Itching, Scratching

[Bonny]

Last Thursday I took Baxter back to the veterinary. In August he had given him an ivomec shot & steroid shot along with front line for two months & said allergies to weeds etc. Well I am really getting frustrated. He just isn't getting any better. I had purchased Old Gold with Aloe to put on him when he itched, & gave him a serious of vinegar baths along with washing rugs & couch cover where he sleeps. I took him back to the vet on Thursday last week. He was given an ivomec shot & steroid shot thinking mites? Doc scraped of some skin scab, hair, & notice d yah his skin is reddened in areas. I mentioned lyme disease. So he drew some blood it came up negative to lymes, heart worms, etc. Baxter is still itching & we have a return visit in 7-10 day. The only thing I can think of is maybe his dog food? My other dog Missy itches some also & had been checked out with Baxter last August. She does not have the reddened skin or almost hairless areas from scratching. Our grandpuppy has stayed at our house & does not scratch & has eaten the dog food. I just can't figure this out. I guess last summer lots of dogs had allergies & were treated for it. Right now there is 24' of snow so there is no pollen in the air. Go Figure! This is driving me nuts! Baxters coat looks healthy shinny & clean. The places of itching are his flank area, ears, & tail, along with an area on his hind leg. Any in put would be appreciated.

[Queen of Poop]

My RB dog Sami developed food allergies when she was 8 years old. She could no longer eat beef. A simple change of food and all her skin issues disappeared.

[pomtzu]

It could very well be food allergies. Myndi and Sparky always had itchies - especially Myndi - and had to have a Pred shot every few month. I switched them to a grain free diet back in October, and it has made a world of difference. No more scratching and biting at themselves, Sparky's eye discharge has gone away, and their coats are in much better condition - nice and soft and silky.

What I use is Dr Harvey's Veg to Bowl - it's dehydrated veggies that you add water to, and add your own protien source like chicken, beef, eggs, etc. It's a little on the expensive side, but it's worth every penny to see how much better my pups are doing.

You can order on line and have it shipped to your house, unless you can find a pet supply store in your area that carries it. Different places on line have different prices too, so I searched until I found the cheapest.

[Bonny]

We went for a vet visit this morning. It took Baxter a good 5 days to stop a lot of his itching. There is still a spot on his leg where the hair is thin & the skin is red. Doc gave Baxter another ivomec shot & we talked nutrition. I was given some free samples with veal & rice in them. We talked about reading labels on pet food bags. The first two ingredients are the most important. It would take up to six weeks if we changed to another dog food to show any signs of change. Right now we will wait six weeks to see how the shots work. It could be something in our house he is sensitive to also. I even wondered if the laundry soap I used to wash the couch cover & quilt were affecting Baxter. I just may end up getting rid of the couch. We talked about mites in the couch. I have covered the cushions in the couch with plastic garbage bags, & wash the couch cover once a week along with the floor quilt. The couch gets vaccumed too but it is old old. At least he has stopped scratching & itching & we have something to go on now.

[micki76]

Has he been checked for Malassezia (yeast infection)? It generally presents in the areas you're describing and is usually caused by allergies. You might want to try some fish oil caps to boost the immune system and use a shampoo for yeast. We use Melasab shampoo.

Here's a couple of articles on it, but you can google and find more info. http://www.peteducation.com/article....2+2102&aid=321 and http://www.westiemed.org/health/malassezia/ Chester's never looked as bad as the dogs in these articles, thank goodness. Just VERY red and he's unable to leave it alone.

My allergy dog, Chester, has had two yeast infections and the dermatologist has been the only one to figure it out both times. One vet was convinced he had mange, even though he'd been scraped for that upmteen times over the last 11 years. 30 days of oral meds and baths twice a week with the Melasab shampoo cleared it up, but it took a long time and Chester was in an e-collar for most of that time.

I seriously doubt your dog is allergic to your couch or even your laundry detergent. It's most likely either the grains or the protein source in the food, or external allergens like pollen (there is cedar in the air and other allergens even in the winter) or mold & fungus. We've had cold weather here, but Chester's been flaring for 3 weeks due to the junipers.

I wish you the best of luck!

[Bonny]

I wonder if the ivomec & Cortizone shots cover yeast infection? The cortizone is suppose to be good up to six weeks. When I farrowed sows years ago they would get a yeast infection we called it greasey pig. We offered them showers with the garden hose & once they were weaned off their babies they could go roll in the mud & the greasey pig would leave. We kept them in a clean environment but they really needed to get out in the dirt & mud to keep their skin free of infections. I went to the web sites & it seems to bother certain breeds of dogs too.

[Freedom]

If you switch to a high quality grain free food, you will see improvement in as little 3 days, may take up to a week.

Try a grain free kibble, if you don't want to go to the Veg to Bowl which Ellie/Pomzu mentioned.

Also, track down this book and give it a read:
The Whole Pet Diet, by Andi Brown.

I found it at my library. She gives so much information on which foods do what, which herbs will help. AND she includes recipes.

I am currently using the Veg to Bowl, and the Spot's Chicken Stew recipe from the book. NO issues! Itching stopped, the gunk build up in Marlin's eyes cleared up. Poor guy has lived with that for his 11 years and by switching foods, it cleared up in less than 5 days.

The veal and rice is nice, but I bet it is costly and who knows, the rice may still be an issue.

Good luck, which ever route you choose. Learning about nutrition and reading labels is just as important for our pets as it is for ourselves.

[Indigo Bully Connection]

Last Thursday I took Baxter back to the veterinary. In August he had given him an ivomec shot & steroid shot along with front line for two months & said allergies to weeds etc. Well I am really getting frustrated. He just isn't getting any better. I had purchased Old Gold with Aloe to put on him when he itched, & gave him a serious of vinegar baths along with washing rugs & couch cover where he sleeps. I took him back to the vet on Thursday last week. He was given an ivomec shot & steroid shot thinking mites? Doc scraped of some skin scab, hair, & notice d yah his skin is reddened in areas. I mentioned lyme disease. So he drew some blood it came up negative to lymes, heart worms, etc. Baxter is still itching & we have a return visit in 7-10 day. The only thing I can think of is maybe his dog food? My other dog Missy itches some also & had been checked out with Baxter last August. She does not have the reddened skin or almost hairless areas from scratching. Our grandpuppy has stayed at our house & does not scratch & has eaten the dog food. I just can't figure this out. I guess last summer lots of dogs had allergies & were treated for it. Right now there is 24' of snow so there is no pollen in the air. Go Figure! This is driving me nuts! Baxters coat looks healthy shinny & clean. The places of itching are his flank area, ears, & tail, along with an area on his hind leg. Any in put would be appreciated.

I'm so sorry you and baxter are going through this. IMO, you should find a new vet. Yours is just taking your money, and not helping you find a real solution to your problems....


Ivomec is in the flea and tick control already... this can cause adverse reactions when used in conjunction with Ivomec used propperly for dogs. Also, this is a product when "injectable" is really used on cattle and pigs. Ivomec is not FDA approved for this, but it is a common pest control (often used for mange mites)in dogs. It even says not for dogs on the box. When treating a dog with Ivomec it is given orally not as an injection. To "cure" your dog of parasites the Ivomec is given for several days to several months, daily. Not speratically.

It could be a food allergy in conjunction with an enviornmental allergy. The way to go about doing this the most cost effective way is to go into your vets office armed with information. I will help you as much as possible since I've been through the ringer with allergies, and i'll cut to the chase and not try to sell you on the bogus crap that doesn't work which the vet will try to push on you first.

If your dog is scratching to the point of opening his skin.... he has a secondary infection which requires antibiotics. Depending on your dogs weight.... I have a 45-50 pound dog who is put on Ciprofoxacin 500 MG... another hint for you... those "steroid shots" do not show you improvement for another 5 days or so. Antibiotics and steroids are generally what most vets will give you to TREAT the symptoms, not preparing you for your next round with allergies. Also, benadryl only serves as a sedative, and will NOT help your dogs discomfort. It is a common myth. Your vet can write you a prescription to be filled at your local pharmacy for Hydroxazine... Now, there are two different kinds of Hydroxazine... one is basically benadryl...the other actually freaking works haha The hydroxazine that you want is Pamoate.

I'm assuming your pup has an infection inside the ears which are swollen huh? Baytril is the best... You want a good wash/rinse wait fifteen minutes then administer the baytril (often times doctors will push zymox which is a crappy product). You may want to check into a medicated Shampoo like KetoChlor which will make a coating over your dogs skin and fur so that the enviornmental allergens as well as keeping any yeast from building up on his skin.


Finally, what food are you feeding? You should try out single protein sourced foods which are also grain free... COMPLETELY grain free, don't get the stuff that has oats and what not in it. Fish is the most hypoallergenic protein source for dogs, so that's a good start. Which ever food you choose to go with, stick with it for at the least 2-3 weeks to see the final outcome. If you notice inflamation coming back, switch to another single protein source. Vets will often times push their food products like Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan Ect.... don't fall for it... You're going to be paying 3 times more than you need to.

[Bonny]

It was Jan 15th Baxter went into the vet & he told me to give it 6 weeks if the itching didn't stop. The itching has stopped so far. I changed the dog food over to Nutri Source for Large Dogs. It contains lamb meal, brown rice, white rice, fish meal (a source of fish oil) oatmeal, beet pulp, flax seeds,natural flavors, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols & citric acid),dried egg product, sunflower oil, brewers yeast, with the usual supplements vitamins,etc. It does meet the nutritional levels establiashed by the Assoc of Amer. Feed control officials AAFCO Dog food nutrient profiles for all life stages if that means anything? I got the dog food at a local coop & both my dogs are eating it. Corn is the first thing that came to my mind to avoid that in their dog food. Although they will grab it out of the field when we are out walking & chew on a cob & now it is all covered over with snow so they can't do that & in April the ground will be plowed over. There is barley in the Nutri Source? There we go with a grain along with the rice. Doc mentioned potatos as a second ingredient. I didn't buy dog food from the vets but went to the coop because I know the guy that sells the dog food cares about the product he sells to people & the dogs that eat it.

The skin scratching was open in some areas before I took Baxter in it looked like scrapes from his scratching with his claws. That has healed nicely now. His ears were scabby & had sores in them at the time but not swollen. His ears look clean now. But I wonder how long will this last?

We have used the ivomec on our cattle for worms,lice, mange. So there is no version for dogs or cats in the form of ivomec? There is another veterinary I was thinking of taking Baxter to if the itching comes back. I have all my receipts with what has been done with Baxter to show him.

I have written down the meds., etc so will take that info with me if the itching returns. Thank you at least a person has something to go by.

[Indigo Bully Connection]

It was Jan 15th Baxter went into the vet & he told me to give it 6 weeks if the itching didn't stop. The itching has stopped so far. I changed the dog food over to Nutri Source for Large Dogs. It contains lamb meal, brown rice, white rice, fish meal (a source of fish oil) oatmeal, beet pulp, flax seeds,natural flavors, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols & citric acid),dried egg product, sunflower oil, brewers yeast, with the usual supplements vitamins,etc. It does meet the nutritional levels establiashed by the Assoc of Amer. Feed control officials AAFCO Dog food nutrient profiles for all life stages if that means anything? I got the dog food at a local coop & both my dogs are eating it. Corn is the first thing that came to my mind to avoid that in their dog food. Although they will grab it out of the field when we are out walking & chew on a cob & now it is all covered over with snow so they can't do that & in April the ground will be plowed over. There is barley in the Nutri Source? There we go with a grain along with the rice. Doc mentioned potatos as a second ingredient. I didn't buy dog food from the vets but went to the coop because I know the guy that sells the dog food cares about the product he sells to people & the dogs that eat it.

The skin scratching was open in some areas before I took Baxter in it looked like scrapes from his scratching with his claws. That has healed nicely now. His ears were scabby & had sores in them at the time but not swollen. His ears look clean now. But I wonder how long will this last?

We have used the ivomec on our cattle for worms,lice, mange. So there is no version for dogs or cats in the form of ivomec? There is another veterinary I was thinking of taking Baxter to if the itching comes back. I have all my receipts with what has been done with Baxter to show him.

I have written down the meds., etc so will take that info with me if the itching returns. Thank you at least a person has something to go by.

Since he had his steroid injection about 2 weeks ago, watch and monitor for any inflamation over the next week to two weeks. It takes a few days to do it's job in the body, and it takes a few weeks to leave the body. Does that make sense? The injection treats the inflamation which is probably why the scratching has subsided for now. Oh girl, I know all about the scabs on the ears and tummy. I would suggest to keep on that food until the steroids have finished running it's course through Baxters body to have a true evaluation of his progress. If Baxter is anywhere near the mess that Neela is brewers yeast and oatmeal MAY be a problem. lol I know I may sound like I'm contradiciting myself, but Rice and potatoes really shouldn't worry you, it's all of the other crud (i've learned about that through my raw trials with neela).


There is a form of Ivomec which is designated for dogs, but it is an oral administration, as well as it has a different percentage... the cattle version uses 1% and the dog percentage is .05% it's a huge difference.
Suuuper cheap heartworm/parasite preventative link hehe I've known kennel owners who have used it for decades.
http://69.39.232.66/~heartwor/

When I said the skin has opened because of a secondary infection it is due to the scratching. When an allergic dog has an infection it looks like even worse allergies to us humans with the naked eye lol.

I am realllllly surprised he didn't give you any antibiotics.

EDIT: I have probably spent close to 4,000 trying to find out what really works... If I would have known what I do today about the products out there for my dog i probably would have spent like 500.00

EDIT EDIT: lol... i understand why the vet told you to change for 6 weeks for this go around... the steriods are pumping through baxters little body and won't leave it for a few weeks to show you the results of the food.

[Indigo Bully Connection]

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...aw/dogmeds.jpg

Here's a photo of some of the products that I have around the house. Some are good, some are not lol.

[Bonny]

Baxter did not have big scabs on his belly but the skin was red & the hair hair thin or missing. This is what was given January 6th at the vets. Heartworm & Tick panel, skin scraping, injection IM/SQ 1st GROUP, Injection IM/SQ 1st, depo medrol 0.5ml, ivomec inj. What I can understand is he was given the ivomec & steroid shot. Doc didn't think the ears were that bad, but then another Doc from the same firm was out here to treat a calf & looked at Baxters ears & told me to take him in because he didn't have anything along to treat Baxter with. Two different vets., with two different opinions from the same firm.

On January 15th Baxter had a return visit over an exam recheck & another ivomec inj., & now the six week wait along with some free food samples I was given by Doc for Baxter to try & he like the food samples. It is dog food for dogs that have allergies. I plan to stop in when I go to town this week & take a look at their dog food & price it too. There were no antibiotics handed out but then they can cause yeast infections in some cases.

I have never heard of Blue Buffalo. What part of the country or world do you live Maquignon? Once again all the supplements & crap they put into the dog food besides the basic stuff they need has to have some kind of affect on their organs. Where is Ralph Nader when you need him.