My Yorkie has hooooorible skin allergies.?

Question

Tried a million things. Any suggestions? Used millions of different shampoos, cortisone shots, benadryl, and very little works. Now he's on prednisone because he had a horrible flair up yesturday and scratched his whole chest raw. I can't really change foods because he just started having to eat prescription food for bladder stones. Corisone shots seem to help for 2-3 weeks. Allergy testing is too expensive, and may not even help. He is up most of the night scratching...I rarely take him outside.

I take him to the vet at least once a week for issues. This year alone has cost me over $1500 at the vet. So I'm looking for alternative methods. I try not to bath more than once per week because it dries his skin.

Answer 1

I had a German shepherd with horrible allergies, too, so you and your little guy have my sympathy. Allergy testing is expensive as you pointed out, but it also might be the key to getting him well.

The reason for that is because not all skin allergies are caused by contact. They may manifest as red, itchy patches on the skin, but the actual culprit is food-based. Red dye, corn, wheat, or any combination of things can be producing the skin conditions. The allergy tests will tell you whether it's primarily contact dermatitis or food allergies.

If it's contact, then you'll need to make sure that you use hypoallergenic soaps, shampoos, carpet cleaners, laundry soap, dish soap, etc. If an allergen is on your skin, it'll end up on his, too. Use a good HEPA filter on your heating and cooling system, and change the filter often. Also, wash his kennel and bedding frequently so that they're as free of allergens as possible.

One thing that "might" help is adding a little enzyme powder to his food to help him digest it and get more nutrition out of what he's eating. Sometimes malnutrition from poor stomach and intestine absorption also causes skin problems, and if the vet approves, you could try him on the enzymes and see if they help.

Good luck to both of you. . .I know from experience that this is a rough situation to deal with.

Answer 2

If it were a food allergy, wouldn't it be silly if he had to suffer just to eat the special diet? I suggest having your vet contact the manufacturer of the special food and asking them to tell you how their hypoallergenic diet can be altered to mimic the diet he's on, or if it could be just straight-up substituted, so you can do an elimination diet. Vets won't always know off the tops of their heads if diets can substitute.

If your vet just says you're stuck feeding this diet and have to do allergy testing, see another vet who'll try harder! These folks - especially the diet maker - should be falling all over themselves to help you with this, after all you've spent, and the likelihood that it could be his food.

Things you've probably done already: pay attention to if it is a seasonal phenomenon (would mean it's to some pollen and the cortisone once a year would be worth it). Try switching to baby detergent for all your laundry, and steam cleaning your carpet with plain water to remove anything in that. Meanwhile, there are Benadryl, hydrocortisone, calamine OTC topical preparations you could try to use very sparingly for the itch at night, if you're sure he won't lick it off (maybe dilute it into a little bath oil solution and spray it on). (Not recommended by any vets as far as I know, so try it at your own risk.)

Answer 3

Reconsider changing food.
Innova EVO has had good results in both skin allergies and other health problems (I don't know bladder stones specifically, you can look it up on the website www.naturapet.com). Sometimes the prescription foods are responsible for allergies.
Canidae and Wellness are also working wonders with all sorts of illness.
They are worth a try. Especially if there is any corn or wheat in the food you are feeding. Corn and wheat are the most common allergens.
Good luck.

Answer 4

Have your vet test his thyroid, definitely. A thyroid imbalance can cause all kinds of skin conditions. Check with your vet about the food and see if there is an alternative that does not contain wheat. Long term steroids should really only be a very last option as they can damage your dog's kidneys or liver.

Answer 5

Allergy medication is safe like Reactin Jive your little Yorkie 10% of the allergy med......but please check with a vet first

Answer 6

mine does to, i use a shampoo with lotion added with it you can do this yourself.. or regular shampoo like suave 2 in 1 works well to.alot of the allergies is caused from dry skin.

Answer 7

Add Aloe Vera to the affected area. Herbalife has a good Aloe Vera Gel.

Answer 8

my dog has allergies and he will bite and bite his feet and hands, what ill do is put calamine lotion on him and seriously, it works

Answer 9

let it in the sun and take it to the vet where it can get medication and treatment