides or belly
- Less playing, eating, sleeping or other activities due to itching
“Through working with veterinarians, we have a deep understanding of what allergic dogs and their owners need and have been able to develop first-in-class medicines to give them effective, safe options to customise atopic dermatitis treatment for canine patients. It’s a breakthrough that our team has developed to support pet owners and their dogs.”
ABOUT ZOETIS:
A leading multi-national animal health company, Zoetis builds on more than 65 years of experience in animal health to research, develop, manufacture and commercialise medicines, vaccines and diagnostic products. Zoetis understands the deep connection between people and their pet and provides veterinarians with the resources needed to provide the highest quality of care and support, help improve the quality and extend the life of cats, dogs and horses and make it easier for owners to contribute towards the health and wellness of their companion animals. Zoetis produces vaccines, anti-infectives, parasiticides, dermatology products, animal health diagnostic and other pharmaceuticals.
PRESS CONTACT:
Mantis Communications
Kerry Simpson
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 079 438 3252
