Another Itchy Dog

[jules]

I have a nine year old male golden who has been suffering with itchy skin and sores for 2 1/2 years. Multiple rounds of antibiotics, steroids, topicals etc. as well as food changes have not take care of the situation. The vet has ruled out any type of mite and three day a week baths for sebhorrea are also not helping. Allergies are always a possibility but often times unconclusive and expensive. Any ideas or suggestions to offer relief would be very appreciated.

[mugsy]

Benedryl. That's what we give ours. If that helps, then it probably has something to do with allergies. I'll check when I get home for the name of the shampoo that helped one of our other dogs. I believe it has iodine in it.

[robinh]

I know what it's like to be frustrated for your pet. My dachshund would chew his feet constantly (to the point of his feet bleeding) and eventually break out with secondary skin infections that would have to be treated with anti-biotics. They tried prednisone, but that ended up with a gastric hemorrhaging episode that put him in the hospital for two days. Way too hard on his system.

I ended up having to have him tested for allergies. Found that he was allergic to 3 different dust mites and flea saliva (only I could get a dog allergic to flea saliva). He is on allergy shots every two weeks year round to help control the horrible itching. During the spring, summer and fall, he also takes the anti-histamine hydroxine (sp?) to help. Still itches some, but it is so much better. I also have him on one Omega-3 fatty oil pill every day.

Our old vet is the one who prescribed the prednisone. When we moved the new vet came up with the idea of the allergy tests. He was younger and more up to date on the trends for allergies. The new allergy test checks for I think 60 different allergies. For us, it was the best money we every spent. Max is comfortable most of the time.

Check the website Heska.com for more information.

[lv4dogs]

Allergy testing would be well worth the money especially if he is so itchy that he has sores (ouch). Benadryl may help, check w/ your vet for the proper dose. If it does help it is probably allergy related. I would reccomend a second opinion as well as allergy tests. Have you tried specialty allergy foods? Even though you change the food it may have the same ingredient that is causing him to be itchy. Also you may not see improvement from the food until at least 4-6 weeks after the change sometimes it takes up to a 4 months before showing improvement. Does he have more trouble during a certain time of year or when he is around something? I know it may be hard to remember but did anything change when he first started showing symptoms? Does a specific medication help but then the problem returns after he is finished w/ it? If so he may need a stronger &/or longer dose. Does he have dry skin? Maybe he needs more fatty supplements? It may have origonally started as a problem and turned into a habbit (ussually due to boredom or because he gets attention when he scratches & chews). There are many many different oral meds, shampoos, topical sprays, powders etc. made for skin problems. I wish you luck! Keep us posted!

[jules]

I didn't mention before, but yes he was on Benadryl for a number of months throughout the summer and while it initially brought him relief, that stopped with time. I also didn't mention he is 134 pounds and so he had to have 8 of them per day. He is currently on the non-allergenic food (no corn, wheat, etc). but that hasn't helped. I am bathing him three times a week with anti-bacterial shampoo specially for seborrhea, but again, not much help. I may have to resort to the allergy tests and hope something shows up. Thanks again for the advice, I appreciate it and will keep you posted!

[micki76]

We had Chester tested for allergies and found that he was allergic to several foods (beef, chicken, turkey, lamb) and tons of other grasses, weeds, trees, etc. We now have him eating Nature's Recipe Venison & Rice, and he gets monthly allergy shots. We also occasionally give him 1/4 of a Temeril P (sp?)tablet, which is a combo of steroid and antihistimine. Things are SO much better now. He was literally chewing his feet of for a while.
Many vets suggest the no corn, no wheat foods, but the culprit is usually the meat product in the food. And testing is so much easier now. They simply take blood and test it (this allows for the food tests).

Good luck!

[jules]

thank you for the suggestion! i'm convinced i need to have him tested - i just can't stand to see him so itchy. i'll try the food - i did have him on Dick VanPattens Duck and Potato food for awhile but didn't really notice any change. We're buried in snow right now but things don't really get better in the winter which leads me to believe it very well could be a food allergy. I'll talk to the vet about the Temeril tablets too - anything to give him some relief. sammy's itchy spots are generally around the neck and chest area and down the middle of his back. hopefully the testing reveals the problem. thanks again!

[mugsy]

Can dogs get shingles??? Geez that what it sounds like.

[jules]

boy - good question. i guess i'm not sure. this is what i've been told by different vets:

It's a staph infection
Could be a thyroid problem
It's sebhoreea (i never spell that right)
Might be allergies

The steroids and antibiotics work until the treatment is over and within a week or so - everything is back. Argghh! I think shingles tend to be pretty painful - at least in humans - but he doesn't seem to have pain, just the itchies.

oh well, i'm willing to look at anything!

[dasha10]

My Miniature Schnauzer has terrible enviromental allergies. I give Maggie 2 allery shots a week. she has been on them a year and seems better during the winter but not in the warmer months. She will have more allergens added to her mixed vial to build up on immunites on other items. It is a slow process but so far she does seem better. I also give her Benadryl in a generic form. It is much cheaper then the original and works the same. This would help you in the fiancial area and the much needed relief with give your dogs skin a break and time to heal.
It cost alot to give these shots. I have been writing some of these pet prescription sites that have medicine much cheaper than your vet can offer. I am hoping there is one out there who can help with the serum we have to buy for our Mini. It seems if Diabetics can by these premixed vials that there might be one of these who this serum can be purchased through. If I find out anything I will let you know. I am paying $130.00 for a vial that last a couple of months. I really need to find some help somewhere. If anyone else out there knows anything please reply to this post.
I spent a fortune trying different dog food that veternarians pushed on me. After 2 years of this I took Maggie to a specialist and found she wasn't allergic to food at all, but she was allergic to everything outdoors.
Anyway, much luck with your furbaby.

[shais_mom]

Definately have them run a thyroid test.
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...threadid=28219
My golden just got diagnosed with hypothyroid 2 weeks ago and her coat is clearing up already.
It is worth the $20 for peace of mind. My vet ran it on a whim, after seeing how active she is yet she is overweight.

Good luck!

[bnormal]

I agree with having his thyroid tested. Is his coat full? Is it soft or course? My boy Quincey, who died in October, had a dry, rough coat and he weighed in at 120lbs. One day at the vet one of the doctors walked by and glanced at him and asked if she could test his thyroid. She explained a bit why she wanted to do that. We told her to go ahead and test him.

His thyroid was so low it barely registered. We started him on thyroid medicine and saw much improvement within a month. His coat was soft and shiny and he became a much happier pooch.

Unfortunately we didn't know that he had Cardio Myopathy which eventually killed him.

shais_mom, you are wise beyond your years!

[shais_mom]