Does Your Dog have Allergies Too?

[kathysallergydog]

My boxer dog, Elsie, suffers from severe allergies. Three years ago her health started to deteriorate. She had itchy paws (which she always chewed on), bleeding ears, itchy skin, hair loss, weight loss and many other health issues. My family struggled with expensive medications, treatments and vet visits. At one point, we were spending over $2,000 a year.

Through trial and error, we finally found the right combination of food (Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison) and treatment (allergy shots, indoor allergen control, etc.) to improve her quality of life - and save our checkbook.

I'd love to meet others who have allergy dogs. What experiences have you gone through with dog allergies? What solutions work/don't work for you?

P.S. Since I know Elsie isn't alone, I’ve decided to write a book on dog allergies. You'll see mention of a study I'm doing in my signature.

 

[Bigpoodleperson]

My dog has enviornmental allergies that are the worst in the fall. He will chew his feet raw, they will swell up, he wont walk on them, gets major infections, etc.
In the past we have tried steroids which he had 2 life threatening reactions to. Antihistamines, which unless at an extreamly high dose didnt work (and it really only worked to knock him out so he was too sleepy to chew). Other oral meds that did nothing. Atopica, didnt really help.

The only thing that would give him some relief was frequent baths and feet baths, benadryl and antibiotics. We just had to suffer through. I would of given him steroids if i could to give him relief.

This year has actually been great for his allergies even though we have had a horrible allergy season and really dry weather. He is now on an extremely low dose of steroids for Addisons disease. I can only think that the minimal steroids in his system helped him.
Living with an allergy dog is hard. I wish he was a food allergy dog. So much easier to fix and manage!

 

[mrose_s]

Buster seems to have developed a grain allergy in the last 6 months or so. We've been struggling with his itchyness for months and months (to the point where he will rip chunks of fur out) and once we took him off all grain he improved. He ended up back on some grain for a while and the itching returned so he's been off it again now for the last few weeks and we're hoping he'll come around again.

 

[AussiesMom]

Same with Aussie. Like overnight she developed this itchy skin along her spine. Not fleas, not mange just a reaction to something and we don't know what it is. Oatmeal bath works for about a day or two but I don't want to bathe her more than once a week.

 

[kathysallergydog]

I agree that environmental allergies are very difficult to deal with. In addition to allergy shots, we also give Elsie regular baths with Douxo Chlorohexidine PS Shampoo. Our pet dermatologist recommended it. Keeps her skin glossy & helps with the itchies in peak allergy season.