Vaccination & Allergies

Skin and Ears and the Frustrations of a Holistic Vet

Practicing holistic medicine is for the most part very rewarding. Sadly, it is often looked at as the last recourse, and by the time animals are brought in for holistic treatment their healing systems have become severely impaired, they are drug dependent and their caregivers have depleted their resources and patience. This is particularly the case with skin and ear conditions.

Skin and ear conditions are more prevalent in dogs than cats. Puppies and young dogs may show skin and ear symptoms such as rashes with redness and itching; they may exhibit hot spots, which are usually circular spots of red and inflamed skin that may appear wet, sore and hot. In some cases dogs will have redness in their ears, with or without increased wax production, and they may scratch frequently.

I hesitate to call these signs a disease because they may be the body’s reaction to allergens. Allergens are substances, natural or otherwise, that have the ability to trigger reactions like those described above. Dogs are naturally more sensitive to allergens during the first three years of their lives. They are born with immune systems that are like a blank slate. For their first ten weeks puppies are protected by maternal antibodies; after that, they are on their own.

Their immune systems have to test every possible substance and microbe that enters their bodies and decide if it is friend or foe. The immune system takes the most protective approach and reacts to everything as if it was foe. This is a period of heightened sensitivity where the immune system reacts strongly to any outside stimulus. When a puppy gets its first flea bite, it gets itchy all over, as if he had a thousand flea bites; when he comes in contact with grass for the first time, he scratches and whines for a while; as pollens or leaf fragments come into contact with his skin, he itches and may develop a rash. As he is repeatedly exposed in moderation to those allergens, his body learns that they are harmless and develops resistance to them. The reactions become less intense and eventually do not occur or are only very occasional.

Some dogs have difficulties reaching that point of resistance. This may be due to genetic susceptibilities, as may occur with purebreds. In others it may be due to interference caused by untimely vaccination or by the use of drugs.

Interference may occur in dogs that are vaccinated when they are exhibiting skin and ear symptoms. A puppy that has a rash is in an active stage of reactivity with an allergen; his immune system is already in high gear. A vaccination is a direct stimulus to the immune system. Vaccines cause the immune system to gear up and mount a long-lasting defense response to a specific pathogen. (In the vaccine, the pathogen has been killed, so this is like a mock infection. The killed pathogen cannot cause disease, but the immune system reacts as if it could.) If an animal is vaccinated when his immune system is already in high gear reacting to an allergen, the extra stimulus from the vaccine may permanently set the immune system in a mode where it mounts overreactions to certain allergens. This is a real allergic disease.

The development of natural resistance to allergens is also interfered with by the use of drugs. The standard response to skin and ear symptoms in a puppy has been to inject or give oral steroids, antihistamine and/or antibiotics. Every time they get a rash, or skin or ear symptoms, they are treated with drugs. This is justifiable if the life of the puppy is in danger due to a true massive allergic reaction, with facial swelling and possible blockage of breathing, or if the symptoms are causing prolonged suffering. But it is not justifiable if the reaction is limited to a rash. The first few times that the drugs are given, they are highly effective and convenient to use. One injection may halt the skin or ear symptoms for several weeks. However, with repeated usage higher and more frequent doses are needed; then, combinations of various drugs are needed to achieve only modest results. Side effects with internal organ malfunction may develop.

It is at this point that some caregivers start considering alternative treatments and seek homeopathy as a way to resolve the problem. By this time, their pet’s immune system and healing mechanisms are deeply compromised. Homeopathic treatment relies on stimulating the animal’s own healing processes. In the case of skin and ear disease, one seeks to rebuild the immune system and to recreate the process of the development of natural resistance. However, the longer that the animal has been treated with drugs, the less the chances of success with homeopathy. Too many people abandon the treatment even after seeing that there has been significant improvement, because the animal still may be itching. At this point I may recommend going back to drugs. It is noteworthy that some animals may never become symptom-free.

Skin and ear conditions can be successfully treated with complementary therapies when done early in the development of the disease. In my holistic practice I use homeopathic medicines, supportive nutritional therapies and soothing baths. I definitely postpone any scheduled vaccination until the dog is back to normal. If your dog has experienced skin problems more than twice in a short time and you are in any way inclined towards holistic treatment, act now. The problem is unlikely to go away with more drugs, and after bombarding their body with them it may be too late for an alternative treatment regime.

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