Atopica for Allergies - Before and After Pics
 

I thought I would post some pics of Daisy's allergies. I've posted many times that she has had a lifetime (she's almost 15!) of severe allergies to many environmental allergens. Since about age 5, we have managed her with Atopica and Maleseb shampoos. We have traditionally gone on and off Atopica as needed for seasonal allergies.

Here she was in February of this year while OFF Atopica for about 6 months. She flared and quickly lost hair on her face and paws, started to bite at herself and scratch. I thought I was going to flip my lid! We took her to the general vet for her normal protocol and she went on an oral course of three weeks of oral antifungal medicine (Diflucan) and a month of an antibiotic (Simplecef) for these secondary skin infections. She also went back on Atopica every day. You can see how infected she looks in these photos:
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Here she is after about three weeks of daily Atopica and then five weeks. She was still a little itchy even though she looks better so we are keeping her on it daily for a little while longer. She looks great! The hair on her nose is coming back and her paws are looking better. She's gone from being itchy at about an "8" on a scale of 1-10 to about a 1-2 on the scale of 1-10.
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Atopica is a miracle drug for us. I wanted to share. If you're struggling with this kind of severe or repeat allergies, ask your vet for Atopica. I have used it for 10 years. My dog is elderly and has some pre-existing breed-related issues but she has had a better life because of Atopica.

Me too! Thank you!

That's great! Poor thing. I'm so happy you found something that works.

Thanks :)
She isn't quite 100% yet but significantly improved.

Thank you for sharing this. It is heartbreaking to see a dog suffer from allergies. I'm so glad Daisy is feeling better.

Thank you. It is indeed very frustrating to deal with. Apoquel and/or steroids give faster relief but can complicate a dog like mine so I have to balance patience with therapy (not always easy!). She still looks bad but is not infected and more comfortable. Hopefully by summer her hair will grow back some more too.

Daisy looks so good! I'm so happy that she is feeling much better and her allergies are back under control. You are such a good yorkie mom to all your kiddies <3

Awesome of you to share! Glad she is doing well.

I give Atopica to my Marcel too, and it was a little miracle for him!! Wouldn't be without it.

The difference is amazing! I am very happy to hear Daisy is feeling as good as she looks. She is adorable. :love:

I also have been using the Douxo Calm microemulsion spray. This is a nice addition since Allerderm is now discontinued.

OOooo, thank you for this tip!!!!! Off to buy some :)!

The shampoo is nice too. I think I like the spray better. It adds a little shine too and is really helpful for non-infected itchy dogs. The vet derm loves the douxo line but says it hasn't been that great for her patients and she was wondering if it was because her patients are usually infected. I think it's keeping a barrier on daisy's skin. Let me know how you like it when you get it. I spray it my hands and work it in to the skin because the sprayer isn't the greatest.

I went a little overboard, lol, and got 2 kinds -- one is the Duoxo Calm Allergy and the other is the Duoxo Chlorhexablahbleeblah spray. I figure I'll use the allergy spray for syptoms and the Chlorhexa for pyoderma prevention. These both look pretty cool -- and good reviews on Amazon too!

Lol you shopaholic you!
We owe this one to LuvTaycieGirl - she uses the calm shampoo on Taycie and it has really been a good fit.

Thanks to you both :)! I may get the calm shampoo at some later point too.

Which spray are you using...the calm or the chlorblahbleeblah?

I'm using the calm spray.

glad she is better

She is so beautiful! Glad she is doing better! Poor girl!

Here is Daisy today, three months after going back on her "cocktail" of Atopica, shampoo, and oral medications for her skin infections. I think she looks great!
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