dulcylee

Doggie Allergies!!!

Posted on 04/15/09, 09:44 pm

Meylo, my almost 4yr old lab has had problems with allergies since he was about 2. It started out as shedding (which I know is common but this was extensive) then went onto balding/raw patches to lethargy. I took him to the vet ~ where they did a skin scraping & found him to have a secondary bacterial infection. We put him on steroids & antibiotics. At that time the vet told us to change his food to something with a different protein source. We have never had him on cheap food (Eukanuba ~ lamb & rice originally & now on Venison & Rice ~ the exact brand I can't remember off the top of my mind...but recommended by the vet).

Every time this happens it is also the very hot part of the year...typically closer to August (in California 100 plus degrees) but this year he is already showing signs of his allergies kicking in!! I talked to the vet & they recommended trying Eukanuba Potato & Duck now. I just feel like we are running out of options. The next step is actual allergy testing....right now I can't see spending that much money on something like that (I know in the next couple of years he will need surgery on his hind leg for an OCD lesion). I hate to put him on steroids too...not easy on his system. I gave him benadryl....but didn't really see any benefit from it...he didn't even get sleepy.

Any advice or experiences you can share? Thanks!

• Reply #1 04/16/09  11:32am
  
  SingerChic
  If it's not happening year round then how could it be food?!! Seems like whatever it is on comes out in certain times of the year. Do you have him on flea & tick prevention? Some dogs can be extremely allergic to fleas. Omega 3 and 6 oils are very good for their skin and can help with allergies (just a thought). Someone else on here may have more knowledge on the subject. Wish I could be of more help. Poor Meylo, I hope it gets taken care of soon.
• Reply #2 04/16/09  5:41pm
  
  dulcylee
  Well, he has it all year long but the heat certainly aggravates it much much more. He is constantly shedding but when the weather heats up like this he tends to get patchy areas, scratches more & then gets a bacterial infection. Year round he is chewing on his paws & legs...drives me insane!!! He also goes outside more now that it is warm (plays in the grass & lays in the sun on the patio, etc) and tends to have more reactions to everything not just his food. I know it is isn't merely his food but that is something we can fix. He is on Frontline & Heartguard....no issues there. I already have him on Omega 3, glucosamine, missing link supplement.
• Reply #3 05/16/09  5:05pm
  
  htag
  Our Callie had that too! It's very hard on everyone. She would chew herself raw on those hot spots. We tried Benadryl, and steroids also Dulcy. I'm afraid poor Meylo will have to go for allergy testing. It took a lot of patience for my coworker to figure out what was wrong with her cat who was going through the same thing. She broke down and allergy tested him, and he's doing sooo much better! Good luck hon'. I'm sorry it took me so long to reply to you.
• Reply #4 06/07/09  8:20pm
  
  mbsjps
  Hi, new to the group. Have an 8 year old rotti/collie that was dx'ed with allergies. She's allergic to everything, and I mean everythng. She's on a special mixed alergie shot that she get's once a week. Our vet did blood work and a skin scratch, sent it to a vet in Pittsburgh and within a week, he had mixed a great serium for her. She's been getting her shots for 7 years now. I give them myself. She doesn't mind at all. I can also say it worked wonders immediately. She's on Nature's Recipe - Venison & rice for sensitive skin. We also bath her in head and shoulders or some good dandriff shampoo. It helps her skin too. She has a little more trouble some days, just like people, her allergies will flair up when pollen is at it's worse. So we keep her in as much as possible and won't let her lay in the grass until the next rain. She's better then. So I hope some of this helps. I know Honey Girl feels soooooo much better.
  
• Reply #5 07/06/09  1:37pm
  
  dulcylee
  Well, we ended up changing Meylo's food to Nature's Recipe Duck & Potato. It is a single source carb & protein food. We switched over all his treats & took away any "tainted" toys. But, before we could transition him completely he developed a hot spot on his hip from chewing. For a second time in 2wks he was back at the vet. His allergies were so bad he had chewed a bald raw area about the size of a half dollar. We put him back on steroids, antibiotics, and cortisone cream. He had to wear the cone of shame until the sore healed. He is doing much better!
  
  The vet said for some reason this has been an extremely bad season for allergies for animals & people alike. Since benadryl doesn't work for Meylo I guess Claritin is an option also. Food allergies can develop & change despite being on the same food for some time. But, I was also told putting him on a single source carb & protein would help slow that down some. I am just happy that my happy lab is back!!! Thanks for all your advice ~ I appreciate it all!!!!
• Reply #6 08/04/09  11:04am
  
  RubellaUmbr...
  Hey, there, Dulcy, I am going through the exact same thing with my Bo right now! This is the first day since the vet 5 days ago that the bald spot doesn't look wet. I think he also has less pain in it today........finally! He has been prescribed a chlorohex shampoo, antibiotic cream, a spray for itching and pain, and cephalexin twice a day. Lo and behold today, I see another friggin' itch spot he's going for on his back! He has the raw sore on his right hip and his entire back is sloughing off skin like there is no tomorrow. When I comb him, it is like a snowstorm, quite gross. My vet said the allergy testing is $350.00, boy that is just too much along with all the treatments all the time! He mentioned possibly giving steroids next week when he is healed up some, I really think it is necesarry at this point. What are 'tainted toys'? I'm giving him the moist n meaty cheeseburger meal as that is all he will eat.....he is very fussy with food. I've tried the venison and duck food which he tired of right away. I think his problem is with something outdoors and I'm trying to keep him in more. I noticed that I myself am going bats with itching when I go outdoors to weed, so something is definitely going on in the environment right now. We should start a "skin problem' group here, this is so ongoing and difficult to deal with!
• Reply #7 08/08/09  8:19pm
  
  dulcylee
  I am sorry to hear about Bo's allergies too. They certainly are miserable this time of year. To clarify what I mean by "tainted" toys ~ anything that my pup is allergic to. Like rawhide bones/toys, pig ears, etc. Any toy that has an animal product I do not give him. I am very careful about the treats I give him to....just duck & potato now. I have to say Meylo is doing better but is not great. I am now looking into boots or something....he still likes to chew on his feet but so far the rest of his body is better after the prednisone. He is certainly allergic to something outside ~ I am keeping him in too. Ask your vet about what dose of Claritin you can give ~ it is safe & is probably much cheaper then allergy shots at this point. The next step for us is an immunosuppressant called cyclosporin ~ I really don't want to go there though as it is even more harsh on them then prednisone. Good luck to you & Bo!!!!
• Reply #8 08/31/09  10:18am
  
  RubellaUmbr...
  The black skin on his abdomen has receded, but at this point I don't know which thing I did was the one he needed, the shampoo, the spray, the cream or the antibiotics. His runny eyes are much improved, also. I'd love to know why the vet gives an antibiotic for an allergy....it works but I don't understand the connection.
• Reply #9 08/31/09  3:36pm
  
  htag
  Not quite sure myself. I'd assume it's for the actual skin infection that they may get with hot spots??? At least it seems to work at any rate. Good deal I'd say. =)
• Reply #10 09/14/09  1:37pm
  
  terrys
  an allergy is a reaction in the immune system - abnormal - and antibiotics work on the immune system so maybe that's the connection.

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