Allergy testing

[Dixieland Dancer]

She's just miserable. The vet prescribed some Hydroxyzine as needed and of course we've been using them for the maximum amount. She's still itching a lot though, but they have made her a little bit better. She's getting a bath tonight, and it looks like it's going to be a weekly thing. Good thing I have a booster bath or my back would seriously suffer!!

I'm surprised your vet doesn't have her on prednisone if she is that miserable. Prednisone actually shuts down their adrenal system so they don't feel all itchy. While it's not the solution long term, it does help for a flare up.

As for the baths, make sure you get a good anti fungal shampoo that also conditions and moisturizes since you will be giving so many baths. Dusty actually gets a bath every weekend and several paw and belly rinses throughout the week (even if he's not muddy). I like to rinse the environmental spores of what he is allergic too off of him before they work their way into his coat and down to his skin level. I use Melaluca (tea oil). In addition he gets quality food (INNOVA EVO - grain free) that contains the omega fatty acids and he also gets 3V caps (fish oil). Even though he gets many baths, his coat is not dried out!

Dusty is responding wonderful to his allergy shots. This is the first time April has come where he has not had chewed up paws and hocks! I hope you have as much success!

[.sarah]

I'm not sure why he didn't prescribe prednisone. It was really just supposed to be a "tie-over" until we get the results back, so maybe that is why?

I do have a question that maybe you can answer. Her belly seems to be damp a lot. Would that be something that would help harvest bacteria/fungus/yeast?

When you rinse Dusty do you actually put him in the tub and rinse him with water or do you just take a wet cloth to him? I am going to have to try all of these things.

I am glad Dusty is doing so well... hopefully Nova will be just as good soon!

[Dixieland Dancer]

I do have a question that maybe you can answer. Her belly seems to be damp a lot. Would that be something that would help harvest bacteria/fungus/yeast?

When you rinse Dusty do you actually put him in the tub and rinse him with water or do you just take a wet cloth to him? I am going to have to try all of these things.

Dusty's belly was damp a lot also and he got tiny red bumps on it. I even tried shaving all the hair on his belly to help him out but it did not work. In addition, it had a slight odor along with it. I later found out that this does indicate a fungal condition caused by the dogs adrenal glands working overtime.

Yes, I actually put him in the booster bath and use warm water to rinse him off. I then towel him off then let him air dry the rest of the way. Another thing that helped him dry was to get the proper moisture balance in the house all year long. I use humidifiers in the winter to keep the air comfortable so his skin (my skin too) doesn't dry out but the harder part is the summer humidity. I found that using dehumidifiers in our basement helps tremendously. I mention this because part of Dusty's problem is the molds that excessive moisture bring and the drying effect of the skin that lack of moisture in the winter causes.

Dusty knows the routine now. Come in the house and go to the tub!

[.sarah]

Thanks for the reply again. This is all so helpful.

The vet hasn't called with the results yet. Yesterday was supposed to be the maximum amount of time it would take to get them back, so I'm going to call them tomorrow.