Allergies

[Aready]

Anyone else have a dog with allergies? Have you done the allergy shots? If so, did they work? We recently had our 5month old puppy allergy tested and she was allergic to over 30 different things!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

I had a Golden Retriever with allergies. Although science has improved and changed since 1988, Emma had her blood tested and a serum developed specifically for her. She did receive allergy shots, and they did help. Since we live in southern Ontario, Emma only required the shots in the warmer months.

There were several other steps I had to take to alleviate her suffering. She passed away on April 9, 1998, in her 11th year due to kidney failure.

I hope that this information might be useful to you.

[Stewie'sSlave]

We believed Cujo had an allergy to peanuts. If he had peanut butter he would get sick

[asiasmum]

My akita Asia has severe allergies, its mainly to food but also trees and grass, she only has to walk passed a willow tree and she can have a reaction. But basically she`s allergic to fish, beef, pork, rice and potatoes along with tons of other things, most of them are the ingredients in allerenic dog foods, my vet did find one hyper allergenic food but it was so bland that she wouldn`t eat it, so I cook all her dinners and all her treats, I try to use organic foods were possible and I have to make my own oat flour for her, its a bit of a chore every week but the turn around in her has been amazing, no more itching, no more hot spots or severly bloody and inflamed ears, she put weight on and she has her spirit back, her coat isn`t in a constant moult either. When we got her as a resue she seemed souless and was scratching all the time, but after a while on her new food she started to perk up and come out of herself. She doesn`t have any allergy shots, I just find alternatives to the things she`s allergic to Sorry to ramble butI hope this helps you

[Aready]

My akita Asia has severe allergies, its mainly to food but also trees and grass, she only has to walk passed a willow tree and she can have a reaction. But basically she`s allergic to fish, beef, pork, rice and potatoes along with tons of other things, most of them are the ingredients in allerenic dog foods, my vet did find one hyper allergenic food but it was so bland that she wouldn`t eat it, so I cook all her dinners and all her treats, I try to use organic foods were possible and I have to make my own oat flour for her, its a bit of a chore every week but the turn around in her has been amazing, no more itching, no more hot spots or severly bloody and inflamed ears, she put weight on and she has her spirit back, her coat isn`t in a constant moult either. When we got her as a resue she seemed souless and was scratching all the time, but after a while on her new food she started to perk up and come out of herself. She doesn`t have any allergy shots, I just find alternatives to the things she`s allergic to Sorry to ramble butI hope this helps you

So what exactly do you feed her?

[asiasmum]

Well, I boil chicken bones to make a stock, then I cook the veg to make a doggy stew for 3 hours, the stew consists of correttes (zucchini) parsnips,(the original recipe said sweet potatoe but she`s allergic to that) green beans, carrots cellery and frozen peas, I chop everything fine and do 2 cups of everything, when its all cooked I drain the stock and divide the veg into 2 containers that hold 7 days of meals (that lasts a week but if you have the space and a large freezer you can freeze the stew in one meal size containers and freeze a few weeks worth up, Asia is a large dog so she will eat al the stew in one week, but you can work out the meal sizes for your puppy) you will need to mash the veg up with about cups cups of oats for the whole stew and then it sets a bit, it shouldn`t be too liquid, it helps speed things up if you`ve got a food processor, which I don`t have I save about a pint of the stock to add to her biscuit treats, I add chees, honey, cod liver oil organic yogart, eggs and honey in the oat flour mix for her treats, oh and some of the stock, they`re just badley cooked biscuits really, it helps that I can`t bake to save my life they need to be overcooked and a bit crispy really if you want the exact recipes I can post it here if for you want But I must suggest that if you want to cook your own I would check it all out with your vet first, your pups only 5 months old and might need a few extra suppliments for bone devlopment and things

[asiasmum]

I forgot to mention that I cook up chichen in the microwave, break it up and add a handful to each meal

[owhoami]

My dog Erin, a Jack Russell, has lots of allergies and for some reason, they are always worse in the fall (they're all inhalant allergies). She's also sensitive to topical applications, so I have to watch what I wash her with. She will have such a reaction, her whole body will turn bright red and of course, she can't stop itching. If we are not careful, she will chew her hair off.

On my vet's advice, I give her Claritin in the morning and Benadryl at night. She was a little groggy at first, but she's adapted fine. Best of all, she's stopped scratching and her skin is back to normal.

I was hesitant to give her anything at first, but now that she's looking so good, I feel guilty for not trying it sooner.

Hope this helps!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

owhoami....have you discovered the source of your dog's allergies? JRT's have a very short coat which requires very little bathing. I was concerned that you may be bathing your dog too often. Have you investigated a food allergy source? Perhaps if you adjust your dog's diet, the skin will improve.

I find the remedy of simply dosing the dog so that it does not itch to be effective for the human, but less helpful to the dog. Trying to eliminate the source of the allergin, or provide the dog with a diet more likely to help with the dogs' own immune system, seems a first best step to me.

If you have questions, I'm sure everyone would be delighted to help you.

[Phyrie]

We've decided Kiba is allergic to fleas, and probably something like grass or pollen. Late summer is the worst. Once fall hits hard enough, it seems to knock the grass one back, but the fleas come on like gangbusters. We treat him with Capstar, Advantage, and I spray the carpeting with an insecticide once a month or so, and keep his crate cushions cleaned often. I keep Benedryl, Vanectyl, Gravol, and prednisone tablets on hand to handle flare ups. I also keep his e-collar close, just in case.
If Kiba was allergic to foods, I would be screwed, as he's had just about every kind of food you can give a dog, so to do a unique protien/carb diet screening would be virtually impossible.

Phyrie

[owhoami]

Thank you so much for your advice. I've been working with my Vet for two years and we finally discovered she's allergic to the grasses, etc. that we have here in California in the fall. We live in an agricultural area, so whatever is blooming/dying this time of year, just makes her miserable. Poor baby.

Fleas are bothersome to her too, if she dares to get any! She hates bathes, so we done everything we can to avoid that if possible. We use Advantage on her, that seems to work.

We tried all the food routes too and found she does well will lamb and rice, so that's what she gets. We try to limit her "human eating" and she gets chicken strips for treats. These things don't seem to affect her.

So like I said, although I hate dosing her, it does make her better. We only have from about September to December for her to be in this predicament and dang, it happens every year at the same time. So why she's in her own "allergy season," my Vet and I work closely to care for her.

I'd do anything for this dog - so anything else you can think of would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to give me your suggestions - it is so appreciated.

[Phyrie]

My vet is not concerned about dosing Kiba. He would rather he be comfortable. Steroids we treat with a bit more respect, but I have free rein to give Kiba antihistimines and pain meds if I need to. One nice (?) side effect is the lethargy, which is handy when your dog is on crate rest for his back injury, as Kiba was for weeks!

Phyrie

[Aready]

Good to know everyone else is having as many issues as us! She is allergic to so many things its almost impossible to eliminate them all (dust being one of them). We are trying the shots and adjusting her food to see if there are any allergies there. We are debating switching to a raw diet. Not sure I am ready for that bandwagon yet though.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

owhoami...it sounds as if you have things well in hand.

Keeping our dogs comfortable, once we know the source of the irritation, is the most important thing. Thanks for sharing.

Phyrie, I always know that you research every single thing before you do it, so I know you are informed

[Phyrie]

Phyrie, I always know that you research every single thing before you do it, so I know you are informed

Too true, Deb. I do like to know what I'm dealing with...

Phyrie