Capone has allergies

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by lucirbc

Please tell me Atopica (sp?) is. Lilo has had allergy issues since she was 6 moths old or so. She was tested and has been on allergy shots since she was about a year and a half and i have never heard of this. she is also on hydroxyzine (antihistamine) to help with itching. i am wondering why her dog derm or regular vet never mentioned it????

What is she allergic too and are the shots helping? Not sure why your vet wouldn't mention Atopica, it is one the most common treatments for dogs w/ environmental allergies....

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Ellie is on Atopica also.
Steroids were only working for a short time and we didn't want to keep giving them anyway. She has some health problems, but it is really the only option besides massive doses of steroids. Since her problem could be related to food, it may not work anyway. Long story short, we can't switch foods.

If your pup is only having a probably a couple weeks a year, then maybe steroids could be a good choice (if antihistamines don't work). But if it is a constant problem, Atopica is the go to drug. It is immunosuppressive and modified live virus vaccines should not be given while they are taken it. That said, if it's a quality of life issue, I wouldn't hesitate to use it.

Oh my goodness, I must have been half asleep when I typed this.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by lucirbc

Please tell me Atopica (sp?) is. Lilo has had allergy issues since she was 6 moths old or so. She was tested and has been on allergy shots since she was about a year and a half and i have never heard of this. she is also on hydroxyzine (antihistamine) to help with itching. i am wondering why her dog derm or regular vet never mentioned it????

Are the shots working?

[lucirbc]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

What is she allergic too and are the shots helping? Not sure why your vet wouldn't mention Atopica, it is one the most common treatments for dogs w/ environmental allergies....

She is allergic to a few different weeds, molds and fungi, dust, dust mites, pine trees, melaleuca trees, cypress trees, cockroaches, and misquitos. (There may be something i forgot). The shots help her not to have major flare ups where she is scratching herself to bleed/scab, but she does get itchy and red still, especially when somthing is in bloom. I give her shots weekly, spray her paws as needed, bathe her in a special shampoo weekly (or everyother week), put itch relief lotion as needed, and give her the antihistamine 2x's a day (all items perscribed). I just wonder what Atopica is and why i never tried it?? i will google it...

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by lucirbc

She is allergic to a few different weeds, molds and fungi, dust, dust mites, pine trees, melaleuca trees, cypress trees, cockroaches, and misquitos. (There may be something i forgot). The shots help her not to have major flare ups where she is scratching herself to bleed/scab, but she does get itchy and red still, especially when somthing is in bloom. I give her shots weekly, spray her paws as needed, bathe her in a special shampoo weekly (or everyother week), put itch relief lotion as needed, and give her the antihistamine 2x's a day (all items perscribed). I just wonder what Atopica is and why i never tried it?? i will google it...

If you have to do all of that, Atopica may be a better option.
It is an immunosuppressant made by Novartis.
The active ingredient is cyclosporine.

[lucirbc]

i just googled it and found some info. I will ask the dermo the next time we go, which should be in the next couple of months. It seems pretty expensive. Does it work well on your dogs?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by lucirbc

i just googled it and found some info. I will ask the dermo the next time we go, which should be in the next couple of months. It seems pretty expensive. Does it work well on your dogs?

Is this question for me or Wylie's Mom?

[lucirbc]

i guess it is to anyone who is using it or knows anyone who uses it....

[Doodlebug]

I am sorry to hear that others are suffering from this allergy itching too. Daisy recently started having these itching symptoms too and she also has an occasional little droplet of clear liquid coming from her nose. She also recently started biting at the sheets on the bed. The vet said it's allergies and give her benadryl.

I recently started giving her a little boiled chicken cut up on top of her dry lamb and rice dog food. Is it possible that she is allergic to the boiled chicken?? She is 6 yrs old and has never had this problem before now.

Thanks for any advice about the chicken.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by lucirbc

i guess it is to anyone who is using it or knows anyone who uses it....

I have seen no change in 9 days, but Ellie gets it less often than recommended because of her liver problem. Her allergies may not be environmental anyway, and in that case, it won't work. So you can't go by us.

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

I am sorry to hear that others are suffering from this allergy itching too. Daisy recently started having these itching symptoms too and she also has an occasional little droplet of clear liquid coming from her nose. She also recently started biting at the sheets on the bed. The vet said it's allergies and give her benadryl.

I recently started giving her a little boiled chicken cut up on top of her dry lamb and rice dog food. Is it possible that she is allergic to the boiled chicken?? She is 6 yrs old and has never had this problem before now.

Thanks for any advice about the chicken.

What parts of her body are itchy?
Yes, chicken can be an allergen. You can eliminate for 2-3 months and see how it goes.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

If you have to do all of that, Atopica may be a better option.
It is an immunosuppressant made by Novartis.
The active ingredient is cyclosporine.

Originally Posted by lucirbc

i just googled it and found some info. I will ask the dermo the next time we go, which should be in the next couple of months. It seems pretty expensive. Does it work well on your dogs?

We see a Vet Derm and I'm rather surprised that if you're seeing a Derm too, Atopica hasn't at least been mentioned. At first it is more expensive bc you give it every day - then *most* dogs can proceed to a maintenance dose of 2-3x per week (much more affordable). At my Derm's office, it is $25 for 15 pills.

Marcel is currently being dosed 3xweek. When we first started w/ him, I saw relief w/in 8 days, it was unreal. His main symptom was paw chewing/licking - and I'd say it went from an 8/10 - to now at 1-2/10. He used to wake up at 1am to chew his paws .

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I have seen no change in 9 days, but Ellie gets it less often than recommended because of her liver problem. Her allergies may not be environmental anyway, and in that case, it won't work. So you can't go by us.



What parts of her body are itchy?
Yes, chicken can be an allergen. You can eliminate for 2-3 months and see how it goes.

Thank you. That would explain it. She is biting and licking at her paws and licking her lower tummy/private area and biting her side/back area in front of her hip. She has never done this before and I feel so bad to see her itching so much. I will remove the chicken and see if it helps. Thank you so much!!!

Added: She also licks the bottom of her paws a lot. I have been trimming the hair from there and applying salve to them because they are really dry to see if that helps too.

[lg2006]

Just wanted to say thank you to all of you who have contributed to this topic. I am about to lose my mind with my dog children's itching. One has always been prone to hot spots during the summer and now my older one ( will be 4 soon) has taken to itching constantly. Chewing paws, biting back legs and privates ALL.THE.TIME.
I know that it's not fleas, or their food as they have always been fed the same food. It *could* be treats as I do tend to switch those up a lot. However I am wondering it if is allergies since they play outside alot more now that we have a fenced in back yard. We also moved into a 1927 house last year so maybe its dust mites.. I am over whelmed with all the possibilities and hate the idea of medicating them forever!
I am very interested in trying Atopica. I assume it is prescription?
Thanks in advance for any/all advice!

[BanditSocks2]

How do you know the difference between itching and allergies? My older dog scratches his back like crazy, but only when he's on a carpet or on the fabric couch or the pet bed. He never does it when he is in the room with the hard wood floor (where we are the majority of the time).

[Love_Capone]

I took Capone to the vet, they first thought it was dry skin but nothing worked and then they said allergies. I believe it's allergies too now that I think about it. His eyes are kind of red, he sneezes sometimes and we've been outside way more than before. I think it started when I moved. I don't think he would just sit and scratch for no reason.