My dog has insane allergies and I don't know what else I should do.

[norgos]

My 2.5 year old yorkshire terrier [90% yorkie 10% schnauzer] has been getting insane allergies.

She'd scratch her chest and underarms to the point they would bleed and have a puss-y smell and even her eyes were crusty from the scratching.

Brought her to the vet and had some Prednisone and it only relieved her eczema for a short while and then it came back.


foods...
- Fed her Wellness Chicken since she was a puppy until the allergies started to appear.
- Switched to Wellness Fish+Potato as an alternative to chicken. Allergies were less severe but still present.
- Switched to Prescription Diet Zd, no change after eating 1 bag.
- Switch to Orijen 6 Fish, allergies skyrocketed and she started to bleed and scratch even more.
- Switched back to Wellness Fish+Potato. Allergies still present but less severe.
- Siwtched to Orijen Regional Red [present] and started to homecook her food [beef+ rice, beef+sweet potato+carrots, sometimes chicken], still unsure if it's making any progress but I have a feeling the allergy might come back due to the food, but I was suggested by the vet to really stick with it for 6 months to know for sure.


meds...
- blood test done, no blood worms
- did our first dose of Revolution and will be doing anther one

other details
- we have another 4.5 year old yorkshire dog [her mother] and she doesn't has insane allergies but does have a bit.
- we have switched our plastic waterbowl Dogit to a glass bowl
- we've started vaccuuming more around the house, using Swifter, etc.
- don't know if we should wash her too much
- I've started cleaning her ears and applying meds for her eyes to relieve itching, works fine

- I don't want to continue with giving her prednisone because of risks leading to pancreatis.

No wet stools since we switched her to homecooked, although it is still softer but it's expected since we switched from grain food.

Any other suggestions?

[yiddishkeit]

My 2.5 year old yorkshire terrier [90% yorkie 10% schnauzer] has been getting insane allergies.

She'd scratch her chest and underarms to the point they would bleed and have a puss-y smell and even her eyes were crusty from the scratching.

Brought her to the vet and had some Prednisone and it only relieved her eczema for a short while and then it came back.


foods...
- Fed her Wellness Chicken since she was a puppy until the allergies started to appear.
- Switched to Wellness Fish+Potato as an alternative to chicken. Allergies were less severe but still present.
- Switched to Prescription Diet Zd, no change after eating 1 bag.
- Switch to Orijen 6 Fish, allergies skyrocketed and she started to bleed and scratch even more.
- Switched back to Wellness Fish+Potato. Allergies still present but less severe.
- Siwtched to Orijen Regional Red [present] and started to homecook her food [beef+ rice, beef+sweet potato+carrots, sometimes chicken], still unsure if it's making any progress but I have a feeling the allergy might come back due to the food, but I was suggested by the vet to really stick with it for 6 months to know for sure.


meds...
- blood test done, no blood worms
- did our first dose of Revolution and will be doing anther one

other details
- we have another yorkshire dog [her mother] and she doesn't has insane allergies
- we have switched our plastic waterbowl Dogit to a glass bowl
- we've started vaccuuming more around the house, using Swifter, etc.
- don't know if we should wash her too much
- I've started cleaning her ears and applying meds for her eyes to relieve itching, works fine

- I don't want to continue with giving her prednisone because of risks leading to pancreatis.

No wet stools since we switched her to homecooked, although it is still softer but it's expected since we switched from grain food.

Any other suggestions?

My only other suggestion would be to consult with a holistic vet. There aren't many around, you'd have to do some searching, but maybe a holistic vet might have some ideas on how to help your dog.. Hope your doggy feels better soon..

[iheartpepsi]

What is the Revolution being used for? That in itself can cause really irritated and dry skin in some pets...

[Siye]

Try switching to a completely raw diet and don't bathe too frequently (once a month should be ok)

Use baby shampoo you can dilute it too if you want (johnson&johnson yellow bottle) instead of the dog shampoo (I find most of them to be crap)

I used to use dog shampoo but my dog would still scratch ALOT even after through rinsing. I switched and it really helped.

[norgos]

Try switching to a completely raw diet and don't bathe too frequently (once a month should be ok)

Use baby shampoo you can dilute it too if you want (johnson&johnson yellow bottle) instead of the dog shampoo (I find most of them to be crap)

I used to use dog shampoo but my dog would still scratch ALOT even after through rinsing. I switched and it really helped.

Actually I have always used baby shampoo, exactly that brand that you mentioned.

I asked my vet that i've been feeding my dog raw chicken, with bones and he told me that i shouldn't because all raw chicken contain traces of salmonella and if i feed my dog for a week, she'll probably get sick and be hospitalized.

I read about using oatmeal to relieve their itching. I was thinking about boiling oatmeal and reducing it, then removing the oats until i have only the "creamy" part and use it on her.

[norgos]

What is the Revolution being used for? That in itself can cause really irritated and dry skin in some pets...

my vets says because she has allergies, it can be 500 things so he told me give her Revolution to single out skin parasites.

https://www.revolution4dogs.com/default.aspx?sec=Parasites

[Siye]

Actually I have always used baby shampoo, exactly that brand that you mentioned.

I asked my vet that i've been feeding my dog raw chicken, with bones and he told me that i shouldn't because all raw chicken contain traces of salmonella and if i feed my dog for a week, she'll probably get sick and be hospitalized.

I read about using oatmeal to relieve their itching. I was thinking about boiling oatmeal and reducing it, then removing the oats until i have only the "creamy" part and use it on her.

Oh really? I haven't tried real oatmeal but I found baby shampoo to be much better than oatmeal shampoo.

As for the raw diet, I feed my dog raw chicken, bones and all and appears to be beneficial. I've noticed muscle gain. But then again my dog is bigger and a more primitive breed so he may be better suited for a raw diet. cooked should definately be fine though. This will be expensive but have you tried lamb? It is considered to be an anti allergy food.

[jaxx lite]

Add oil to the dog's food?

Health food store and supermarkets sell
Salmon oil
olive oil
evening primrose oil

Net search to see if it helps or if it's safe

http://www.marvelousproducts.com/Can-I-give-my-dog-p/information-can-i-give-my-dog.htm


http://www.ehow.com/how_4424987_add-oil-dogs-diet.html


-

[SambaJane]

Add oil to the dog's food?

Health food store and supermarkets sell
Salmon oil
olive oil
evening primrose oil

Net search to see if it helps or if it's safe

http://www.marvelousproducts.com/Can-I-give-my-dog-p/information-can-i-give-my-dog.htm


http://www.ehow.com/how_4424987_add-oil-dogs-diet.html

-

I think it's best that he should first consult his vet before adding oil in his dog's diet and not just simply relying on the web.

"Fish oils can cause deficiencies in other nutrients and decreased blood clotting function, and should not be used if dog has heart disease, or a bleeding disorder. Fish liver oils contain large amounts of vitamin A which can lead to toxicity, with the symptoms of loss of appetite and weight loss, constipation, lethargy, limping, increased sensitivity of the neck and front legs, and stiffness. Always consult with your veterinarian before giving your dog any natural or herbal products." (http://www.marvelousproducts.com/Can-I-give-my-dog-p/information-can-i-give-my-dog.htm)

[penipitcher]

It's most likely the diet that's causing the allergies.

Asking your vet about animal nutrition isn't necessarily a good idea. Most of the vets are trained in schools that are funded by the major food companies, as well, they have business contracts with them (the clinics are stocked with their food..cough*Hill's*cough..) Naturally, it wouldn't be in their best interests for all their clients to switch to a raw/homecooked diet.

There could be a multitude of things your dog would be allergic to such as certain meats like chicken or flax for example. The optimal would be to go raw. And before you say something about salmonella, a couple of points: Dogs have shorter intestinal tracts than humans, so the food would enter and leave faster, giving the salmonella less time to penetrate into the body. Their stomach juices are more acidic and isn't a great environment for salmonella to grow. Unlike humans, dogs do not have the salivatory enzyme to digest carbohydrates. If you feed a grain based diet, the food stays in the system longer (because it only starts to break down the carbohydrates in the stomach and not before), giving the salmonella more time to cause trouble. Raw food (4-6 hrs) will move thru the system faster than a dry diet (up to 12 hrs). That's like double the time.

Be very diligent in the handling of raw foods just like you would for your own cooking such as washing down counters, chopping blocks, knives etc Remember to wash your hands well after you pick up dog poop as a large percentage of raw fed dogs will shed salmonella through their poop. (But seriously, who doesn't wash their hands after picking dog poop up....). Thaw the meat in the fridge and don't leave the meat out for more than 2 hrs.

[icangarden]

Have an 8 year old Great Pyrenees with allergy problems right from when we got her as a puppy. Skin issues...ear/eye problems. Tried all kinds of dogfood...different makes...different ingredients..tried cooking food for her.....but ended up with an organic salmon/oatmeal dogfood we get from the vet. What I found works for her is to alternate her dogfood with raw chicken. She's on dogfood for about 7 days then switch her to just raw chicken for 4 or 5 days. My vet was dead set against the raw but I decided to give it a try and it seems to work for her. She can't seem to tolerate being on dogfood itself for any longer than the week and the same with the raw diet.

Good luck to you. I know what your going through as it took about 2 years before I found what works best for my dog.

[icangarden]

Just a couple more comments.

If your dog has skin sores, ask your vet for a good skin cleanser. I still use Habitane which I get from my vet and it works really well. I just use it occasionally when my dog has a flare up and it clears her skin up really well. Using oatmeal isn't going to clear the skin up as there is bacteria that needs to be cleared up.

Not sure that raw is an option for a small breed dog. Mine is large and weighs 150 pounds...she has no problem eating the raw chicken - bones and all! Also, I buy human grade chicken for her. Boxes of frozen legs with back attached. My vet has finally stopped yapping at me about the potential dangers of feeding raw chicken as she can now see how well my dog is finally doing. No more antibiotics....no more predisone. She does have flare ups occasionally...usually in the summer if it gets hot but I just clean her skin with the Habitane and it clears up.

Anyone else have any comments re the raw diet and small breed dog?

[penipitcher]

My dog is a 9 pound Papillon and does very well on raw. Since he's small, I'm not feeding him whole chickens. Instead, I butcher up quails. The bones are perfect since they're snap quite easily. He gets both dental and calcium benefits, not to mention increasing jaw strength. So I'd cut it up like a wing, or a drumstick, neck. He also gets beef and chicken chunks, chicken liver and pork kidney too. All of these are human grade meats and relatively cheap at asian supermarkets.

[canehdianman]

My lab is 1.5 years old and has been on raw his entire life without issue.

I am just careful to wah my hands after feeding him. It is very easy.

[icangarden]

My dog is a 9 pound Papillon and does very well on raw. Since he's small, I'm not feeding him whole chickens. Instead, I butcher up quails. The bones are perfect since they're snap quite easily. He gets both dental and calcium benefits, not to mention increasing jaw strength. So I'd cut it up like a wing, or a drumstick, neck. He also gets beef and chicken chunks, chicken liver and pork kidney too. All of these are human grade meats and relatively cheap at asian supermarkets.

Norgos...after reading this, I would definitely try the raw. If my dog could tolerate it, I would leave her on it and stop the dogfood nonsense...unfortunately, she's a dog with extreme allergy issues (food and environment) and simply needs a change every week. I actually saw a different vet a few years ago who specialized in food allergies and he said one of his patients had just started on a diet of kangaroo! Said that dog went through all the different dogfood varieties - was o.k. for about 6 months when trying something new and then flared up. I think there's a lot of crap in dogfood and at least with the raw, you know exactly what the dog is eating.

[norgos]

Thanks for the input guys, I really appreciate it.

I really want to switch my dog to raw, but from what I've seen how one of them is able to break uncooked chicken bones, I just get so worried they'll get lodged in her throat and intestinal tract.

[deucesarewild1]

Thanks for the input guys, I really appreciate it.

I really want to switch my dog to raw, but from what I've seen how one of them is able to break uncooked chicken bones, I just get so worried they'll get lodged in her throat and intestinal tract.

Chicken bones are not at all necessary as part of a raw diet :)

[penipitcher]

That's one personal hurdle you'll have to overcome. When I first started, that was my number 1 concern. Then one day, I decided to go for it and never looked back. Both my cats and dog do perfectly fine with crunching up the quail bones that I'm feeding. The important part is to feed bones that have meat attached to them like in a drumstick and to NEVER feed cooked bones. THOSE ones wil splinter and hurt your pet.

In a full raw diet, bone IS necessary for both dental benefits and calcium. You could chose to do a commercial ground raw diet if you're afraid of bones hurting your dog. Those grind up the bones. However, you wouldn't be reaping any dental benefits from ground bone. I started my dog too late on raw so his teeth aren't exactly all pearly white. However, I did see some tartar receed maybe half way up the tooth to reveal pearly whites over time. Other raw feeders who started early never had the need to put their pet under for teeth cleaning. They have pearly white, healthy teeth.


Thanks for the input guys, I really appreciate it.

I really want to switch my dog to raw, but from what I've seen how one of them is able to break uncooked chicken bones, I just get so worried they'll get lodged in her throat and intestinal tract.

[icangarden]

That's one personal hurdle you'll have to overcome. When I first started, that was my number 1 concern. Then one day, I decided to go for it and never looked back. Both my cats and dog do perfectly fine with crunching up the quail bones that I'm feeding. The important part is to feed bones that have meat attached to them like in a drumstick and to NEVER feed cooked bones. THOSE ones wil splinter and hurt your pet.

In a full raw diet, bone IS necessary for both dental benefits and calcium. You could chose to do a commercial ground raw diet if you're afraid of bones hurting your dog. Those grind up the bones. However, you wouldn't be reaping any dental benefits from ground bone. I started my dog too late on raw so his teeth aren't exactly all pearly white. However, I did see some tartar receed maybe half way up the tooth to reveal pearly whites over time. Other raw feeders who started early never had the need to put their pet under for teeth cleaning. They have pearly white, healthy teeth.

I was really concerned about the bones too when I first started. Even though I have a large breed dog, bones could still be an issue. It's been a little over 6 years and no problems....teeth are also in very good shape!

I really had no choice though due to my dog's extreme allergies. She was actually pulling her hair out due to the itching....felt so sorry for her! Vet had told me, after the year of unsuccessfully getting her on food that she could tolerate, that we would probably have to have her put down. Basically, my vet gave up on her but I didn't....she's a beautiful dog...just a big, gentle giant!

[norgos]

I was really concerned about the bones too when I first started. Even though I have a large breed dog, bones could still be an issue. It's been a little over 6 years and no problems....teeth are also in very good shape!

I really had no choice though due to my dog's extreme allergies. She was actually pulling her hair out due to the itching....felt so sorry for her! Vet had told me, after the year of unsuccessfully getting her on food that she could tolerate, that we would probably have to have her put down. Basically, my vet gave up on her but I didn't....she's a beautiful dog...just a big, gentle giant!



seriously? a vet told you to put a dog down because of her eczema? it must have been really bad.

did switching to a raw diet really relieve her? and how long did it take?

[jaxx lite]

Do you go to butcher and buy raw meat

or buy frozen meat (example: quail, chicken)

avoid beef?

avoid pork?

[jaxx lite]

you can buy prepared raw food for pets
= Pets 4 Life raw dog food products

be careful about how long you leave the raw meat product on the counter

and don't leave the raw meat product on the counter
and then put it back in the fridge
and then feed it to her later
- might not be good for your dog

Pets 4 Life

http://pets4life.com/products/

available at certain pet food stores
= website lists locations

[norgos]

you can buy prepared raw food for pets
= Pets 4 Life raw dog food products

be careful about how long you leave the raw meat product on the counter

and don't leave the raw meat product on the counter
and then put it back in the fridge
and then feed it to her later
- might not be good for your dog

Pets 4 Life

http://pets4life.com/products/

available at certain pet food stores
= website lists locations


I forgot to thank you for that info. I'll look into it!

[icangarden]

seriously? a vet told you to put a dog down because of her eczema? it must have been really bad.

did switching to a raw diet really relieve her? and how long did it take?

It isn't eczema....she has allergies to food but also environment. Started with simple ear infections...then progressed to eye infections....then she was constantly scratching her skin....then she started literally pulling her hair out from wherever she could reach - down the front of her legs, down the back of her legs, underneath her stomach area. She was a mess. Her skin was so infected from the scratching and hair pulling, it was oozing with puss resulting in numerous sours. We tried so many different dog food varieties...from chicken, duck, lamb, all vegetable...you name it - we tried it. Nothing worked until I put her on the raw chicken. Noticed a difference in probably a couple of weeks and she slowly got better. Her skin cleared up, the hair grew back in and she finally looked good again. After about 6 months though she started with the ear infections again so I put her back on the organic salmon/oatmeal dogfood for a week....then started alternating her and she's been good from then on. I tried alternating her with other dogfood but didn't work...she needs the break from processed food to the raw.

My advice to you - if you are going to keep with the dogfood, make sure you buy a good quality one...I would suggest through your vet. Read the ingredients...make sure no preservatives or additives and the fewer the ingredients the better.

[Shaner]

Please don't listen toyour vet when it comes to raw diets, they generally have no idea what they are talking about, or they are against it for financial reasons. I know it is against everything we are traditionally led to believe, but dogs can eat bones just fine. Theres always a chance of choking but many dogs also choke on kibble.

As for the allergies, definitely switch to a 100% raw diet and give your dog oatmeal baths. It will help.

Also consult with a holistic vet. They are really helpful with stuff like this.

[EmperorOfCanada]

Please don't listen to your vet when it comes to raw diets, they generally have no idea what they are talking about, or they are against it for financial reasons. I know it is against everything we are traditionally led to believe, but dogs can eat bones just fine. Theres always a chance of choking but many dogs also choke on kibble.

As for the allergies, definitely switch to a 100% raw diet and give your dog oatmeal baths. It will help.

Also consult with a holistic vet. They are really helpful with stuff like this.

I know on the face of it that seems like terrible advice, but Shaner is right, many vets just arent educated on raw diets. To further clarify what he said there, raw bones are fine, cooked bones are not.

[YUP123]

Weird, going through the same thing as you right now with my dog. Scratches himself to the point of sores. He's just about 2 years old and been fed the same food from day one. Vet recommended we switch foods, wouldn't touch the lamb food and now it seems like he has lost his appetite, not eating regularly and spits out treats sometimes. Trying allergy medication in the meantime, Good luck on a solution and keep us updated!

[norgos]

last week we had two pills of prednisone left and I decided to give her 1 each day for 2 days. The itching stopped, wounds healed for a few days (she seemed happier) but resumed last night and seems like she'll be going into breakout. she would bite her back until the skin breaks and it leaves a foul smell.


I switched from Orijen to Fromm's Duck and Lamb.

I'm going to boil some oatmeal, strain the juices and cover it over her tonight and also buy a HEPA filter on my vacuum cleaner since I recently found out my exhaust spews dust all over the place and doesn't actually keep dirt inside.

[Pointer]

Actually I have always used baby shampoo, exactly that brand that you mentioned.

I asked my vet that i've been feeding my dog raw chicken, with bones and he told me that i shouldn't because all raw chicken contain traces of salmonella and if i feed my dog for a week, she'll probably get sick and be hospitalized.

I read about using oatmeal to relieve their itching. I was thinking about boiling oatmeal and reducing it, then removing the oats until i have only the "creamy" part and use it on her.

Your vet should know better that the acidity level in the canine stomach is very high, creating a very inhospitable environment for bacteria.

[Shaner]

Your vet should know better that the acidity level in the canine stomach is very high, creating a very inhospitable environment for bacteria.

That and a dogs system moves food through much quicker than our systems do, so salmonella never really has a chance to take hold. Vets really are ignorant when it comes to raw/BARF diets.

[JessicaBAustin]

take care of the food