Serious Allergies Need Help!!
 

Hi everyone, it's been a long time, hope you all are well. Lots of changes for me one big one was I have moved to Maryland! But the move has only made McKenzies allergies so much worse! She is itching like a crazy dog and biting her feet and also has major congestion in her nose. No discharge just sounds like a little kid with a bad cold. Sometimes Im afraid she cant breathe. I have spent hundreds of dollars (that I don't have) at the vet and NOTHING is helping her. We've tried all the shots, pills and shampoos on the market, I've changed their food (shes one of 3 yorkies I have) 20 times at least and still nothing. Her skin looks clear (no pustules or or bugs or hot spots) sometimes a few red bumps (tiny) no darkened skin. I have tried tons of shampoos and vinegar rinses no help. Tried coconut oil too, nothing.
Currently she is on arcata wild prairie (no grains all clean ingredients) but I have tried raw, I have tried all diff meats, fish and still nothing. I have tried home cooking and even lower grade foods out of desperation. Nothing helps. I am sick over this because she deserves to be happy and healthy and I am out of ideas. I don't have the money for the specialist right now and I don't know what to do. Does anyone have any ideas? Please, I'm desperate to get her healthy again. (PS, she's allergic to prednisone and can't handle simplicef or clavimox either)

I know how frustrating it is when dealing with allergies. My Cali was like McKenzie. Tried everything, nothing helped until we put her on Atopica. It has been a miracle drug for her. It's a bit pricey, 60.00 for 30 day supply but the goal is to get them under control and then decrease the dose. I have Cali down to 1 every 2-3 days. Cali has been on it for about 5 years and does great on it. Maybe you could ask your vet if that is an option for McKenzie. I did allergy testing on Cali and it didn't identify anything she was allergic to. Her regular vet has treated her for the allergies so we didn't need to see a specialist. I hope you can get Mckenzie some relief.

Does she go outside or is she an indoor only dog?

Simplicef and Clavimox? Why what happens to her on that? If it is stomach issues ask for Sucralfate to go with it, that always works. Other than that Zenequin is another good antibiotic.

I think, in the long run, your best bet is to save some money and get to a specialist, doing this will help you save money as well, in the long run. Have you tried Varl yet? My Mini suffers year round as well, Varl has been a huge help.

Good Luck!

Honestly I think your best bet is allergy testing to find out what she is allergic to.

The stuffy nose I don't know about but for itching and skin issues we buy pills of fish oil and then each morning we puncture a pill and squeeze it over Gizmo's breakfast. In the beginning you may want to do it for both feedings then bring it down to once a day. Gizmo has not been itchy or chewing on himself since we started this when he was about 9 months old and he loves the taste of it.

I changed my little yorkie to canine caviar dog food and it did wonders for her. I ordered it from Chewy.com be sure and get the grain free. If you try please let me know how it works for you it worked wonderful for me

I have a dog with severe allergies. She needs Atopica daily. She is on a three ingredient diet at this point but Purina HA hydrolyzed kibble was also excellent for her for quite a while. I would ask your vet for Atopica and the hydrolyzed food and give it 4 weeks and see if that helps. I know your frustration. It never will be "normal" but you definitely need a better plan.

The probiotics really helped strengthen Lucy's immune system- not a cure but a big help with the bad skin issues and yucky ears.

I also live in MD-welcome! Maybe we are neighbors!
Have you tried seeing a dermatologist for allergy testing? My yorkie, Puff, is 17 months old. She has been itchy for several weeks. Our vet put her on Prednisone and said the next step would be the testing.
I can't imagine dealing with an itchy pup and getting nowhere-I hope you both find relief soon!

When you say you "tried all the pills" - what does that mean, what have you tried?

For allergies like this, when nothing works - you truly then need to try allergy testing, then the shots bc it doesn't sound like she can live with the kind of symptoms you're describing.

Have you tried Science Diet d/d or not?

And most importantly, have you been to a Vet Derm yet or have you been seeing the general vet this whole time? Going to a vet derm early would've saved you a TON of money in the long run.

Hi everyone, yes Pink, we are neighbors, I'm near white marsh!!
I have tried all the antibiotics, benadryl and the like, I have tried raw diets and she throws up. I have tried pro biotics and ACV. She is very pharmaceutically sensitive and it either winds up in vomiting or diarrhea or both. The good news is I think I have found a job and then I can get her to the dog dermatologist. I know Wylie's mom, I should have gone sooner but I trusted the vets and I really should have listened to my gut. Lesson learned the hard way. I am giving her a small bit of local honey so well see. I will keep you all posted!
Thank you for all your input and Ill keep ya posted!

If this got worse since your move... I would think environmental allergy... is she on new carpeting, new paint, are you in a new or older home/apt?
Welcome to MD... I'm just south of WM!

chester is a itchy boy sometimes as well, I use all free and clear for soap and a extra rinse, no dryer sheets, no powders or plug in air freshners and run a air cleaner all the time, it benadyrl helps a little then it would not be food related, and I also vacum alot and sometimne just rinse him off with warm water and you have tried the acv, its hard to watch them be misreble

chester also has his salmon oil every nite on his wet food