Hypothyroidism or Allergies??

Question
Dear Dr. Gotthelf,
One year ago, I rescued a 2 year old cocker with hypermature cataracts, luxating patellas, hypothyroidism, and allergies.

He has been to a dermatologist and was tested intradermally and was positive to 2 grasses, dust and cat dander. He almost went into anaphylaxis when we attempted the allergy serums.

However, what has us stymied is that he ONLY itches from Sept - May. His itching is out of control during those months, and we treat the symptoms with Medrol and Atarax. I do not like using cortisone because of the side effects, but his quality of life is miserable, once the itching starts. He is COMPLETELY drug free from May till the Fall, and lives with the potential allergens all summer long.

He is on Lipiderm 2x the label dose to help with the itching. He gets no relief from resihist, Resicort, or Genesis Topical Spray.

My question is...I am beginning to wonder if it is, allergies at all that wreck havoc on him, or could it simply be really really dry skin...and is there a correlation between dry skin and hypothyroidism? Not one vet can understand why he only has symptoms in the winter only.

Actually, they started last year at teh end of August, and this year, we are one month later...and is itching very little. I have been using humidifiers in the house, since he doesnt itch when it is hot out.
His dermatologist adamantly stated that "hypothyroidism does NOT cause itching!"
Also, is there anything else I can use to hydrate his skin, because, if it is dry skin, fatty acid supplements do not help. I have read you can use Alpha Keri oil, but I am afraid of the fragrance. Are there any other ways of hydrating a dog's skin?

One more thing....his bacterial skin infections are resistent to Cephalexin. No vet believes hes as bad as he is, cause they say clinically he looks fine! He itches and I believe the itching CAUSES the bumps.

Have you ever heard of a dog with really really dry skin...and again, could that be related to the thyroid? i am wondering if his allergy cycle is NOT an allergy cycle at all, but related to his thyroid levels. He was at 2.0 Soloxine 2x daily last year, and 5 months ago, went extremely HYPERthyroid...he is now due for a t4, and is on 1.0 Solxine 1x daily, after 3 medication adjustments. (he kept coming up Hy-PER). Bathing and grooming him in the summer is a pleasure....in the winter, I have to double the cortisone dose, cause a grooming could send him in a downward slide, he literally will itch 24/7 while ON the medrol.

I would greatly appreciate your thoughts as to what could be the cause of these horrific itching symptoms. I just cant see him being completely drug free all summer, and suffer all winter long when the potential allergens are very much present.

I am really thinking its not the allergies at all and is somehow hormone or endocrine related.

Thank you and my kindest regards...I truly appreciate any insight or help you can offer.
Thank you so much.
julie


Answer
Endocrine diseases are not usually itchy unless they are secondarily infected.  If the bacteria are resistant to Cephalexin, which is VERY unusual, then have a culture and sensitivity done on a skin biopsy to see what antibiotic may help.  This biopsy will also be able to tell you if it is endocrine or allergic.

If the dog's skin problems are seasonal, that would give more credence to an allergy to something in the house rather than endocrine disease.

Dry heat can cause itchy flaky skin and Alpha Kerri oil will help that.  

If you don't want to use steroids, then there is a new product called ATOPICA that does the same thing as steroids without the long term side effects of steroids.