Need Advice For Dog Itch Problem

[Norse]

Every year at about this time, when the summer turns hot and humid, our dog (a black lab/border collie mix who looks mostly like a lab) starts itching all over almost non-stop and licking/biting anywhere she can reach but mostly her front legs. In the past, only prednisone has provided her with relief. Last winter though we almost lost her to liver failure. She recovered amazingly well and has been on an-all natural diet vet-approved diet ever since.

Because of the switch to all-natural, we were really hoping she could avoid the problem this year, but no such luck. Because of her liver issue, the vet does not want to treat her with steriods and thus she is only getting Benadryl. This helps only a little and she still is in a lot of discomfort. The vet also suggested a topical spray for hot-spots, but really, she itches all over and that might only help with her legs.

Any other ideas?

[Biciclista]

are fleas involved?

[OakLeaf]

"All-natural" food isn't necessarily hypoallergenic. Is it free of corn, wheat and soy products? There's a concept called "allergic load" that says that the more allergens someone's exposed to, the worse they'll react to all of them - so even if the food doesn't bother her year-round, it could be contributing to a reaction to airborne allergens.

You might try Chlorpheniramine maleate (the yellow pills, Chlor-Trimeton) instead of Benadryl. It's safe for dogs, but you should ask your vet about dosage. My personal experience as well as that of my dogs is that Benadryl is good for making someone drowsy, but it doesn't help much with reactions to pollens and molds.

It couldn't hurt to try homeopathic treatment for weed pollens and molds, too. If it doesn't work, all you're out is the cost of the medicine - no side effects, no drug interactions.

[TsPoet]

It couldn't hurt to try homeopathic treatment for weed pollens and molds, too. If it doesn't work, all you're out is the cost of the medicine - no side effects, no drug interactions.

Homeopathic treatments have as many side effects and drug interactions as "drugs" do. They are chemicals, just like the processed drugs, and since they aren't purified the way the manufactured are, they can have more interactions and more side effects. They are also often given at higher doses, which again increases the possibility of adverse outcomes.
Don't get me wrong, I was going to suggest something along that line, just don't be fooled into thinking homeopathic treatments aren't drugs, they are.
I wonder if there isn't something topical to try - especially something homeopathic. I'll see if I can ask one of my vet friends, I have one that does homeopathy with her own dogs.

[spazzdog]

How about a nice oatmeal bath... when my dog was itchy I got some of that all natural oatmeal shampoo (for dogs).

It helped and he smelled fresh & clean.

spazz

[Tri Girl]

My golden has the same issues. This time of year he can't stop himself from scratching and biting his skin off- he's just allergic to the grass or something. Our vet recommended some expensive allergy drugs. I didn't like that idea. I have a friend who's a vet and he said to try fish oil capsules. They've helped my pup, and he doesn't scratch or bite nearly as much. It's not gone altogether, but it's much better. I don't know why it works, but it seems to.
I've also used Seba-Hex shampoo for dogs (not natural, tho and it's a prescription shampoo) and it helped with his itchiness.

[papaver]

are there pinetrees in the neighbourhood? Some dogs are allergic. There are various types of hedges that can cause this too.

[tulip]

My dog gets itchy, too. Yes, fleas are the culprit and my current flea stuff (Frontline Plus) just can't keep up this time of year, although it seems to work fine the rest of the year. I've heard that FLP doesn't work so great in some areas of the country. My mother uses Comfortis on her dogs and a friend swears by Revolution. I have not switched, however.

Oatmeal shampoo is good, as is Aveeno oatmeal bath. It's temporary, but does seem to help. My dog eats Taste of the Wild dry food and he gets fish oil. That has seemed to help, too.

It's been suggested to me by a friend who is lot more familiar with dogs than I am that a flea collar might help, too. So I'm off to Southern States to get one of those as well.

I also got a Furminator brush and he loves being brushed. I figure that can't hurt.

[fatbottomedgurl]

Both my dogs have seasonal allergies this time of year. I keep them inside as much as possible. The more they are outside the itchier they get. Some people say to wash their feet before they come in. I guess we could keep a wash pan of water and a towel right outside the door.

[Norse]

It's not fleas and her diet includes no corn, soy or wheat. There are many, many pine trees in the neighborhood, including our own backyard. She does gets one fish oil capsule in her breakfast every day. It's the dosage the vet wants her to get daily; perhaps I could ask about a temporary increase. I'll try to find some oatmeal bath tonight. Thanks for the thoughts so far.

[kermit]

I have a Jack Russell with severe allergies. I had the bloodwork done and have isolated all the food problems. He is more allergic to grass than anything and this time of year he chews his feet raw when he gets out in the yard. I just had him to the vet a week ago after using up my prednisone. I really did not like giving it to him but it was the only thing to stop the itching and chewing behavior. I started him on a new drug called Atopica which I have read has rave reviews for skin allergies. I also use a ketoconizole shampoo and leave on lotion. That helps alot. He gets a couple different fidonutrient food supplements with amino acids and oils. Also gets pet dophilis which is a digestive aid to help his immune system fight the bad bacteria. Its trial and error with allergies. The grass kills him but so far, after a week I see promise. He also gets benedryl three times a day. In a month she wants a liver enzyme to make sure he's not reacting. If you are unsure of the drugs, start with the keto shampoo.

[spazzdog]

put doggie boots on him (them) to keep their feet out of grass.

it taked a few times for them to get used to them, but they do... just keep them off the linoleum its a little slippy.

[Tuckervill]

My dad started giving his dog vitamins for dogs and it took care of her hot spots. I agree with the booties, too.

Get rid of the Frontline if it's not working, Tulip. It's only making the fleas more resistant. (I use Advantage. Works great, but not for ticks. We rarely find ticks, though.)

Karen

[OakLeaf]

Homeopathic treatments have as many side effects and drug interactions as "drugs" do. They are chemicals, just like the processed drugs, and since they aren't purified the way the manufactured are, they can have more interactions and more side effects. They are also often given at higher doses, which again increases the possibility of adverse outcomes.

Nep, nep, nep. Maybe you're confusing "herbal" vs. "homeopathic."

Homeopathic treatments, by definition, are given at minuscule doses. When a homeopathic remedy is labeled, say, 6C, it's a dilution of 1:1,000,000,000,000. The extreme dilution is actually the criticism that allopathic practitioners most commonly raise against homeopathic theory. For the same reason, allopathic practitioners and the FDA recognize that homeopathic treatments have no drug interactions and no side effects (except for the possibility that a patient is extremely sensitive or allergic to the base, most commonly lactose tablets).

Standard allergy immunotherapy is a form of homeopathy (or technically, homotoxicology). OTC homeopathic allergy treatments work exactly the same way, except that the dosage isn't titrated to the patient.

Homeopathic treatments are purified as carefully as pharmaceuticals and regulated by the FDA under the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States.



WRT the potential trigger: pine, like almost all trees, pollinates in the spring. In most of the northern hemisphere it's weed season - ragweed, lamb's quarters, pigweed, etc. - and molds may be high, too. Two of my dogs were very sensitive to weed pollens.

[Blueberry]

My dad started giving his dog vitamins for dogs and it took care of her hot spots. I agree with the booties, too.

Get rid of the Frontline if it's not working, Tulip. It's only making the fleas more resistant. (I use Advantage. Works great, but not for ticks. We rarely find ticks, though.)

Karen

Even Advantage appears to not be working here. We switched to that after giving up on Frontline. So far, Revolution and Comfortis are still working. The fleas seem to be adapting more quickly than we are. Back when FL first came out - put it on, and don't see a flea for 3 mos.

CA