Luma's allergy battle.

[Carmeow]

Deep sigh...well, I hesitate to post about Luma's health here because I really am doing all I can afford to do, but I need advice. This has been going on far too long. As long as we've had her.

Today I came home from work and Luma had blood all over her. Huge deep gashes half scabbed over above her eyes, and then I was inspecting her...my heart sank when I saw tons of scabs and blood on the corners of her lips under her mustache. Her ear is bloody deep inside, too. She's been scratching to death and it's worse than ever.

Here's the thing though, I thought she was improving. I've switched her food COUNTLESS times...put her on Nature's Variety with this oil I put on her kibble, its helped tremendously and she finally stopped biting at her legs and scratching herself. Until today. Nothing changed...still eating the same food...she has been indoors because we have to limit her time outside in the grass.

I still have no idea what her issue is. She had tons of tiny scabs on her belly and legs and those went away. Now she's scratching around her mouth and eyes til it bleeds. It looks like she got in a fight with some rabid dog or something. My heart is breaking for my little girl. I feel like a failure for not figuring out the source of her skin issues. I know it bothers her. I've been training her not to scratch, and she is getting good...she stops herself without me correcting her, but she'll start whining because she wants to scratch so badly.

I think I need to find a dermatologist. I'm willing to travel to Houston if I need to, but I know the A&M vet school is very good too, and right down the street. I don't know if allergy testing is worth it, I have brought her to our vet and they did a scrape to see if its not her food, but an infection or parasites and she is flea free, no demodex, no mange, no ear infection...shes been on antibiotics a couple times and it did not effect her skin at all. I've tried different shampoos, I rinse her three or four times to be sure there is no residue causing irritations. I dont know if its her food, or something outside....even when we keep her cooped up for weeks nothing helps, and then she's sad about staying in all the time. I'm about at my wit's ends and I know Luma is miserable. I want to help her. What can I do?

Could I put socks on her 24/7? I would never do something like try to have her declawed. Would socks keep her from scratching? I know that doesnt solve the real problem but I want to do anything possible to help her.

[RileyDC]

Grain Free Canine Caviar

There are some testimonials On their Facebook page that are absolutely amazing

[sophias mommy]

We also switched grain free (California Natural) and it truly helped Sophia's skin issues.

We also tried 1/4 tablet of zyrtec once a day. It didn't help Sophia, but it might help Luma.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this, dog allergies are SO frustrating for them and for us. It's so hard to pinpoint the actual problem .

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by RileyDC

Grain Free Canine Caviar

There are some testimonials On their Facebook page that are absolutely amazing

Amen! Peanut was soo bad too, itchy all the time, licking, hot spots- tried him on CC - everything got better! His skin looks great, eyes clear, coat is super shiny, no hot spots!!

I'm sorry your poor little Luma is having trouble- I know from experience how hard it is to deal with!! Hopefully she gets better soon!

[RileyDC]

Originally Posted by RileyDC

Grain Free Canine Caviar

There are some testimonials On their Facebook page that are absolutely amazing

Here is a photo of one of the testimonials:
I have photos of Riley's tummy before and after CC....
After Just a few days and it is unbelievable.... already clear...
He has energy of a puppy again. He's been eating it four months now!!
It Is Amazing!!!!

[LuvTaycieGirl]

Taycie has horrible food allergies. Using an RX diet is when she was finally able to get some relief.

[lovespandp]

I read to rule out food allergies you should feed duck/ or venison!

I started Pnut on Open Sky- I am 100% happy with what I am seeing- I dont have to give him an allergy pill anymore!!

[kjc]

What type of bowls does she eat and drink from?

[brezofleur]

Food allergies are fairly rare in dogs...meat allergies, that is. But definitely take her off grain!

Zeus was really bad when I adopted him and immediately set him on a raw diet. He's beautiful.

And then seasons changed and found out he's allergic to one of our local trees. It's been an awful season. It doesn't sound like poor Luma is seasonal, but another YTer here (nanahas3) recommended this conditioner yesterday and I went out and bought it. I bathed him a couple of hours ago and he hasn't scratched once. I'm stunned. It's "Itch Relief Conditioner" by GNC Pets at PetSmart.

So that may help until her body flushes out all the nasty grain...

[Carmeow]

Shes been on grain free food for about eight months. So....yeah.
Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lovers soul, she didn't like the food
Taste of the wild, she did amazing but then Diamond had recalls
Fromm Gold puppy, only food she ever had with grain and we switched within a week and threw the bag away.
Acana Pacifica she bit herself a lot.

Nature's Variety Instinct kibble with freeze dried raw bits is what she's currently on.

She has ceramic bowls. Before we brought her home I painted them myself and had them glazed and fired. It's the only bowls she's ever eaten from.

[brezofleur]

Definitely not grain!

It could also be a detergent allergy. Is she scratching/gnawing her back at all?

[Tessa327]

Poor Luma I'm so sorry you are going through this Carmen. I hope you find a solution fast, HUGS.

[Carmeow]

Originally Posted by brezofleur

Definitely not grain!

It could also be a detergent allergy. Is she scratching/gnawing her back at all?

No not at her back, just her mouth, eyes, and ears. I've got her a bully to try to keep her mind oft things. She only gets bullies on rare occasions so she's happy atm.

[Lovetodream88]

I am so sorry bout poor Luma that sounds terrible. I do think she needs vet help because that sounds just miserable. There was an allergy thing where they would send blood off and test for many many different allergies and then you would get a serum and have to do shots every two weeks or so I can remember what it is called but I would talk to your vet about it. Some one else posted about a conditioner GNC makes that they sell at petsmart that is for itching and that might help in the mean time. I will keep Luma in my prayers.

[Ellie May]

We do what we can. Just get back to the fet tomorrow.

This is what I would do in this case (I'm not a vet just for the record - my dog does have severe allergies though):

Envir. allergies are much more common than food. It souds like itis food or food or envir. here though. Yes, shots/atopica/a derm should all be consider. But right now if youaretapped out, I'd go with the immediate relief/cheap route.

Steroid injection tos get her over this hump.
Steroids orally or awhile until you can sort out the situation (pred is fery cheap).
Rx hydrolyzed food with no treats, edible chews, or oral heartworm meds forat least two to three monts.
Save moey for the next step.

I woud not spend moey on socks in lieu of steroids.
I would not teach her ntto scratch when a ten cent pill coud alleviate the itch.
There are many foods marketed for allergies. Soe work for some dogs and not others. Lrx foods are the most likely o cut the itch across the board. To avoid pouring more money into different otc diets, I'd go straight to the hydrolyzed vet diets now. Probably the best to soend on now since she is suffering and thee foods are most likely to work.
Then after things improve you could go to another iet if you wanted.
I think Synotic has been d/c, but if your vet still has some that can work fery well for itchy ears.

Been there - minus scabs and bloody face. Ellie gets itchy paws, jaws, and ears tat he breaks open. Recurrent yeast in them too. then she has many intestial issues. A hydrolyzed rx diet keeps her fairly stable. She chews her lil paws for an hour a day otherwise.