loch-heart Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 I'm hoping someone may be able to help. One of my BCs (Elvis) has started to show an allergic reaction to a particular weed (we think) and the vet is trying to help him with steroids and topical creams. We are also using colloidal silver. But nothing seems to work - he has been itching like crazy and losing his fur for about four months now. Does anyone have any suggestions? The allergy shows all over his body - around his eyes and muzzle, in the joints of his legs (like under our arms!), and around his neck. Our neighbours have a BC also who has only just started to show the same problems. They are from different litters and are the same age. My other BC (Marilyn), who has the same mother as Elvis, shows none of these problems. We are at a loss. Secondly, Elvis has, in the last two weeks, been slowly eating away at his pads on all four feet, although the back two are the worst. Last night I came home to find them bleeding. Again, the vet has been treating him with PadAid and a heel balm which should soften the tissue, but he is obviously very irritated. We have to put socks on him and he is wearing an elizabethan collar to try and stop him from getting at his feet (not working) but he's a mess. I am at my wits end and feel for him as the vet says there is nothing more he can do. He is going to a skin specialist next week, but in the meantime, any ideas would be very appreciated. Thx, Catherine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyna Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 Hi, My Dad's dog (a black lab) has lots of allergies and gets hot spots. We give him chlortriplon or benadryl (sorry about the spelling). It makes him sleepy but it gives him a rest from the discomfort and allows for healing. Obviously it is a short term solution but it helps stop the allergy/licking cycle. Ask your vet which one is best. Good luck, Kyna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaos Posted January 25, 2003 Report Share Posted January 25, 2003 hello, My houndX has seasonal allergies, from about aug 15th or so (ragweed season) till the first really heavy strong frost she is an itching, balding, scabby mess. It gets to the point where we think she develops a fixation or compulsive behavior and just keeps licking and licking out of habit... two years ago she ate so much hair that she set off her bowels so that they became so irritated and inflamed that she was actually paralyzed from the waist down... really scary! To give her some relief we had to get emergency injections of steroids and cortisone (I think it was corisone) $$$$$$ The poor thing just can't stop and help herself... We have tried numerous herbal remedies (which did nothing) and were just about to put her on pre-emptive steroids when we moved and I found that while she still itched it wasn't to the same degree... my personal theory is that we changed the location of her walks and she didn't come into contact with the allergen or irritant as much or as often..... from a wild overgrown field to a city park (although I always keep her away when ever they have recently sprayed for weeds or bugs) One of the things suggested was a fish oil supplement (which we couldn't use because I am anaphylactic to all seafood and could die if exposed to even a small amount.... worth a try though, the other thing was to grind fresh flax seed (keep in fridge to maintain freshness) or simply flax seed oil and add to her dinner... also all the usual things to prevent hot spots and keeping her very clean and not overly dry or damp.... I have heard that the feet are a great indicator of food intolerances or allergies, if the hair is pinky coloured.... perhaps a change in diet, maybe chiken/lamb and plain boiled rice till you find out what the intolerance is too, we tried switching sam to every kind of food on the market and found that Eukanuba and Iams seemed to work well for her (but she REALLY LOVED the boiled chicken and rice...... I think she kept itching longer than she had to just to get the good stuff!! LOL) Its awful watching them wreak havok on them selves isn't it? plus it gets down right irritating listening to the constant thump thumping of an itching leg ALL night long! Best of luck and I hope your Elvis finds some relief let me know what worked for you because they are predicting another long dry hot summer here next year! sara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loch-heart Posted January 26, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2003 Thanks for all of that - we had wondered about him being intolerant to something but his diet hasn't changed, apart from him having Schmacko treats once a day, and then only one. My husband now thinks the pads are reacting to our decking as we have waterblasted it in the last four weeks and that may have released some of the chemicals the timber is treated with. Elvis goes to a skin specialist on Wednesday, so we're hoping he may be able to help. I wonder if your ragweed is the same as our wandering dew - we know that definitely has an affect on Elvis, but it's so strange how Marilyn doesn't react at all. We have been trying to spray it, but as with most weeds, it has a major grip on the property and those that surround us. Fingers crossed the specialist has some ideas - will keep you posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlwelshhans Posted January 26, 2003 Report Share Posted January 26, 2003 Allergies can be extremely frustrating to deal with, and you have to be a dedicated owner (sounds like you are) to tackle them. Most of the time there is no one answer, it takes a combination approach. Try omega 3 fatty acids (in capsule form only, liquid goes rancid quickly) and use 2-3 times the dose recommended. Make sure a high quality diet is fed, home cooking is great. Antihistamines can be extremely helpful and can lower the amount of steroid needed. The first one tried doesn't always work, give each one 2 weeks, then try another. I think it's great you're going to a doggie dermatologist, hopefully they can provide some answers and treatments. Also, I'm a strong believer in cleanliness, I would bath your dog often, even daily, and long as a good moisturizing shampoo is used. I know I feel better when clean when I'm itchy. Also, my bc really benefits from distraction when she gets her occasional allergies. It's almost like she gets obsessed with itching, imagine that an obsessed bc! If I provide other activities for her she seems to forget about it for a while. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loch-heart Posted January 28, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2003 Well, we've had our visit to the specialist ... and what a long process that was. Elvis was very thoroughly checked out, and had 36 different irritants injected under the skin to give an idea of what may be bothering him. At this stage, it looks like dust mites! It seemed to give the most virrulent reaction. We have another couple of hours to go before expecting any significant reaction from the wandering dew weed .... but I'm hoping that will be part of the problem because we can at least then manage that issue. The dust mite theory is interesting because they are found in carpeted homes, and ours is floorboards throughout. However, the dogs' shared bedding may also be a culprit. Anyway, after this afternoon we'll have a better idea - but one thing I did want to say. After spending $356 (!!), I definitely think it was worth taking Elvis along to this vet. He was thorough ( we were there 1.15hours), informative, gave me loads of stuff to read at home and had great empathy with the dog. I certainly felt it has been money well spent so far. Cheers, Catherine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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