 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / June 2006Dogs & Skin Allergies
Hello, I have a 26 pound short & sweet Sheltie mix that gets itchy skin every summer. He's about 4 and it wasn't too bad until last year. I used a spray on him and it seemed to help, but not this year. I took him to the vet and she gave him an antibiotic (which he just finished) and chalked it up to allergies. The antibiotic did absolutely no good and he's miserable. I hadn't bathed him before he started itching, so I know it's not that and it's only summertime when he does it. Also, my other dog, a lab mix, doesn't do this. The vet said it wasn't a heat rash or that skin disorder in which a dog needs steroids to clear up. If it's allergies, how can I get him some relief from it? Any suggestions? Thanks, Maggie > I have a 26 pound short & sweet Sheltie mix that gets itchy skin every > summer. .........Where does he itch? Everywhere? Do you use some kind of lfea control? > If it's allergies, how can I get him some relief from it? Any > suggestions? .......Since it only happens in the summer it's probably pollen or mold (if you live in a place with a real winter). When you bring your dog in, try wiping the paws with a damp cloth, then dry, and using a cloth on the coat. If your dog regularly runs in long grass or woods, try keeping him on short grass for a while and see if it makes a difference. Benedryl can also help. Check with your vet for dosage. Plain Benedryl only, not one combined with other drugs. buglady take out the dog before replying > .........Where does he itch? Everywhere? Do you use some kind of lfea > control? Yes, pretty much everywhere. His tummy is where there was a rash, which looked like a heat rash to me, but the vet said it wasn't. I do use flea control regularly. > .......Since it only happens in the summer it's probably pollen or mold (if > you live in a place with a real winter). When you bring your dog in, try [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Check with your vet for dosage. Plain Benedryl only, not one combined with > other drugs. Thank you! I will try the cloth and talk to the vet about some Benadryl. It just seems it only happens when the heat rises. We do have a real winter here and the grass is kept short, but there's also a variety of weeds and grass on the other side of the fence, from my neighbors' unkempt yard & that could be the culprit. However, my dogs stay inside in air conditioning a lot in the summertime. Thanks for your help! Maggie We do > have a real winter here and the grass is kept short, but there's also a > variety of weeds and grass on the other side of the fence, from my > neighbors' unkempt yard & that could be the culprit. ............Since wind carries pollen and mold, it could be coming from anywhere. Heat usually makes the mold count go up. There are a variety of websites (usually weather) that indicate mold/pollen counts. You could try and keep track of dramatic rises and see if it correlates with your dog's symptoms. However, my dogs > stay inside in air conditioning a lot in the summertime. .......You might try a HEPA filter in your house also. buglady take out the dog before replying There are a variety of > websites (usually weather) that indicate mold/pollen counts. You could try > and keep track of dramatic rises and see if it correlates with your dog's > symptoms. That's a great idea! Thank you! > .......You might try a HEPA filter in your house also. Unfortunately, I have window units, but I'll be moving soon and then I can use the HEPA filter. Thanks again for your help! Maggie -> Hello, -> -> I have a 26 pound short & sweet Sheltie mix that gets itchy skin every -> summer. He's about 4 and it wasn't too bad until last year. I used a -> spray on him and it seemed to help, but not this year. I took him to -> the vet and she gave him an antibiotic (which he just finished) and -> chalked it up to allergies. The antibiotic did absolutely no good and -> he's miserable. I hadn't bathed him before he started itching, so I -> know it's not that and it's only summertime when he does it. Also, my -> other dog, a lab mix, doesn't do this. The vet said it wasn't a heat -> rash or that skin disorder in which a dog needs steroids to clear up. -> If it's allergies, how can I get him some relief from it? Any -> suggestions? -> -> Thanks, -> Maggie -> Besides the other great advice, you might try giving him a small amount of flax seed oil. About a teaspoon a day, and you can mix it with his food. (This helps dry, itchy skin. It may or may not help alleviate his itching.)  Signature8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail) ~~~~~~ "I reserve the absolute right to be smarter today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/ http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/ http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/ > Besides the other great advice, you might try giving him a small amount > of flax seed oil. About a teaspoon a day, and you can mix it with his > food. (This helps dry, itchy skin. It may or may not help alleviate his > itching.) > -- > 8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail) Thanks Sue! I had heard that before and had completely forgotten about it. I will try that ASAP. He does have long hair too, so I am thinking about getting him shaved, even though the vet didn't think it would make a difference. Can't hurt anything (but his ego). Maggie |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.