My Remedy For Riley's Allergies...
 

I just wanted to share my remedy for Riley's environmental allergies.

At his first major flare up, last May, when I took him in, the Vet told me that the dose for Benadryl is 1 mg per pound three times a day. Generally Benadryl comes in 25 mg tablets. So since Riley was 8.5lbs, I could cut one in half and give him 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the evening. I do that and it clears him right up. [NOTE: The Benadryl was all Sold Out so I just bought the CVS Brand which has the same exact stuff in it than the regular Benadryl and it works just fine....]

I will also rub Riley's belly with organic coconut oil whenever he starts having a little flare up. The best I have found is Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.
You can get it at GNC or Vitamin Shoppe.
It is also good to rub onto bug bites.... or I rub it on his tummy when it looks a little dry and flaky.

https://store.nutiva.com/coconut-oil/

I told Riley's new vet about the coconut oil and he advised that it might be better if I give him something orally and treat him from the inside out for his dry/flaky skin. So, again, when he starts to look more flaky/dry that normal, I give him Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet. It comes in liquid form or you can buy pills. For the pills, I will just cut the end of 1-pill and pour it in his food in the mornings.

Nordic Naturals Pet Collection

I am very aware and am constantly rolling him over to check his Tummy.... especially after some of our long walks in the city. :)
I think with any kind of allergies, you have to be careful that the skin issue or irritation doesn't turn to Staph or something worse.... wherein they will definitely need a dose of antibiotics to knock it out..... but all of the above is what I do in order to keep that from happening... and it seems to work for us. :)

Two Other Things:
 

Two other things:

The Vet told me to get some shampoo with oatmeal in it. I bought some Tropiclean from a pet boutique. When his dry skin/allergies start kicking in, I'll switch to this Shampoo... I "Looove" It!! They have several different ones. The one I used was the medicated oatmeal w/tea tree. I would Highly recommend it to anyone.

Tropiclean Products

Here is the oatmeal one:

Oatmeal & Tea Tree - Medicated Shampoo

And She also told me to buy the Virbac Corium-20 ear cleaner and to clean his ears out once a week.... The first bout of allergies gave him really really bad infections in both ears, which she cleared up. Apparently allergies can cause a build up of wax and other junk in their ears and it can get really infected if not cleaned out.

Corium - 20 For Dogs and Cats - Corium - 20 FOR DOGS & CATS (8 oz)

Thanks for sharing! I am definitely going to get the Omega 3 and use it. Do you only give during allergy flares or do your daily:confused:

I do the Omega-3 Every Day. :thumbup: :thumbup:
I actually just ran out Thursday and need to order more. :)

I give coconut oil orally to my pack, specially to miss Prada the yorkie, she battled IBS and many allergies, they have gotten a lot better over the years. she is also battling Reumathoid arthritis at her tender age of 3 years and 9 months. Coconut oil is very good for dogs my holistic Vet , Dr. Magda recomended it to me about 3 years ago and i been hooked on it ever since.
hugs,

Which coconut oil do you use? I also have the CocoTherapy Coconut Chips, which I sprinkle on his food sometimes.

I'm going to order the Oatmeal & Tea Tree Medicated Shampoo to have on hand if Zhoie gets a flare up. Do you also use a conditioner after the shampoo:confused: Sorry, I just can't seem to stop with only one question;)

eheeheehee Nooo Problem!!
When I first got it I wouldn't use any conditioner....
The back of the bottle says to leave on for 5 - 10 minutes and then rinse well and that it may be used daily. It also says that it is soap free and will not impact Advantage, Frontline, BioSpot & other Spot-on flea products.

If I do use a conditioner, I will use Fresh Pet [this is what his breeder uses.... and i remembered how good he smelled when I picked him up.] =)

Top Performance Fresh Pet Conditioner | PetEdge.com

I would like to try one of the Tropiclean conditioners though.
I may order some for when I use the oatmeal.

Any other time I use Chris Christensen Day to Day or Spectrum Ten.

Thanks so much, I'm going to give it a try!