Anyone Have Experience WIth Allergies

[mindy10]

So those of you that have dogs with allergies. Did you ever find out if it was food or environmental or flea related. If so, is they a difference? For example if it is food related do they usually get red bumps from it? My dog has been home since July and now it is October. Still very itchy. No red bumps or hot spots. Itchy everywhere. tail, legs, face, neck, stomach eyes. Not sure where to start. I know it can be very hard like in humans to find out what they are allergic to because they are so many things out there. He is on a no grain diet. I tried Fish and I have tried Turkey and Beef. Still itchy. He is 7 months old and I do beleive dogs can have allergies that young because so many puppies itch. Thanks

[Lovetodream88]

Food allergies are pretty rare. Have you talked to your vet? More then likely it's environmental.

[mindy10]

I have talked to the vet. She said to try the benydryl or Claritin. I have tried both and it does seem to help some but how often can you give them that. I don't want him to be on it for life.

[Buster Brown]

I just had a allergy blood panel run on my Buster who is 5 years old. Some minimal environmental allergies honey bee and one tree and a few grasses/ragweed none really in our area. I did find out he is allergic to chicken, turkey , duck, pork salmon, fish mix, berries, eggs, oats, peas .... I did find out after doing the blood test that it is not as effective with food allergies as it is with environmental allergies. I am going to do a second saliva test NutriScan Food Sensitivity and Intolerance Test for Cats and Dogs that another YT member mentioned to me that might help me refine his food allergies as some of his results were borderline so I am waiting until he is less reactive to test again. After the saliva test if Buster is still having issues I will have a skin test done.
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/car...food-allergies

[sandy simpson]

Oh poor Buster, I hate allergies in dogs. I had a poodle that had terrible skin allergies. The food is a big cause of allergies. All the junk they put in some foods. My derm dr. said to put Chips on a venison diet. It helped her so much. I bathed her with Hy-lyte, a hypo allergenic shampoo I got from my vet. She was from a back yard breeder and that is why everyone must be careful where they get teirr dog. Some f these breeders cause these things. Really b strict with the food and then I would seek the help of a derm dr. Vets really do not know how to treat allergic dogs. Seek a specialist.

[mindy10]

Sandy did he have red bumps or hot spots or just overall itchy? I heard with food allergies they usually get the red bumps

[tinalove]

Khole my yorkie gets this gunk around her eyes. The vet has her on children's zyrtec and a prescription eye drop. My other dog takes benedryl. She is allergic to fleas so I have to make sure no fleas bite her . They both get flea meds monthly.

[chestermama]

chester has environmental allergies, he gets fish oil which helps, I use no dryer sheets, use all free and clear for laundry since he sleeps with me, use no plug in freshners or nothing, he gets temaril p sometimes which is prednisone and antihistamine if these things help then it is not food related, antihistamine will not help food allergies. I also use a air cleaner and keep my place pretty clean. I will sometimes just rinse him off and that helps and wipe feet off if they have been outside. He gets it usually during spring or just sleeping in a hotel from there laundry soap on the bedding, good luck

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by mindy10

I have talked to the vet. She said to try the benydryl or Claritin. I have tried both and it does seem to help some but how often can you give them that. I don't want him to be on it for life.

I wouldn't bother w/ Benadryl unless able to give it 4x a day - as it needs to be given every 4-6 hrs to be effective. Rather, I'd recommend you use Zyrtec or Claritin as they are both once every 24 hours. When trying an anti-histamine, you want to use it for at least 2 weeks before evaluating it's effectiveness. If it's not working, move to the next one and try it.

Don't worry about him being on it for life - if he needs it for his quality of life, it's the right thing for him to be on it.

As far as your other questions...food or enviro allergies could both cause the "red bumps" (usually turning into pyoderma), itching all over or in only a few places, tearing/eye gunk, paw chewing and licking etcetera.

Does your kiddo chew/lick his paws?

If the OTC anti-hists don't work, then you truly need to move on to the prescription options bc allergies are just miserable to live with for these kiddos. If you get to that point, then I can't recommend highly enough going to a Vet Derm rather than your general vet (who is not likely well versed in allergies)...a Vet Derm will save you money in the long run, believe me!

For more on how to treat allergies and year-round vs. seasonal allergies, def read this entire thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/die...tart-here.html

I'd get your kiddo on a fish oil like Ark Naturals Royal Coat (already has the needed Vit E) and a shampoo like Duoxo (buy from Amazon, not at vet's).

[mindy10]

Thanks Wylies mom. Yes he bites at his legs and paws and rubs his butt on the floor and his face. I did try the claritin and it definitely makes him itch a lot less. So I am hoping that will help him. I can't wait till the winter so I can see if he itches then. I had a dog that itched real bad from August - November because he was allergic to ragweed. Once the winter came he was much better. Just would itch ocassionally. I knew it was ragweed because in August it would start all over again. He would get a vetalog shot and that stoped it. Sammie is only 7 months so I didn't want to have to give him a shot yet but if next summer he is as bad as this summer I will get him a shot.

[mindy10]

I have had him on claritin for 2 days and the itching has definately gotten better. He use to itch every 5 minutes now it is 2-3 times a day. Could be the claritin but could be that fleas and pollen is not out there anymore.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by mindy10

I have had him on claritin for 2 days and the itching has definately gotten better. He use to itch every 5 minutes now it is 2-3 times a day. Could be the claritin but could be that fleas and pollen is not out there anymore.

Gosh, I sure hope that it's as simple as the Claritin is working, bc that'd just be awesome, believe me! If it works well, you may be able to avoid the more potent stuff, like we have to use.

[Laura]

I give 1/2 Claritin to two of mine. Another is on steroids all the time, after having chronic ear infections and having both ears closed. I take a piece of kraft american cheese and break into 12 pcs, fold around pill and they swallow right down. I also use the spray and lotion for itching and hot spots for when they are chewing paws or scratching.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Laura

I give 1/2 Claritin to two of mine. Another is on steroids all the time, after having chronic ear infections and having both ears closed. I take a piece of kraft american cheese and break into 12 pcs, fold around pill and they swallow right down. I also use the spray and lotion for itching and hot spots for when they are chewing paws or scratching.

What kind of spray and lotion are you using?

[mindy10]

Don't want to stop the claritin because he has been so good with the itchy while he is on it. How long are you suppose to keep them on it for. He has been on it for 4 days and only minimal itching. Would you keep giving it now