Allergy

[in2adventure]

Lucia has an allergy to something in my parents house. It started about 1 1/2-2 months after we got here. This is the longest I've ever stayed with them and still have 7 more weeks. The poor thing has been to the vets several times. He said it was a staf infection from an allergy and gave her a shot. It worked for about 48 hours and then she started scratching again. He gave her a 10 day supply of something (don't remember the name) and it made the itchy spots go away, she still itched a bit, but no where near as bad. Now he has her on something else and it TOTALLY doesn't work. The spots are back and she's crazy itchy He said this was his last attempt to help her. He is not my regular vet, but is the only one that can fit her into the office scheduals lately. His only other suggestion was Cornell Univ. That is WAY out of my budget unless it's last resort or life and death. I don't think we are at the last resort part yet.

 

I miss my reg. vet He would have had it fixed, or at least controlled, by now. I'm pretty sure it's the carpeting. My last dog was allergic to it and got shots on a reg basis for it (different vet, no longer around). She passed away within a year of the carpet being put in, so treatment wasn't long term. Lucia's spots are only on her belly and legs. This is what makes me think it's the carpet. Grady and the other dogs that visit don't have the same issues.

 

Other than trying to find another vet (which will be this week) does anyone have any experience with this? By the way, she gets a weekly oatmeal/tea tree oil bath, has been on Benadryl (no effect at all), gets fish oil and brewers yeast-garlic tabs daily. I feel so bad for her and know she won't be comfortable until we move back to WY.

[NC_Y2K9]

I have no experience worthy enough to add good tips, but bless her! Sending some good anti-itch mojo your way!

[OurBoys]

Did the vet do a skin scrapping to get the staf infection diagnosis? The reason I ask is because when JJ had allergies a vet also said it was a staf infection but didn't take a scrapping. When he saw a different vet, she took a scrapping and came back saying it was bacterial. Antibiotics would clear it up for a while.

 

JJ's problem was diet related so what helped him might not help Lucia's since hers is contact related but maybe a cream with zinc in it might help. Zinc is good for itchy, irritated skin.

 

Wish I could be more helpful.

[juliepoudrier]

No real help here, unless you want to try something alternative, and if she's constantly in contact with what's bugging her it seems to me nothing short of massive doses of steroids would stop the itching. Is there any room in the house that's not carpeted? Can you keep her in, say, the kitchen and off the carpet for a while and see if it makes a difference? Frankly if she's that miserable, she might be happier spending time confined to one area if it helps resolve the misery of the itch! My holistic vet recommended 1/4 tsp each of turmeric and cinnamon daily. Both have anti-inflammatory properties. But if she's not responding to stronger meds the vet has given, I doubt the alternative meds would help. But you never know.

 

By the way, the proper term is staph infection--it's short for Staphylococcus aureus. If the itching subsided when she was treated with antibiotics for the staph, then perhaps another round would help. All that scratching is leaving the skin inflamed and ripe for bacterial invasion.

 

J.

[OurBoys]

By the way, the proper term is staph infection--it's short for Staphylococcus aureus.

Thanks, Julie! Sorry about that!

[in2adventure]

Thanks for the info! I'll try the holistic stuff, just because. I don't like giving lots of meds, especially strong ones, that are basically being experimentally given until we find an answer I very pro-holistic

 

No scraping was done. I did question this, but the vet wasn't in when I called and the vet tech was a bit indifferent. "I guess we could do that" The antibiotic did help clear it up. That was the first pill we tried. I wonder how long it can be safely given? But then I go back to the original thought of giving too many meds.

 

The only place's not carpeted are the kitchen and sunroom. This would be fine during the day when I'm not home, but Lucia is my mama's dog and won't have anything to do with be seperated from me if I'm home. The whining is more unbearable than watching her scratch and I can't sleep in the kitchen The vet suggested I give her to a friend for the rest of my stay I can see it now, Here...take my reactive, insecure, extremely active BC for 7 weeks. By the way, she eats cats and is allergic to carpet

 

There's an older vet that does walk-ins in the evening. I'll give him a try tomarrow night and see what he has to say. He's actually a large animal vet, but comes highly recommended by the folks that use him for small animals. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

PS: I knew it was staph. I worked in an ER for 4 years. I'm not really sure what I was thinking when I typed staf

[2 Devils]

If you think it is the carpet, can you maybe put a blanket on the floor where Lucia will be when with you? That way she won't have to be on the carpet if on the floor. Also, do your parents use anything on the carpets that could be causing the problems, some kind of freshener or something?

 

Have you tried giving plain old Benadryl? A dpg 20-30lbs can have 1- 25 mg tablet 3 times a day and 3-50 lb can have 1to2 tablets 3 times a day.. I normally link to a site that I have used in the past but it is no longer available. I did save the information as PDF so can still look back at it.

[OurBoys]

PS: I knew it was staph. I worked in an ER for 4 years. I'm not really sure what I was thinking when I typed staf

I've never worked in the medical field but I'm just as guilty. It didn't look right to me but I was too slack/lazy to take the time to research the correct spelling.

[in2adventure]

I've never worked in the medical field but I'm just as guilty. It didn't look right to me but I was too slack/lazy to take the time to research the correct spelling.

 

LOL...that's funny

 

I like the blanket idea. I'll try that too. Every bit helps. My parents don't use any chemicals or fresheners on the carpet, but the chemical thing is something to think about. I got Mom a steamer to clean the kitchen floor. That elimated one floor chemical, but they are anything but organic I use lots of enviro safe stuff at my house, but here is different. Drives me crazy, but that's another post I went the Benadryl route even before I saw the vet. It doesn't help at all, doesn't even slow her down for that matter I take 25MG and I'm a zombie

 

Keep you fingers crossed this all goes away when we get back west.

[MaggieDog]

I was going to suggest a blanket or rug where she lies on the floor; that or keep her on the furniture.

[bcnewe2]

Is it new carpet?

Or has it been cleaned lately?

What a drag to think the poor girl has to live on the thing that's causing her to itch. Are you guessing about it are or you pretty sure? I like the blanket idea, or maybe a t-shirt or footies/socks to protect her from contact?

Do you use anything different while at your parents house compared to yours?

My dh used to clean carpet for a living, there are some horrible chemicals out there being called safe.

I was thinking if it's new, can you get it cleaned with plain hot water to maybe cut down on the chemicals that were applied at the factory. Or to get anything left by old carpet cleanings?

Being the ex carpet cleaner, he won't even let me get a little cleaner for home, says it's worse than leaving it alone cause you can't get out what you put in. We only used mild cleaning ingredients, said it was the hot water and extracting that did most of the work, the chemicals were for the people watching so they thought they got their moneys worth.

 

I see both your dogs are mostly white. I have had several white cats and other white animals and always found them to be more sensitive. Wonder if there's anything to that?

Just my 2 cents,

[mbc1963]

My brother's boxer broke out in tiny, itchy welts after they had an addition put on. They never knew if it was plaster dust stuck in the carpet, the new carpet itself, paint fumes, or what. She itched for a year or more. It was horrible to see! But it all calmed down over time... so I guess it was fumes or outgassing or dust that finally left.

 

Good luck.

 

Mary

[in2adventure]

Is it new carpet?

Or has it been cleaned lately?

What a drag to think the poor girl has to live on the thing that's causing her to itch. Are you guessing about it are or you pretty sure? I like the blanket idea, or maybe a t-shirt or footies/socks to protect her from contact?

Do you use anything different while at your parents house compared to yours?

My dh used to clean carpet for a living, there are some horrible chemicals out there being called safe.

I was thinking if it's new, can you get it cleaned with plain hot water to maybe cut down on the chemicals that were applied at the factory. Or to get anything left by old carpet cleanings?

Being the ex carpet cleaner, he won't even let me get a little cleaner for home, says it's worse than leaving it alone cause you can't get out what you put in. We only used mild cleaning ingredients, said it was the hot water and extracting that did most of the work, the chemicals were for the people watching so they thought they got their moneys worth.

 

I see both your dogs are mostly white. I have had several white cats and other white animals and always found them to be more sensitive. Wonder if there's anything to that?

Just my 2 cents,

 

Lucia is quite a bit more sensitive to things than Grady. She is pink pigmented, where Grady is black pigmented. She's like the canary in the house. Always look to her first for any problems. The carpet is 4-5 years old. It's never been cleaned to my knowledge. My last dog lived my parents because she was old. When the carpet was first put in, she had a terrible reaction to it. She lived on shots and pills the last year she was alive. Poor old girl This is what makes me think it's what's bothering Lucia. The chemicals they use in the factory are bad. It came scotch guarded too, not an optional thing. She does spend quite a bit of time on the couch, as Maggiedog suggested I should do , But she likes to sleep under my bed at night (has done this since the day I got her) and the whole house has this new carpet. This is one more reason for getting hardwoods when I build my own place.

 

They live very differently than me. I use lots of truely "green" things around my house. Even the laundry soap is earth friendly. No fertilizers, sprays, cleaning chemicals, etc. This is frustrating for me and I may break out in spots from the lack of environmental concern they have. Both dogs eat Taste of the Wild and raw (when it's convienent). I've roated through the different types to see if maybe she had issues with fish, chicken, etc. No changes in condition.

 

I'll post what the new vet says tonight. I've added Vit E oil to her food and will pick up cinn and tumeric tonight also. Thanks sooooo much for all the suggestions and good vibes. I've learned a ton to help her out. Lets hope something makes her more comfy soon.

 

 

 

I hate having her live like this and I feel awefull about it. April 19th is the leave date.

[in2adventure]

Just got back from the new vet. He said pretty much the same thing as the other vet, only with a whole lot less damage to the pocket book. It's an allergy with an unknown cause. Could be the carpet, mold, chemical, etc. He's been seeing a huge increase in this type of problem this winter. He gave Lucia another shot (same kind the first vet gave) and said they sometimes need a couple of them to get the ball rolling. This thought wasn't offered the first time. The other vet went right to the really expensive pills

 

She may need another shot in a couple weeks, but this one should take care of most of the itching and clear up the spots. The first try did help a lot, but wore off really fast. At least I know it can be repeated. The cinniman combo will be added to her diet too.

 

Thanks for all the advice! By the way, the first vet charged a $45 exam fee EVERY time Lucia walked through the front door. The new vet was $14 for a walk in with no appointment plus the cost of the shot. AND he has a better personality

[DTrain]

We have been going through this with my oldest dog for seven years. We have not been able to find the cause but we can anticipate a problem. It is going to be warm in the next few days, all the snow will melt and Mac will be out running around. At some point in the next couple of days he will flare up. We will take him to the Vet for a shot, he will be on anti-biotics and we will give him Benadryl and bath him. This won't stop it but it will keep it under control. It is an alergy but we have no idea what.