At my wits end... - YorkieTalk.com Forums

amspoelstra · 08-13-2006, 01:57 PM

We've been dealing with Trixie's allergies for 7 mo. now and she's back on antibiotics and benedryl for a skin infection (see pictures). But two and a half weeks in, there is no change. I have another vet appointment next week and was told that if the antibiotics won't work this time, they'll put her on steroids. I hate to pump all those chemicals in her little body. Besides her itching and her skin rash, she is a fabulously healthy dog and I feel if they put her on steroids, I'll put her health in danger... Just wish there was something else we can do.

Has anybody had any experiences with steroids?

Lila · 08-13-2006, 03:02 PM

The following may be successful; at least it cannot hurt.

Spots and rashes are caused by a wide range of things.

Sometimes it will ooze a liquid that is very tasteful to dogs but because it can grow rapidly it must be treated quickly. It can be extremely painful even though it only affects the top layer of skin. Because of this, some dogs will try to wiggle around to protest, so a second person can be helpful to keep the dog in position.

You will need: astringent (boric acid) , betadine, blunt scissors, benzol peroxide 5%, Elizabethan collar, peroxide 5%, tea bags, vicks vapo rub, water-soluble lubricant (destin, KY jelly), witch hazel, absolute favourite snack.
Apply the water soluble lubricant to the spot. Spread and snip the hair around the sore with at least an inch border. Be sure to use a helper;don't slip and cut the skin. The hair around the sore should be about half an inch long.

Now clean the sores with warm water, which will remove any clippings.. forwarning: because of the discomfort, your girlt will not be too cooperative.
Apply the betadine to the sore. Then rinse rinse rinse. and use a clean piece of gauze each time to pat the sores dry. Leave absolutely no residue in the area.

Now use the peroxide, (there will be fizzying), or a brewed, then cooled black tea tea-bag. Tea's natural acid component will dry up the sore more quickly. Whether you use the peroxide or teabag, do this at least every 4 hours, until the sore dries up.

The sore area will drive her to licking; an Elizabethan collar will not allow her to do this,so place it around her neck. If you don't have one, you can put the vapo rub AROUND the hair (about 1 inch from the sore). This is nasty tasting and a natural deterrant to stop licking. Time to give the favourite treat!

Use the witch-hazel to cool the sore spot, using another fresh gauze to pat it dry. Do this 2-3 times a day.

By day 2 there should be an improvement. It may still ooze a little; use gauze with the boric acid to dry and clean the area. By day three the spot should begin to dry up and heal.

If there is no improvement by day three, go to the vet, because Trixie will need more professional help.

I hope this helps; I borrowed the advice from another dog person.

-

amspoelstra · 08-13-2006, 03:08 PM

Does this work too if there aren't any sores? It's mainly a rash/sore (black and red) top layer of skin. Thanks so much for the detailed 'recipe'!

chattiesmom · 08-13-2006, 03:23 PM

My first yorkie, Laciebug was on a daily steriod for three years to help combat swelling in her brain. According to my vet dogs aren't as sensitive to steroids as humans are.

Have you been able to establish exactly what she is allergic to yet? That will be a huge step forward in regards to managing the allergies. Send a

and get well wishes.

Catrina · 08-13-2006, 03:56 PM

When Princess had an allergic reaction (swelled up red eyes) to one of her shots, she will given a shot that had steroids in it.. I know this is a different situation but she turned out fine, and your pup will too!

BLowry · 08-13-2006, 04:01 PM

My daughters Golden Retriever has allergies where he will lose some of his fur in spots and has itchy feet (paws) Her vet told her to change his food which, she did. And....it worked!! She now has her goldens on wellness brand. In the purple bag...maybe this would help.

Good luck to you and your little furbaby! I hope they can help him

amspoelstra · 08-13-2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

My first yorkie, Laciebug was on a daily steriod for three years to help combat swelling in her brain. According to my vet dogs aren't as sensitive to steroids as humans are.

Have you been able to establish exactly what she is allergic to yet? That will be a huge step forward in regards to managing the allergies. Send a

and get well wishes.

No, we thought at first it was food. But she's been on a veterinary diet for months now, and no change. Then we thought it was inhallants, pollent etc, but I'm not sure about that anymore either. I might just ask for an allergy test next time!

LuvMySissy · 08-13-2006, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amspoelstra

No, we thought at first it was food. But she's been on a veterinary diet for months now, and no change. Then we thought it was inhallants, pollent etc, but I'm not sure about that anymore either. I might just ask for an allergy test next time!

You have probably checked this already, but just in case.... are you sure the veterinary diet contains no corn, diary or wheat? These are the foods most likely to cause allergies. Thoroughly check the label of the vet diet, as many times they use Hills Prescription Diet which does contain these things. If so, switch to a premium food that contains none of these, such as Chicken Soup, Merricks, Natural Balance and see if this makes a difference. It will most likely take about a month to see a difference. Hope this helps.

Elliern · 08-13-2006, 05:04 PM

My first yorkie also had severe allergies. It turned out to be due to corn or wheat and probably grass. I learned this myself after many years at the vet, on all kinds of meds, and steroids, etc. Read on another message board about allergies to corn and wheat and that is exactly what was in the food from the vet. When we completely stopped that and tried not letting her get on grass, she cleared up almost (but not quite) completely. The only time she had problems afater that was in the summer, and then it was not nearly as bad. We had a spray from the vet that worked great if I sprayed as soon as I saw her scratching. (don't recall the name, but came in 4 oz maroon and white bottle)
Wouldn't hurt to look at her food and see what is in it. Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be.
Ellie

ChestersMom · 08-13-2006, 05:05 PM

Most of you don't know the story of my precious Chester. I stole him from some people who had neglected him to the point of abuse. His skin, eyes, ears, teeth and everything else were infected. I didn't even know what kind of dog he was. That was the beginning of my Yorkie fever as that's what he turned out to be. The vet guessed him to be 10-12 years old at the time. I spent thousand of dollars on him in two years. The best thing I ever did was change to Nutro lamb & rice food. I lost my baby last October after five years. And he passed with the most beautiful silver/gold coat you've ever seen. Now, I add Lanatone (fatty acids) to my dogs' food. My son's lab mix had what appeared to be dandruff and she scratched all the time. Within a week, it was gone and her coat shines unbelievably.

I too had Chester on steroids many times for his skin, but again, the diet made the biggest difference. I never had to take him to the vet for skin issues again. Nutro may not be the solution, but another one may help. Like the old saying - garbage in - garbage out.

Good luck to you and keep Chloe and me in your prayers. Her pups are due next Saturday and I'm torn between being thrilled and scared to death. Sure can't wait to see those yorkie babies.

MyTrixie143 · 08-13-2006, 05:18 PM

My cocker spaniel, Peppi, was put on steroids for allergies. She would lose her hair and we had tried literally everything to help her. The vet said that the steroids would not hurt her and she would be on them for only a short time. They helped her alot, they did not harm her and she only needed to be on them for a short time, it helped her even when she was off of them. When she got bad again, we would put her back on them, but it was not a long term use.

I would talk to your vet and get all the information you can on it and then decide from there on what to do. Good luck!!

3CrazyYorkies · 08-13-2006, 05:49 PM

Copied from www.veteranariansecretsrevealed.com

One of the most common reasons that I see dogs and cats in my office is for allergies.

The chronic itching Sucks! It's uncomfortable for your pet and drives some people CRAZY!

Many people have tried so many things. treating for fleas, bathing, supplements, special food...But nothing seems to help.

I first bring em back to the Basics..It's not about the one Magic Bullet, but about systematically ruling out the causes.

First..Rule out external parasites by treating for them..for fleas, lice and Mange.

Then do a REAL food trial.. A special hypoallergenic food and Nothing Else for 12 weeks. You can make your own and I give you details in my book.

Then look at adding in supplements that will decrease the urge to itch.

Essential Fatty Acids.

Anti-oxidant Vitamins.

Weekly Oatmeal Shampoos.

If you haven't ruled out mange, then get your veterinarian to give the safe topical medication to rule it out now.

Do a proper food trial..Nothing else for 12 weeks!!

Add in a daily fatty acid supplement now!

There are many other options..I give You a HUGE description of every available option that has ever worked for me and my clients in my book.

amspoelstra · 08-13-2006, 09:15 PM

I checked all of her food again. She was on Eukanuba vet diet and they just switched her to Royal Canine vet diet (we're still on the switch-over), and neither of these has corn, wheat or dairy in it. She's been on Eukanuba now since February, so we should be out of that 12wks trial window. I do give her a treat once in a while (mostly to get the benedryl down) and I noticed, one of her treats has corn starch in it. So I threw those out.

The vet already ruled out any fleas, mange etc.

It could be grass, because Trixie only wants to go potty on the grass... But grass pollen haven't been really high here in the last few weeks and the allergy still flared up...

Thanks for all your advice, I appreciate it! I'll keep trying the suggestions!

Lacy's Mom · 08-13-2006, 09:26 PM

I would try many things before putting a dog on steroids - what the vet means is Prednisone - do some research and even a search on YT and it will no doubt help the condition, but at what cost??

Lacy's Mom · 08-13-2006, 09:29 PM

Check out this link - nonsteroid alternative to prednisone.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...ght=prednisone

http://www.drugsstore.org/prednisone.html

08-13-2006, 03:02 PM	#2
Lila Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 70	Hot Spot Help The following may be successful; at least it cannot hurt. Spots and rashes are caused by a wide range of things. Sometimes it will ooze a liquid that is very tasteful to dogs but because it can grow rapidly it must be treated quickly. It can be extremely painful even though it only affects the top layer of skin. Because of this, some dogs will try to wiggle around to protest, so a second person can be helpful to keep the dog in position. You will need: astringent (boric acid) , betadine, blunt scissors, benzol peroxide 5%, Elizabethan collar, peroxide 5%, tea bags, vicks vapo rub, water-soluble lubricant (destin, KY jelly), witch hazel, absolute favourite snack. Apply the water soluble lubricant to the spot. Spread and snip the hair around the sore with at least an inch border. Be sure to use a helper;don't slip and cut the skin. The hair around the sore should be about half an inch long. Now clean the sores with warm water, which will remove any clippings.. forwarning: because of the discomfort, your girlt will not be too cooperative. Apply the betadine to the sore. Then rinse rinse rinse. and use a clean piece of gauze each time to pat the sores dry. Leave absolutely no residue in the area. Now use the peroxide, (there will be fizzying), or a brewed, then cooled black tea tea-bag. Tea's natural acid component will dry up the sore more quickly. Whether you use the peroxide or teabag, do this at least every 4 hours, until the sore dries up. The sore area will drive her to licking; an Elizabethan collar will not allow her to do this,so place it around her neck. If you don't have one, you can put the vapo rub AROUND the hair (about 1 inch from the sore). This is nasty tasting and a natural deterrant to stop licking. Time to give the favourite treat! Use the witch-hazel to cool the sore spot, using another fresh gauze to pat it dry. Do this 2-3 times a day. By day 2 there should be an improvement. It may still ooze a little; use gauze with the boric acid to dry and clean the area. By day three the spot should begin to dry up and heal. If there is no improvement by day three, go to the vet, because Trixie will need more professional help. I hope this helps; I borrowed the advice from another dog person. -

08-13-2006, 03:08 PM	#3
amspoelstra Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: US Posts: 955	Does this work too if there aren't any sores? It's mainly a rash/sore (black and red) top layer of skin. Thanks so much for the detailed 'recipe'! __________________ Trixie

08-13-2006, 03:23 PM	#4
chattiesmom Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 17,674	My first yorkie, Laciebug was on a daily steriod for three years to help combat swelling in her brain. According to my vet dogs aren't as sensitive to steroids as humans are. Have you been able to establish exactly what she is allergic to yet? That will be a huge step forward in regards to managing the allergies. Send a and get well wishes. __________________ Silk Step-In Harnesses www.foxypups.etsy.com

08-13-2006, 04:01 PM	#6
BLowry My furkids Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,625 Blog Entries: 1	My daughters Golden Retriever has allergies where he will lose some of his fur in spots and has itchy feet (paws) Her vet told her to change his food which, she did. And....it worked!! She now has her goldens on wellness brand. In the purple bag...maybe this would help. Good luck to you and your little furbaby! I hope they can help him __________________ Brenda

08-13-2006, 05:18 PM	#11
MyTrixie143 Mom to 6 Beautiful Furkids Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,409	My cocker spaniel, Peppi, was put on steroids for allergies. She would lose her hair and we had tried literally everything to help her. The vet said that the steroids would not hurt her and she would be on them for only a short time. They helped her alot, they did not harm her and she only needed to be on them for a short time, it helped her even when she was off of them. When she got bad again, we would put her back on them, but it was not a long term use. I would talk to your vet and get all the information you can on it and then decide from there on what to do. Good luck!! __________________ A dog is a furry person! http://www.dogster.com/?300866 Tracey and the gang DestinyHarmonyScamperGracieLillieKiwi Hershey Peppi

08-13-2006, 03:56 PM	#5
Catrina I love my lil wolf! ;) Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 2,434	When Princess had an allergic reaction (swelled up red eyes) to one of her shots, she will given a shot that had steroids in it.. I know this is a different situation but she turned out fine, and your pup will too!

08-13-2006, 05:04 PM	#9
Elliern Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 93	My first yorkie also had severe allergies. It turned out to be due to corn or wheat and probably grass. I learned this myself after many years at the vet, on all kinds of meds, and steroids, etc. Read on another message board about allergies to corn and wheat and that is exactly what was in the food from the vet. When we completely stopped that and tried not letting her get on grass, she cleared up almost (but not quite) completely. The only time she had problems afater that was in the summer, and then it was not nearly as bad. We had a spray from the vet that worked great if I sprayed as soon as I saw her scratching. (don't recall the name, but came in 4 oz maroon and white bottle) Wouldn't hurt to look at her food and see what is in it. Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be. Ellie

08-13-2006, 05:05 PM	#10
ChestersMom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bacliff, TX Posts: 947	Most of you don't know the story of my precious Chester. I stole him from some people who had neglected him to the point of abuse. His skin, eyes, ears, teeth and everything else were infected. I didn't even know what kind of dog he was. That was the beginning of my Yorkie fever as that's what he turned out to be. The vet guessed him to be 10-12 years old at the time. I spent thousand of dollars on him in two years. The best thing I ever did was change to Nutro lamb & rice food. I lost my baby last October after five years. And he passed with the most beautiful silver/gold coat you've ever seen. Now, I add Lanatone (fatty acids) to my dogs' food. My son's lab mix had what appeared to be dandruff and she scratched all the time. Within a week, it was gone and her coat shines unbelievably. I too had Chester on steroids many times for his skin, but again, the diet made the biggest difference. I never had to take him to the vet for skin issues again. Nutro may not be the solution, but another one may help. Like the old saying - garbage in - garbage out. Good luck to you and keep Chloe and me in your prayers. Her pups are due next Saturday and I'm torn between being thrilled and scared to death. Sure can't wait to see those yorkie babies.

08-13-2006, 05:49 PM	#12
3CrazyYorkies YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Alberta ... Canada Posts: 583	Copied from www.veteranariansecretsrevealed.com One of the most common reasons that I see dogs and cats in my office is for allergies. The chronic itching Sucks! It's uncomfortable for your pet and drives some people CRAZY! Many people have tried so many things. treating for fleas, bathing, supplements, special food...But nothing seems to help. I first bring em back to the Basics..It's not about the one Magic Bullet, but about systematically ruling out the causes. First..Rule out external parasites by treating for them..for fleas, lice and Mange. Then do a REAL food trial.. A special hypoallergenic food and Nothing Else for 12 weeks. You can make your own and I give you details in my book. Then look at adding in supplements that will decrease the urge to itch. Essential Fatty Acids. Anti-oxidant Vitamins. Weekly Oatmeal Shampoos. If you haven't ruled out mange, then get your veterinarian to give the safe topical medication to rule it out now. Do a proper food trial..Nothing else for 12 weeks!! Add in a daily fatty acid supplement now! There are many other options..I give You a HUGE description of every available option that has ever worked for me and my clients in my book.

08-13-2006, 09:15 PM	#13
amspoelstra Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: US Posts: 955	I checked all of her food again. She was on Eukanuba vet diet and they just switched her to Royal Canine vet diet (we're still on the switch-over), and neither of these has corn, wheat or dairy in it. She's been on Eukanuba now since February, so we should be out of that 12wks trial window. I do give her a treat once in a while (mostly to get the benedryl down) and I noticed, one of her treats has corn starch in it. So I threw those out. The vet already ruled out any fleas, mange etc. It could be grass, because Trixie only wants to go potty on the grass... But grass pollen haven't been really high here in the last few weeks and the allergy still flared up... Thanks for all your advice, I appreciate it! I'll keep trying the suggestions! __________________ Trixie

08-13-2006, 09:26 PM	#14
Lacy's Mom YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 3,065	I would try many things before putting a dog on steroids - what the vet means is Prednisone - do some research and even a search on YT and it will no doubt help the condition, but at what cost??

08-13-2006, 09:29 PM	#15
Lacy's Mom YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 3,065	Check out this link - nonsteroid alternative to prednisone. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...ght=prednisone http://www.drugsstore.org/prednisone.html Last edited by Lacy's Mom; 08-13-2006 at 09:31 PM.