Olivia Posted April 11, 2004 Report Share Posted April 11, 2004 I have a 19 month old intact male border collie. He started licking his feet and legs about 7 months ago. We did skin biopsies and they showed an allergic reaction. The vet suggested that we switch food to a hypoallergenic food so we tried Science Diet z/d. Seemed to help at first but now he is back to the licking. He wears a basket muzzle in his crate to keep him from doing it but he does it out of his crate now. I have tried bitter apple but it doesnt faze him. I also tried perfume sprayed on the area but he still licks. I even tried dissolving some metronidazole in some isopropyl alcohol and sprayed that on the area since metronidazole tastes so nasty. Still licking. I am at the end of my rope. Any ideas to keep him from chewing himself raw? Olivia PS. Benedryl didn't seem to help either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb Scott Posted April 11, 2004 Report Share Posted April 11, 2004 My nephew's white shepherd had allergies that caused licking and hot spots (as well as many other problems); Bolt is now eating a very expensive fish & potato dog food from the vet that seems to have helped a great deal. Barb Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cisco's Mom Posted April 11, 2004 Report Share Posted April 11, 2004 Just had our Cisco, seven months old, to the vet two weeks ago for licking and scratching himself raw on his legs, stomach and hip area. Our vet first asked about the temperature in our house and the humidity since he is in the house most of the day. It had been cold and the electric heat was on. In the area he stays in we have now turned off the vents in case this was a cause. He also noted it could be an allergic reaction and made sure all of our flea and tick meds were current which they were and upon inspection he found no trace of either. He never inquired about the food we were feeding him. Anyway, Cisco got a shot of Depo Medrol and an injection of Ivermectin - a type of cortizone shot I believe and we were given Efa Z Plus liquid to put in his food once a day - a fatty acid supplement. Thankfully, the licking and chewing have stopped and hair is starting to regrow. The vet said it could have been a one time thing or something that we may have to do every year should it have been an springtime allergic response to something...or something else we may have to run tests about. I sure feel for you though, because it was nonstop and it doesn't take long till you have a bald border collie on your hands! I hope it ends soon for you too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane allen Posted April 11, 2004 Report Share Posted April 11, 2004 This is too weird. My (official breed here) German Malamutant is named Cisco....and a few years ago, we went through a spell of licking, hot spots, etc. Maybe its the name! We too thought it might be a winter-thing - his coat around his tail and on his haunches is nearly too thick to get a brush or comb through, and that's mostly where his hot spots were. We put Aloe Vera gel on it, to soothe the "hots" and start some healing....though it didn't deter him from licking. After switching to a raw diet, it seems much much better - though I swear he's part cat, licking his front legs and feet, and wiping them over his face! Never have found fleas or ticks or mites or anything. I would imagine that a border collie with this problem might be as much a behavioral problem as a physical one....does he do this when he's really tired too?! (may have some allergies without the licking being caused by them?) diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivia Posted April 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2004 My boy was switched to a venison based diet, same idea as the whitefish, to get a novel protein in their system to see if it is a food allergy. Hasn't really seemed to help. I am so worried that it is a boredom thing. He gets plenty of exercise, we have an agility course in our backyard and herd sheep on weekends. I work next door so they play during my lunch break and right after work til bedtime. I've never really paid attention to whether or not he does it less after working. Nothing really exhausts him. I think I am going to request a prescription for prozac and hydroxyzine to see if I can stop the itching and relax him enough that he won't feel compelled to lick. Maybe if I can break the cycle I can fix the problem. Olivia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted April 11, 2004 Report Share Posted April 11, 2004 Hi, Olivia, I've got an allergic dog, Shoshone. She had bitten her back legs and front paws raw. We tried a lot of different things with her over a long time, (3 years.) We FINALLY went to a veterinary dermatologist. He had the knowledge that the general practice vets didn't have to really help us out. What worked for Shoshone was this - She turned out to have a bacterial skin infection, probably because of the constant biting/chewing of herself. She did 30 days of an antibiotic, and that helped enormously. At the same time, we put her on a novel protein diet for 6 weeks, (vegetarian kibble) then started adding in foods, one at a time, every 2 weeks, to see what she reacted to. It turns out that she's allergic to dairy and wheat or corn. Right now she's eating a fish/sweet potato kibble. We also had a skin patch test done, she's allergic to mosquito bites, dust mites, johnson grass and wool. Yes, I have a border collie who is allergic to sheep! We got rid of all wool blankets and conforter type things. It takes time to discover all this, and for us at least, a specialist. Every dog is different, so what works for Shoshone may well not work for your dog. And what worked for a lot of other dogs didn't work at all for Shoshone. If you can get your dog to a vet dermatologist, I'd cut right to the chase. I sure wish I had, and saved Shoshone from a lot of discomfort. Good luck, let us know how you do. Ruth n the Border Trio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borderbob Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 this is gonna sound wierd but have you recently fertilized the lawn?? we have a 5 yr old golden who is allergic to it bad. just some food for thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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