Allergies? What have you used? What works?

[gemini9961]

Hey everyone,

I'm posting this thread in the hopes of getting some suggestions about allergy treatments. My brother's dog Kody has pretty bad allergies. It appears to be atopic dermatitis based on his history and from what reading I have done. He has been on antibiotics to help. Temporary fix. He's been on Prednisone, works great but he gains so much weight. He's been given steriod shots, they work great but it's a short term fix. A friend of mine has her pup on Atopica but it's not cheap. Has anyone else experienced the same type of allergies and found something that works? Benadryl does not help at all with him, tried that. Poor little guy is miserable.

Amber

[Kater]

I don't have a lot of time to reply now...but I will come back to this thread. Do you suspect an environmental allergy? Flea allergy? Food allergy? Where is he itchy and broken out? Does he have ear infections/irritation?
What food is he eating? Is he indoor, outdoor, or both? Where does your brother live?

I would not suggest having allergy bloodwork run, as it is not very reliable. If it is a food allergy, you can probably determine the foods he is allergic to with a strict food trial. However, environmental allergens can be more fickle and difficult to pinpoint....but there are some things that can be done to manage them as well.

[gemini9961]

I suspect environmental allergies. He's on Frontline Plus for fleas so that shouldn't be a problem. As for food, he's on Iams (yuck I know ). I suggested to my mom that his diet may be a contributing factor, she tried raw before but evidently didn't continue for whatever reason. My mom is his caretaker right now as my brother is unable to care for him. He's itchy on his belly and right around his hind quarters. He sometimes licks his paws too. No ear infections/irritations, just itchy belly. He digs at himself. He indoor and outdoor, outdoor to play and pee and indoor for everything else. He sleeps indoors and eats indoors. We live in central Florida. Perhaps I should convince her to try thr raw again with some added vitamins. I have been giving mine Petamins. Mine are on a raw diet with added veggies/fruits. The Petamins were a suggestion from my vet to make sure they were getting all of their nutrients. Back to Kody, the poor guy just seems so uncomfortable. He's had these allergies for quite a while. I was just looking for something oral he could take to maintain them a little better. I'll insist she tries the raw again and see how that gets works.

[MS_PAWS]

by Sunny

I get dogs with various skin issues all the time and one of the first
things I figured out is conventional vet care rarely ever works for
the more complicated cases. I have developed this protocol over time
and with a huge degree of success and then came Toby.

Toby was the worst case of chronic skin infection I have ever seen. To refresh everyone, Toby was a 9 year old Shih Tzu who's owner dropped him off at a local shelter as I was standing there choosing other dogs to rescue.

They had gotten Toby as a pup and his skin issue began almost immediately. By the time I saw him, he had 9 years of special kibbles, prednisone, antibiotics, special shampoos etc, etc etc.

He stunk to high heaven. You could smell this guy coming in the door. His skin was fire red, sticky, weepy, oily, greasy. The tissue in his ears was reddened and somewhat inflamed making his ear canals appear smaller than normal and the inside of his ears were also stinky and oozy. I decided to fire all of my guns at once and used every thing I could think of to combat this lifelong problem and prayed something in the mix would work.

The treatment would be time consuming, must be consistent and most of all had to be something others could follow if he stood a chance for adoption. Otherwise, we were looking at a dead dog. His lifelong family had already given up on this stinkpot with the coat too sticky and greasy to pet. And honestly, if Toby hadn't of been such an outgoing happy dog, I wouldn't have bothered either.

Now it happens we have Benard and Carol on the list today and their problem seems very similar to Toby's so I hope some of this may help. I approach skin disorders as an inside out thing. This is not something than can be treated from the inside alone nor will treating just the outside net results either. To clear up skin disorders you have to treat the dog, inside AND out.

Toby had been on every special diet the vet could think of and was currently on Eukanuba fish and potato. It obviously didn't help because if improvement was being made, his owners wouldn't havedumped him.

Toby's inside treatment:
I can't help anyone to choose a commercial kibble diet when it comes to skin issues. There just isn't a kibble that will help and most will keep the problem going. I strongly urge anyone facing a chronic skin disorder to get Kymythy Schultz book, learn about basic natural diet and get started. Skin issues are almost always either yeast related, staph related or both.

Commercial kibbles are grain laden and contains far too many sugars, yeasts and sugar or yeast producing elements, regardless of what the label says. I simply can't tell you strongly enough that kibble diets are the reason the problem never clears up. In order to clear up a problem like Toby (and it sounds like Benard) has, a wholesome, natural diet made of fresh quality
human grade foods is mandatory and to do less is wasting your timeand efforts.

Toby's Diet:
Ground chicken with the bones ground into the meat, ground veggies (no more than 3–5 kinds of veggies in any mix, completely avoiding the starchy veggies. The mix was 75% meat and 25% veggies. Toby got no treats other than bits of 100% pure chicken breast, dried like jerky or fresh whole raw veggies.

Toby's Medications:
Red or pink itchy skin that stinks and oozes or sweats and feels greasy is a sure sign of yeast overgrowth and staph in combination. Yeast comes from the body's inability to process grains and sugars and grows profusely and staph grows in the microscopic tears in the skin that come from constant scratching.

Interestingly yeast and staph often will not show up in a skin scraping at the vet. Yeast is a fungus and staph a bacteria so usually what works for one will increase the other! That is why nothing seems to work. Toby was put on Cephalexin 250mg twice a day for as long as it took to get his condition under control. Cephalexin kills staph better than any other drug but does encourage yeast overgrowth.

Cephalexin can be purchased at upco.com without a prescription much cheaper than buying it form the vet.

Look for Fish Flex on the net and compareprices. Because antibiotics contribute to a yeast overgrowth, Toby was also given 5 drops of GSE (Grapefruit seed extract) in liquid form with each meal. This bitter stuff was hidden in a small ball of his meat mixture and handed to him before the rest of the meal so I could be sure he ate it. His cephalexin was also in the ball. GSE is very effective with killing yeast internally. To boost his immune system I also gave him a teaspoon of Colloidal Silver (20ppm) every day.

While the internal stuff is making changes in the yeast machine inside, the outside treatment begins to clear up the skin allowing the pet to become a comfortable, pettable family member. While this treatment plan will seem extreme, it needs to be remembered that Toby was a lifelong case and needed extreme care. The protocols can be adjusted to the various degrees of the problem you are looking at.

Shampoo –
Here it is imperative that the shampoo used is left on the skin 10–15 minutes each time to allow it to actually do something. For Toby I started with Malaseb which is expensive but nothing works as well for this type of issue. Do an internet search for this and find your best price. I began using it straight but eventually, as things began to improve, diluted it with a little water. Other shampoos I have had great luck with included Nizoryl (sp) (human dandruff product), Ultra MD by Kelco(www.americanpetpro.com) or plain Ivory Liquid, mixed 50/50 with water and enough betadine scrub added to make it look like a mocha coffee. So this was the most time consuming part of the treatment, due to the 15 minute marinating time. This is also done daily, that's right, I said daily. You can stretch the time to every other day or longer when there is enough improvement so that the sticky feeling or the smell doesn't come back for a day or two. Use that as your guide. Rinse thoroughly and then rinse some more. After rinsing and toweling dry, I sprayed Toby with NatureVet ear wash with Tea Tree oil (also has boric acid and witch hazel in it). I used it in a generic spray bottle, sprayed it all over him, including inside his ear flaps andleft it on.

This was after each and every bath. (Take care around nose, mouth and eyes, dab on with cottonballs if you need to get iton the face). Naturevet Ear wash is readily available in gallon sizes at most pet supplies stores or can be ordered from americanpetpro.com Every single night (even after he wasn't needing daily baths) I would powder Toby with Gold Bond Powder, making sure I got every place he was pink or red. Yeast can't grow if there is no moisture. I used the Gold Bond clone at the dollar store and it was perfectly fine.

As Toby began to improve (skin becoming lighter pink or white, like normal skin, sticky greasy feeling staying away longer, smell gone for several days at a time) I did adjust his bath schedule to the condition of his skin so it was daily, then every other day, then every 3–4 days and finally once a week. He is now getting baths once every 2 weeks, his skin is white except for a small light pink area under the folds of his flabby shih tzu chin.

Inside Summary:
– A diet of fresh ground chicken with the bones and veggies 1/2 a cup or 4 oz twice a day (Whole Foods now carries their own form of this) and many pet supply stores carry something similar in their frozen section

– NO treats other than fresh veggies or 100% chicken strips

– Cephalexin to kill the staph infection (Toby weighed 20 pounds, so received 250mg twice a day for what turned out to be 6 weeks)

– Grapefruit Seed Extract in liquid form (6 drops in a meatball permeal) to kill the internal yeast overgrowth

– Colloidal Silver 20ppm 1 teaspoon poured on top of his breakfast daily to boost his immune system.

Outside summary:
– bath daily (or as needed when condition improves) with Malaseb, Nizoryl, or Ultra MD and leave the shampoo on for 10–15 minutes, rinse well

– towel dry and spray all pink skin with NatureVet ear wash with Tea Tree oil, leave on

– Powder daily with Gold Bond or a generic form of Gold Bond medicated powder, be sure skin and coat are completely and totally dry before powdering.

That's the inside and the outside of the treatment that works, over and over again for me as I take these dogs from shelters after their owners have given up on ever getting help. The total cost to me was a fraction of what one round of tests at a vet would be. Toby was a dead dog when he walked into the shelter. If I hadn't have decided to see what I could do for him, he was have been euthanized due to his condition. In fact, I only agreed to take him for 30 days and fully intended to return him to the shelter myself if I saw no improvement in 30 days. It took 90 days to get Toby where he is now, which is a white skinned, itch free, stink free dog with soft hair that begs to be petted. He has been in his adopted home for about 10 weeks now and she continues the baths every two weeks, the natural diet and the GSE with his meals. She reports he is the nicest dog she has had and was worth the effort.

Jan's Sam was treated for long term flea dermatitis and generalized pyoderma resulting from neglect, which is much easier to manage and clear up. I did not give her the whole Toby protocol for Sam and honestly can't remember just now what I did suggest other than a natural diet, which is always the first step in any skin related issue. had Sam been in my care, he would have had the natural diet, cephalexin twice a day for 3 weeks, bathes with ulta MD 2–3 times a week until clear. tea tree oil spray on and GSE daily to inhibit yeast overgrowth from the antibiotic. Infact, now, whenever I give an antibiotic for any reason to the dogs or myself, I always give it with GSE.
Sunny
www.americanpetpro.com (Grooming Supplies)

[Cincy'sMom]

Kody's symptoms sound very similar to Cincy's. She was diagnosed with allergies to dust mites a few years ago. She gets immunotherapy shots every 2 weeks. (I do them at home and the vial costs about $225 for a year's supply). The shots have helped her immensely, but in the winter she still has some rough periods (nothing like she used to have, when she would just about chew her legs raw). For those times we give her either a Benedryl or 1/2 of a 5mg prednisone...not enough to cause the weight gain, but enough to take the edge off the itching.

[Jessika]

Charlie gets pretty bad seasonal allergies... We woke up this morning to find a human fist-sized bald spot right above his tail chewed raw and bleeding, as well as bald patches on his chest from scratching.

I just give him a benedryl as needed, and it seems to REALLY help. In your case though it sounds a little more drastic, so I don't know if benedryl alone would do the trick.

[chocolatepuppy]

Lacey takes Temaril-P. She started with a 'summer' allergy last summer. It works if you can deal with the side effects. Depending on how many pills she takes , she drinks and pees more. Also, she's always hungry. I hope I can get her back off of them soon. Last summer she got by with Hydroxyzine. She is way passed Benadyl working.

[Kater]

I suspect environmental allergies. He's on Frontline Plus for fleas so that shouldn't be a problem. As for food, he's on Iams (yuck I know ). I suggested to my mom that his diet may be a contributing factor, she tried raw before but evidently didn't continue for whatever reason. My mom is his caretaker right now as my brother is unable to care for him. He's itchy on his belly and right around his hind quarters. He sometimes licks his paws too. No ear infections/irritations, just itchy belly. He digs at himself. He indoor and outdoor, outdoor to play and pee and indoor for everything else. He sleeps indoors and eats indoors. We live in central Florida. Perhaps I should convince her to try thr raw again with some added vitamins. I have been giving mine Petamins. Mine are on a raw diet with added veggies/fruits. The Petamins were a suggestion from my vet to make sure they were getting all of their nutrients. Back to Kody, the poor guy just seems so uncomfortable. He's had these allergies for quite a while. I was just looking for something oral he could take to maintain them a little better. I'll insist she tries the raw again and see how that gets works.

Poor baby. Environmental allergies are tough since we can't control the contact as much like we can with food. Do they seem seasonally worse? Sounds like it.

One thing that can help is lots and lots of washing. For example, try spot washing the worst areas daily (paws, belly, legs) daily with a hypoallergenic shampoo like ChlorhexiDerm (by DVM Pharmaceuticals). This will reduce the contact time of allergens on the skin, and thus lessen the reaction. I would encourage her to try to be really diligent about washing at least once or twice a day (after prolonged periods outside) for about a week, and then see how much she can improve things that way. She may need to use an oatmeal-based conditioner after washing if she notices that the frequent washing is too drying on Kody's coat. This sounds simple, but sometimes it really makes a huge difference for some dogs.

In terms of the diet, if she is unable to switch to homecooked or raw, then I would at least have her switch to a diet with higher fish content. Wellness foods (canned and dry) have a high fish content and is one of the brands the vet I work with recommends. The omega-3s will decrease inflammation and itching. Another simple way to increase omega-3 intake is to give the dog 1 water-packed sardine per day, bones and all. This is a treat that dogs will love and cheaper and easier than giving fish oil.

If you can somehow narrow down or at least begin to identify what you believe to be the main allergens, then that can really help you practice some avoidance. For instance if the level of itchiness is fairly constant then you may want to consider that it could be something indoors like dust mites (yes, dogs can be allergic to dust mites just like us) or if it worsens during certain seasons then see if it correlates with the pollen count. Here are some ideas and suggestions....

Allergen & Specific Avoidance Suggestions
(from http://www.peteducation.com)

House dust
Keep pets out of room several hours when vacuuming

House dust mites
Use a plastic cover over pet's bed
Wash bedding in very hot water
Avoid letting pets sleep on stuffed furniture
Avoid stuffed toys
Keep pets in uncarpeted rooms
Run air conditioner during hot weather

Molds
Keep pets out of basements
Keep pets indoors when the lawn is mowed
Avoid dusty pet foods
Clean and disinfect humidifiers
Use dehumidifiers
Avoid large numbers of houseplants

Pollens
Keep dogs out of fields
Keep grass cut short
Rinse dog off after periods in high grass and weeds
Keep pets indoors during periods of high pollen season
---------------------------------------------------
General Tips for Dogs with Allergies
(from http://www.peteducation.com)

* Glass or stainless steel food and water bowls, cleaned and rinsed well daily

* Hypoallergenic detergents for the pet's bedding

* Routine hypoallergenic shampoos for the pet to remove any allergens

* Restricting walking to sidewalks or paved surfaces - avoid grass
---------------------------------------------------
I know this sounds like a lot. I would suggest starting with the washing and omega-3s, and seeing how much she can improve things. MS_PAWS has some great suggestions too. I can understand not really wanting to pay for Atopica. This medication works for some dogs and not others. They had a free trial going, but that may be over by now. It may be worth asking Kody's vet though. Other antihistaimes you might want to try include Hydroxyzine, Clemastine fumarate or Chlorpheniramine. I have seen some success with dogs on both Hydroxyzine & Chlorpheniramine at our practice.

Best of luck to Kody and your Mom! I hope some of what I have said will prove helpful.

[gemini9961]

Thanks everyone. I will let my mom know what I have found out and start trying some of the suggestions. Hopefully we can get this under better control before he chews himself raw.

[nancyweNW]

I've been this route also. The only thing that seems to work for my girl is Aptiva. It is pricey but when I watch her constantly chewing at her paws and scratching and not even able to sleep, it's worth it. I just cut back on some other things.

I went the food route w/o success so good luck.

[Kater]

I've been this route also. The only thing that seems to work for my girl is Aptiva. It is pricey but when I watch her constantly chewing at her paws and scratching and not even able to sleep, it's worth it. I just cut back on some other things.

I went the food route w/o success so good luck.

What is Aptiva? Could you direct me to a link? I'd love to learn more!