Benadryl???
 

I am a new Yorkie owner. My girl seems to scratch alot and I can't decide if it's the harness, food or shampoo. I dont shampoo her often at all and I rinse her real good. I use an oatmeal shampoo.

She is eating a chicken food. I have the option of Lamb in the same thing though.

Is it safe to give her childrens Benadryl? If so, how much a day. She is a bit over 2 pounds.

Help me figure this out please...I wanna help her.

I wouldn't give Benadryl on a regular basis. It's okay for reactions but it's not really safe to give all the time. Allergies can be solved by other means. The best thing to try is switching her food. Lots of babies have allergies - especially to chicken. Do you mind me asking what brand of food you feed?

How old is she and how long has it been going on? Where, specifically, does she itch? Have you checked thoroughly in her ears, armpits, tummy, between her toes - just to make sure there is nothing add'l going on?

Most importantly what exactly are you feeding? Out of all the meats, chicken is generally the most allergenic - but depending on what else is in the food (CORN etc.), it could be many other obvious additives...:)

She is eating Performatrin Ultra. I posted the ingredients on here and was told it was a really good food. It is not a grocery store food...it's from a Pet Store.

She doesn't seem to have any fleas or anything. If she did, what am I looking for?

She is almost 11 weeks old.

There is no corn in her food. I will go find the thread I posted with the ingredients and post it here so you all can have a look.

Here are the ingredients....

Performatrin Ultra Puppy Food.....

Chicken
Chicken Meal
Whole Brown Rice
Whole Barley
Whole Rice
Menhaden Fish Meal
Oatmeal
Ground Whole Rye
Sunflower Oil stabilized with mixed Tocopherols (a natural source of Vitamin E)
Dried Egg Product
Alfalfa Meal
Peas
Fresh Whole Sweet Potatoes
Fresh Whole Carrots
Fresh Whole Apples
Sea Salt
Kelp
Brewers Dried Yeast
Potassium Chloride
Whole Blueberries
Whole Flaxseed
Spinach
Dried Skimmed Milk
Chicory Root Extract (Prebiotic)
Garlic
Lactobacillus Acidophilus (Probiotic)
Bacillus Subtilis (Probiotic)
Bifidobacterium Thermophilum (Probiotic)
Bifidobacterium Longum (Probiotic)
Enterococcus Faecium (Probiotic)
DL-Methionine
Taurine
Yucca Schidigera Extract
Lecithin
Ascorbyl Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C)
Zinc Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Zinc)
Choline Chloride
Vitamin E Supplement
L-Lysine
Iron Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Iron)
Rosemary
Manganese Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Manganese)
Basil
Sage
Copper Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Copper)
Dandelion
Vitamin B12 Supplement
Vitamin A Supplement
Niacin
Calcium Pantothenate
Vitamin D3 Supplement
Riboflavin
Folic Acid
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
Thiamine Hydrochloride
Biotin
Beta Carotene
Cobalt Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Cobalt)
Potassium Iodide
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity)
Selenium Yeast (source

Oh! She's a baby! :D She shouldn't be having food allergies yet, theoretically. I was mentioning the armpits etc. - not just for fleas, but also to look for any strange moisture, overgrowth, fungi, irritation, redness, flakiness - anything that could look like topical yeast.

Oh, gosh - I'm sorry to state this opinion - but I would steer clear of that food, my friend. There are more than a few reasons - barley, alfalfa, rye etc. - so, a bunch of allergens.

BUT, the real reason is that this vendor uses, and approves mind you, the use of MENIADONE in this food - if you ever see this ingredient as the vit K additive - it should indicate to you that the maker really doesn't give a crap about the creatures who eat the product.

Read here about this lovely "vitamin" (aka toxin): The Dog Food Project - Menadione (Vitamin K3)

Crap. I posted three different ingredient lists in a thread for opinions and that is the one that they said to go with. When she came to me she was eating Costco brand so I switched her to EaglePack which she wasn't thrilled with. So I then changed her to Performatrin Ultra!

How much food change can pups handle? If I did it again would that be bad? The other options I have here are Pro Plan, Acana and I think Acadiana (not right wording I'm sure) may be available.

Any opinions?

Itching Solutions?
 

Welco to Yorkie Ownership! There is nothing quite like it they are completely and utterly precious. This sounds simplistic but make sure she does not have fleas....if that is not the problem then remember yorkies have very delicate skin. You might give the clothes a break until you figure out the problem or get the scratching under control. I have considered giving my yorkie benadryl also because she does scratch after being bathed. I only bathe her once week now. The sprays to "sprooze" her up in the mean time do not seemto bother her. I would not give your yorkie anything until you ask a vet. My yorkie is tiny like yours and you need to make sure you give the right dose. You need to think would your 2 pound newborn infant benadryl?????:confused: :eek: I think a safer bet would be do maybe apply a tiny amount of the liquid benadryl they have out now (it is the clear liquid gel in a blue and white bottle). I do know tha vets give antihistamines to puppies for allergies but I I dont know what kind or how much. This is such an exciting time for you-I am jealous! Please let me know if I can help because I have done many emergency trips to the vet for typical yorkie behaviors....I would suggest getting a boo on yorkies if you havent already and also read about reverse sneezing before you have an unnecessary vet bill. Hopethis helps.

you can also get food online or find a friend that would ship it to you that has it in their area. Id go to the vet for id administer bendryl....for 4 pounds its .5mL they go by weith so Id ask the vet.

More Info on your new Yorkie
 

I wanted to tell you also to make sure you learn about the signs of hypoglycemia for a smaller yorkie. This will help protect your yorkie becasue they can be prone to this problem. I always keep molasses or honey on hand. Some symptoms are when they act disoreinted, panicky, seeing things that arent there, stumbling, and licking or lapping alot. One or two drops of honey will get them back to normal. If this happens though check with your vet for what to in the future. A small yorkie can die in a short period of time if this is not taken care of. Just FYI for your new baby.

:yeahthat: Good posting :)

My Pommie, Snowboy, is allergic to wheat, corn, and eggs. I noticed your dog food had eggs. Just a thought. I'm very careful that treats are free of these products. I've finally found a pet store that carries the type of treats Snowboy can have. It's made life a bit easier. Good luck.

As for Benadryl---would check with your vet first. My vet said 1 ml. per lb. Rosie is in the beginning stages of CT and I give her Benadryl each morning. It's helped a great deal, but that is for CT. Hope you find the answer for the itches.

Thanks for this info, I had never heard of this!! I am going to go check all the food and treats I have!! I home cook and give them Innova Evo, hopefully it doesn't have Meniadone in it!!:thumbdown

Hi Marc - Personally, I don't think I'd be giving this pup benadryl at 11 wks old - I just don't think she would have seasonal allergies at this age. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's highly unlikely - the immune system should still have enough "left overs" from the mother to prevent any seasonal allergies from surfacing, at this point. Next spring, sure, but now? It just doesn't make sense to me. It would be the same thing as a human baby having allergies 11 weeks after being born, you know? Colds, yes - allergies highly unlikely.

So, as for the itching - you may want your vet to give her a thorough look - though it seems she appears fine from what you've said. You could bathe her w/ an oatmeal shampoo, and perhaps try a leave-in spray conditioner after you bathe her (even a human one, if that's all you can find). It might also help to get some Essential Fatty Acids in her diet - a great one is called Eicosaderm, and it'll last you forever, from: eicosaderm

As for food - Eagle Pack isn't too bad, but if she doesn't like it..? I looked at the Acana - it's about even w/ Eagle - and it doesn't contain any red flags. It's an okay food - not premium - but good. Like others said, you could order better foods online - if you want to go that route...

Or, feed raw, like some of us do :D (Natures Variety) or, homecook! :D How's that for overwhelming?

Ok, I am SO frustrated!

She wouldn't eat the eaglepack....Performatrin Ultra was recomended....but that has menodiane in it....so I picked up Orijen samples and now I read that it is far too high in protein for a pup. What am I doing?

I took a real close look at her and where she is itchy. Her skin seems "dandruffy" and dry and I would venture to say that her hair is on the dry, not soft side. Is there anything at the local health food/vitamin store that I can give her for her skin and coat? Like fish oils or something oily?

please help. I am so confused. She is such a good girl and I REALLY want to help her not be itchy and dry.

Also....(read above post please, lol)

Eicosaderm....I'll check into that. Do they sell that in Canada or ship to canada? If I can't take that route can I get fatty acid stuff from the local health food store? Or is it different?

It was once thought that Orijen was too high in protein for Yorkies but now it's known that unless they are liver compromised, the protein is fine.

The link that Wylie's Mom gave you should be able to tell you if they ship to Canada.

I FORGOT, you're in CANADA - I LOVE Orijen!! Before I was homecooking and then moved on to raw - I had my guys on Orijen - and I have so much respect for that company. I actually corresponded a bit w/ their STAFF nutritionist (yes, they have one - and yes, he actually will get back to you) bc I had questions. And, ya know - if you have doubts - give Orijen a call and see if you can talk to the nutritionist directly. :)

Anyway! Don't let higher protein scare you - it really is a concern only for dogs who have kidney/liver/pancreas issues - and unless you think your pup does - then, personally, I wouldn't worry about a disease until it presents itself. Also, dogs tend to go crazy for Orijen - so hopefully, she'll love the taste.

As for the itchies - you could either try just the Orijen for 6 weeks and see what happens. Or, you can supplement w/ Eicosaderm -or- you can do fish oil, BUT - if you do fish oil, you must also supplement w/ vitamin E - so, you'd have to get E capsules, pierce them - and do all that. (this is why I like Eicosaderm bc it is fish oil and the vit E together)

Btw, I would stay away from flax oils for the fatty acids since she is itchy...

Oh lord. I feel so stressed, lol. Yorkies are hard to figure out, eh?

Ok, questions....

1. Is she going to get fat on Orijen?
2. Is she going to consume a ton of water and then have to pee every other minute if she eats Orijen?
3. If I can't or don't order that eicosaderm what is it's alternative from say my vet (if he even has) or the local human health food store?
4. Does Eicosaderm (or it's alternative) help skin AND coat?
5. If she is just a pup.....what do you think it is that is causing the itching? Where do I start? She is a little flaky where she itches.

Sorry for all the questions....I feel so helpless.

1. Is she going to get fat on Orijen?
No - like people, dogs get fat from eating more than they need. When I fed kibble, I always free-fed - and I never had an overweight animal. Maybe that was luck - but I never did anything but free feed w/ kibble. In fact, if you consider high protein vs. high carb - dogs would get "fat" on carb faster than they would on protein.

2. Is she going to consume a ton of water and then have to pee every other minute if she eats Orijen?
Never experienced this - though I recall one member saying this, anecdotally. Several others feed 42% protein and haven't shared the same experience. I think if it was really common - we'd see a LOT of posts about it.

3. If I can't or don't order that eicosaderm what is it's alternative from say my vet (if he even has) or the local human health food store?
Vets, actually, often carry Eicosaderm - at probably double the price :rolleyes:. Otherwise - you'd probably want to get "Grizzly Oil" or any fish oil supplement from the pet store - and then supplement w/ vit E.

4. Does Eicosaderm (or it's alternative) help skin AND coat?
Yep! EFAs are very good for skin/coat and overall health.

5. If she is just a pup.....what do you think it is that is causing the itching? Where do I start? She is a little flaky where she itches.
It's funny bc sometimes, I thing puppies just get itchy as they grow. Marcel was itchy when I made him wear a collar (for the bell). It's really hard to say - if your vet has done a very, very thorough check (mites, mange, fleas etc) - and has ruled out everything - then I'd shoot for getting her on a premium diet, on fish oil - and seeing what happens.

What was she on for food at the breeders? Can't recall what you said - but if she was on anything funky - the skin is an elimination organ, so she may be getting rid of some gunk too...

It's tough to recommend tooooo much at her age as well. :)

Thank you Wiley's Mom....I am feeling like I may just be able to handle this, lol.

Ok, she came to me eating Costco brand puppy food. I know NOTHING about the ingredients but I just didn't want to continue that so I went with EaglePack and Brylie (pup) she didn't like it much.

I will have a vet appointment in the next week or so for shots and will get him to thouroughly check her skin out then...though I see nothing other than dry flakyness myelf. I will ask him if he has Eisoderm (sp) and if he does I will get that if not then I will post and get help. In the meanwhile....is my personal leave-in conditioner going to help? SHould I try that or no? I read on here that someone did that and it is good.

Well, if she was eating CostCo Brand - there is a def. possibility that there could be some irritation from it, no doubt about it. With her age, go SLOW on the vaccinations - only get the core vaccinations - hopefully, your vet isn't a "vax pusher".

Your own leave-in conditioner is worth a shot - maybe when you give her a bath, massage the leave-in into her skin and dry areas, it may help. You also don't want to over condition - so don't "smother" the conditioner on either. You might also look in the baby/toddler area at the grocery store for a spray-on detangler - they have moisturizing properties too, so you might spray that on occasionally. But, if your own leave-in does the job - then just stick with that! :D

And, you're welcome...I'm happy to help you and your pup! :)

Ok, vet appointment for second shots is when she is 12 weeks old. Is that ok?

I also asked about the eicosaderm and he never heard of that. I asked him what he offers for skin and coat and he said Ubavet omega 3-6-9. I tried looking it up but didn't find much on it. If it is just omega 3, 6 and 9 is that anything close to eicosaderm? Or no?

Mozart is 10 years old and has battled seasonal itching for years. He has been given all kinds of meds for it through the years. Finally a friend told me to try taking him completely off of all wheat products---that includes treats also. It has worked wonders.

I have another question about her coat. She will be three months old at the end of this month. I am noticing her ears and foerhead area are changing at the roots to a deep orangy color. Is that supposed to happen this early? And does that mean she'll have a tan head and dark body when she's older?

the wheat thing could be a big possibility.....also if the dog looks dandruffy that might just be it...my Smokey gets it from any dog shampoo...so my breeder told me to use sunsilk straighten up for humans...both shampoo and conditioner.....it has been wonderful for us....vet told me to watch the treats also...he said to always try to get ones that had meat as the main ingredient...also my Smokey is slightly allergic to grass...so my vet told me to give a very little like of benedryl if he doesnt stop scratching in 5 minutes of coming back inside....just what he can lick off your finger is enough

Like the wheat or allergy thing could be her coat changing to a deep orange color? Or are you referring to her itchiness? Just wondering cause you qouted the post about the ears changing color.

sorry my post was about the itchyness.....about the coat change...it could be that she is what is called a gold gene carrier.....my breeder has one.....her website is www.yorkiehousetn.com.....under yorkshire terriers she is the first dog her name is Allie....and she usually has at least one pup every litter that looks just like her