For any sensitive-skinned dog owner (Staffies especially!) this first photo might look familiar.
Our very own receptionist Mikayla had been noticing recurring skin issues with her Staffie Zeus. This poor little guy had a history of painful skin flare-ups coming into the warmer months, often leading into sores from obsessive itching and accompanied by hair loss. Mikayla decided to get to the bottom of the issue and, after a consultation with our vet team, put Zeus on a trial of Apoquel.
Apoquel is an oral medication that combats allergic itch and skin inflammation, calming the irritating flare-ups that cause pets to scratch and allowing their skin to heal. Within only four days using Apoquel Zeus' skin had seen a MAJOR reduction in redness, and Mikayla was excited enough by these results to stick with the program. 28 weeks on, not only is Zeus' skin clear and itch-free, but his tummy fur has grown back completely!
Skin irritation can have a variety of causes, including food allergy, fleas, allergy to cleaning or grooming products, and environmental allergens - a particularly common cause this time of year. Parasites and pollen wreak havoc in the spring and summer months, spurring ecsema and hayfever in us and allergic itch in our pets. If you notice excessive self-grooming, itching, scooting, recurring ear issues or infections, hair loss, rashes or redness in your pet, it's time to investigate.
We're currently offering free 5-day trials of Apoquel to 20 eligible pups this November thanks to our friends at Zoetis. If you'd like to trial Apoquel and see what it can do for your pet, give us a call on (02) 6962 3142 to schedule a skin consultation and assess their eligibility.
