Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / August 2007

......If it's seasonal it's most likely environmental, like grass or pollen,
though I'm not sure that vomiting has anything to do with evironmental
allergies.  I suspect there's another problem here that's never been
addressed.  Puppies of 8 or 12 weeks haven't been alive long enough to
develop food allergies.  How old was she when you got her?  Standard poodle?
Has this dog has thorough bloodwork and other diagnostics done?  If your dog
has had all the core vaccinations, this is a dog I would quit giving shots
to.

http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00093.htm
http://www.labbies.com/atopy.htm

.........You could try a true elimination diet (see vin article or click on
sidebar article *How to conduct a limited antigen diet* here:
http://www.vetmedpub.com/vetmed/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=132509 ),
though I'm not sure any specific food is the problem.  You could explore
immunotherapy (labbies link).  First though, I think I'd load this dog up
with probiotics, digestive enzymes, EFAs plus Vit E, extra Vit A and see
what that does for a few months during the season of misery.  There are 3
major pathways of elimination in the body - urine, feces and when those
systems can't get rid of stuff, the skin is used.  If a dog's gut isn't in
good shape, larger particles than usual are allowed to pass through the
intestinal walls.  The body reacts by forming antigens.  Vitamin A helps
heal all mucous membranes, probiotics also maintain a predominant population
of good bacteria and also help heal mucous membranes, EFAs lessen
inflammatory responses of the body, the Vit E helps the EFAs from becoming
oxidized, digestive enzymes make sure the food is totally digested.  EFAs
plus Vit E are worth a shot in particular.  Each item should be added
separately at half doses for a few days, then upped to full dose for a few
days before adding another one.  Nutritional therapy and even elimination
diets take time.

......I'd also wipe the dog's feet off every time she comes in front out of
doors.  You can also rinse the coat with plain water once a day and dry
thoroughly.  I'd also keep a log of when things seem to be worse, and in
particular when they start and end.  Do you spray your yard or house
seasonally?  Is it worse in times of high heat or humidity?  Put your
thinking cap on and think of things that are different that you might do
during the seasons.

........If this is a dog you got from a breeder I would check with them as
to the health of the rest of the litter.

..........Cortisone just shuts of the body's response to an irritant.  Long
term use is really last resort.  It stops the itching, but does nothing to
solve the problem.  Yes, pred is available in pills.

buglady
take out the dog before replying