Itching - need advice before vet

[Lolli_lah]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I don't want to answer the "safe" part definitively for you, bc I don't think I'm really able to. I can tell you for fact, however, that lidocaine can be toxic at a certain level in the blood stream - even as a topical *cream*. So....

Was the vet clear on the fact that you'd be applying to areas that were going to be licked?

As for the claw question - when dogs have an allergy, they will lick/chew their paws/leg/pads/legs/claws - that whole general area is irritated.

That said...if there is any chance you're still thinking mites...mites can actually "burrow" and one of their favorite areas to do that would be the paw. I really kinda doubt that...but it's something to keep in the back your mind, I guess.

No it wasn't given by a vet, I guess I should have phrased it better. My trainer was given it by the vet they associate with but also on the bottle it says about a vet on it. Not like a prescription or anything. I don't think it's a prescription type of spray, I think just mostly vets only carry the product itself.

It says there is only 1.5% lidocaine. The directions say you spray right onto the area of focused itching or sores from itching. It has some kind of oatmeal ingredient to soothe itching but also the lidocaine is an anesthetic so they would be numbed, is that correct?? So maybe they wouldn't be inclined to ever lick the spot? I'm so confused!

As far as the feet, they lick the feet if they have allergies in general? Because she is having allergy on the skin above her tail. Not her feet that I can tell unless biting nails means an allergy, I don't know.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

No it wasn't given by a vet, I guess I should have phrased it better. My trainer was given it by the vet they associate with but also on the bottle it says about a vet on it. Not like a prescription or anything. I don't think it's a prescription type of spray, I think just mostly vets only carry the product itself.

It says there is only 1.5% lidocaine. The directions say you spray right onto the area of focused itching or sores from itching. It has some kind of oatmeal ingredient to soothe itching but also the lidocaine is an anesthetic so they would be numbed, is that correct?? So maybe they wouldn't be inclined to ever lick the spot? I'm so confused!

As far as the feet, they lick the feet if they have allergies in general? Because she is having allergy on the skin above her tail. Not her feet that I can tell unless biting nails means an allergy, I don't know.

Yeah, colloidal oatmeal is in a lot of allergy products. Yes, lidocaine is an anesthetic...and yes, it is meant to cause numbing. I guess my point really was, lidocaine, at some point, is toxic at a certain level in the bloodstream. Since I don't know how effective the spray will be for your kiddo (), or at what point it would be "unsafe" - I can't really answer that for you, ya know? Personally...I haven't found or heard those sprays to be very effective....but they probably work for some dogs out there. I wish I could answer that better for ya ...

As for your 2nd question - yes - they may lick/chew the feet/paws/lower legs/claws with *ANY* allergy - whether that allergy is from food, pollen, dust, a flea bite, a detergent, a perfume you use -- no matter. An allergic response (even if it "happens" locally, say, above the tail -- it turns into a systemic, histamine response).

When humans have allergies, signs = sneezing, nasal drip, itchy eyes, itchy throat, watery eyes, sore throat from nasal drip....when dogs have allergies --> irritated paws, desire to lick/chew paws/legs/claws, itchy ears, may have watery eyes/discharge (and/or recurrent eye infections), itchy body/neck/face/etc. (allllll that said....real big "red flag" signs of any allergy in dogs, regardless of type, is the paw/leg/claw licking/chewing).

[Lolli_lah]

I am only assuming on the label when it says 1.5% that it means for the whole volume. That's not much at all in just one spray so I'm also assuming that if any is ingested it would not be enough to cause any harm. Just an assumption, as this product seems to mostly only be given or prescribed by a vet according to google. Although some people sell it on eBay and other pet medication type sites.

So if she has a flea allergy and had been bitten once and is just having a reaction, this would still cause her to bite her nails?

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

So if she has a flea allergy and had been bitten once and is just having a reaction, this would still cause her to bite her nails?

Yes. A local allergen, turns into a systemic, histamine response. This is why a bee bite can *kill* some people, bc of the systemic response to it.

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

I am only assuming on the label when it says 1.5% that it means for the whole volume. That's not much at all in just one spray so I'm also assuming that if any is ingested it would not be enough to cause any harm. Just an assumption, as this product seems to mostly only be given or prescribed by a vet according to google. Although some people sell it on eBay and other pet medication type sites.

The 1.5% is the concentration, not the "volume" of the lidocaine.

For comparison, Humans usually use lidocaine products of only 2%-5% concentrations, for the most part.

Lidocaine was in the media quite a bit recently as people were using it incorrectly before getting laser hair removal done - young women were collapsing, going into comas, and then died bc too much lidocaine got into their bloodstream - here is a CNN article on that tragic subject.

I'm not trying to tell you not to use it...it's up to you and you seem to really want to use it. I'm just saying that since you're putting it areas that your dog is LICKING, I dunno...I personally wouldn't do it, but it's up to you.

Another thing you might do is call the ASPCA poison line and run this by them; they may have more info about licking/ingesting these chemicals.

I just think it's better to err on the side of prevention when it comes to chemicals...esp. things like anesthetics and such.

[Lolli_lah]

I don't really want to use anything. I don't really trust anything, I don't even trust giving her benadryl. Someone tells me all this math on how to figure out how much to give her, well I'm math stupid. So how am I supposed to know how much to give her if I cant even figure out the equation? lol

As far as this product, I'm just asking questions. I don't need to use it as she hasn't been itching that area since she's been in a onesie. But I like to know all the information about it.

I mean a lot of people say apple cider vinegar can help with small allergies, but no one has suggested it for this so I mean everything is just confusing. So I ask lots of questions lol.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

I don't really want to use anything. I don't really trust anything, I don't even trust giving her benadryl. Someone tells me all this math on how to figure out how much to give her, well I'm math stupid. So how am I supposed to know how much to give her if I cant even figure out the equation? lol

As far as this product, I'm just asking questions. I don't need to use it as she hasn't been itching that area since she's been in a onesie. But I like to know all the information about it.

I mean a lot of people say apple cider vinegar can help with small allergies, but no one has suggested it for this so I mean everything is just confusing. So I ask lots of questions lol.

We all ask a lot of questions -- the fact you're so interested in trying to understand this product...well...let's just say ya pretty much fit in here ! We all ask a whoooooole lotta questions about products, esp. in this section, all the time!

Allergies are, I think, incredibly confusing. I've been to a Vet Dermatologist and *wow* - they are incredible! I learned a lot from them...and believe me, what I learned was really only a teensy bit of what there is to know. Allergies are a tough thing to figure out, in most cases.

Anyway, I can help you w/ dosages of anti-histamines as I have a chart given to me by our Vet Derm. - if you need help, just PM me w/ your pup's weight and I'll help ya out.

[diane boden]

Wow, this is very intresting information. My Rosie has been itching on and off since we got her, back then we thought it was because she was so scurfy. But she still scratches, particularly around her nose and ears, and chewing her feet. Going to try and get some benadryl on Thursday, she weighs roughly 4.5lb, could you please let me know what dosage your chart suggests? I've also read on the net today alovera is supposed to help and was thinking of getting a bottle and making an after bath wash with it, would this help do you think? It also suggests adding fatty acids particularly omega3 to the diet, gave her a small dose today and a bath in an anti-bacterial shampoo which seams to have helped a little. I've never delt with such an itchy little dog before except for a flea allergy which was quickly remedied. They're checked for fleas regularly and Alfie doesn't seam bothered, anything else you could suggest would be much appreaciated.

[DebbieD]

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

Daisy was itching like crazy too. The vet thought it was seasonal allergies and recommended Benadryl. I couldn't find anything flavorless at Walgreens and she hated taking the liquid. So I ground up half of a tablet (she weighs 14 lbs) and sprinkled it on some boiled chicken. This is the only way I could get her to take it. It is working wonders for her and she isn't itching anymore. I hope you find something to help. I know watching them scratching like that is terrible.

How often do you give the Benadryl? The cold weather here is driving Cosmo crazy.