Is it okay to put Cortizone on my dog to help her stop itching?

Question

My dog has really bad allergies and itches a lot, and I was wondering if it would be okay to put cortizone on her? I don't know if it would hurt her to dig again (with her mouth) if she has cortizone on her or not. If not, does anyone else have any suggestions to help her stop itching so much?

Answer 1

Yes, putting hydrocortisone on your dog can be helpful with itching, and it will not harm her if she licks it off. If your dog is not averse to clothing, a good trick is to put the hydrocortisone on her and put a doggie shirt on so that she doesn't lick it off.

You may also want to give your dog a baby Benadryl if allergies are involved to make her more comfortable. I would also suggest using an oatmeal shampoo to make her less prone to itching.

Many dogs are allergic to ingredients in dog food such as soy, wheat and corn. You might want to consider changing your dog's diet. I only feed my dog very high-quality dog food like Canidae or Natural Balance. This has been a solution that many people have found to be helpful.

You may want to take her to the vet. The vet can give her a steroid shot that will temporarily make her feel better. Also, if your dog has a lot of bald spots or bad scabbing, you may want to bring her in to the vet to check if she has an infection that is fungal. Fungal infections require a special type of shampoo that your vet can recommend.

Answer 2

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RE:
Is it okay to put Cortizone on my dog to help her stop itching?
My dog has really bad allergies and itches a lot, and I was wondering if it would be okay to put cortizone on her? I don't know if it would hurt her to dig again (with her mouth) if she has cortizone on her or not. If not, does anyone else have any suggestions to help her stop itching so much?

Answer 3

Hi firstly dogs itch for many reasons and to use cortisone without good reason places the dog and you at risk for the future. I would firstly establish why she itches, is it her food start a food elimination diet, give her a benadryl tablet for this first time but then no more until her cause for itching has been established.
Could it be a flea allergy try spot on from Local supermarkets, then also give her a bath in oilatum to ease the itches this can be purchased from ASDA etc.
We deal with dogs daily that itch , Bichons tend to have a lot of allergies due to breding problems and the likes, so if this doesnt help we can direct you to our world site
www.eurobichons.com
we have dedicated health areas for these problems and we have over 100 topics covering all doggy issues including itching , how to do a food eimination diet and lots more.

Answer 4

I have a dog that had severe allergies and skin conditions and she is much better now with a diet that eliminates some of the major offenders. She eats Nature's Recipe Venison and Rice. Venison is a meat that is easier on dogs to digest and less apt to cause allergies and this brand has no wheat which is a major offender. Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance line of dog food has a Venison and Potato blend which is also excellent.
In addition, I give her 3V Skin Caps from my Vet which has Omega 3, Vit A, D and E in it together with NutriVed Chewable Vitamins-Microencapsulated.
She used to have to have cortisone shots pretty regularly and now rarely needs them.
If your dog does need any cortisone, it's best a Vet determines that and then gives your dog a shot. Then you can try some diet changes and see if that helps prevent it from coming back.
Occasionally I mix some Lamb Log by Pet Botanics into her food and let her have a few spoons of Pumpkin Pie Filling, Plain Yogurt or Cottage cheese from time to time.
Her coat and her skin is very healthy now as a result of diet change including those supplements.
Cortisone cream for humans may be bad for her to ingest and if she needs cortisone, a shot is the best way for her to get it.

Answer 5

Your vet can find out what your dog is allergic to by doing a blood or skin test. My dog has really bad allergies all year and she gets an allergy shot each month. You can also use oatmeal shampoo for dogs to help stop the itching (sell it at PetsMart/Petco or from your vet). Bathe her once every two weeks if you can. Benadryl sometimes works but not in all cases. Some dogs with allergies will have to be put on Prednisone (a steroid) to help, but taking this does cause them to drink more water therefore they have to urinate more frequently. Your vet may even be able to refer you to a Veterinary Dermatologist. Good luck!

Answer 6

It depends on your dogs age and health status. Cortisone (a broad name referring to several different drugs in vet medicine) is a steroid, and has side effects (increased appetite/thirst, increased urination and weight gain) that may or may not be worth it. You should first have bloodwork checked to make sure her liver can handle it. If you havent tried yet, there are other oral non steroid medications that I would recommend first (Hydroxizine is the most common). Never give your pet any medication that is not prescribed to them. If you and your vet decide to use steriods there are a couple of different options, one is tablets and the other is a monthly or bi monthly injection. The injection has the advantage of you not having to give pills daily, but pills have the advantage of being able to stop giving them when needed. Once you give that injection, it cant be taken back, so if your dog has a reaction to, or an illness later on that cannot be treated while on steroids, your kind of stuck. But with any steroid, you cannot just stop giving it suddenly, the dog must be weaned off. Talk to your vet, they should be able to recommend the best choice.

Answer 7

Some dogs may get relief from antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), clemastine (Tavist) or chlorapheniramine (Chlortrimetron), but owners should ask their veterinarian for proper dosage for their pet and may have to try more than one before finding the formula that helps.

Steroids such as prednisone interfere with the immune system function so that the body no longer considers the allergens to be invaders. Steroids should be used carefully and sparingly as they may cause liver problems and, in older dogs, can trigger a form of Cushing’s disease. Steroids also increase appetite and thirst, cause more frequent urination, and can increase aggression in some dogs. However, small doses of predisone can be invaluable in treating a dog with chronic or acute allergic reactions when all else fails.

Answer 8

It is ok to put on her it does work rather well... But you should try Childrens Benedryl about 2-2 1/2 TSP... Take her to the vet when you get the chance... Make sure that she dont have fleas if so make sure you get her a flea dip:) She may have dry skin too... You only give a dog a bath once every 2 weeks.. Less than that you will dry the skin out:(

Answer 9

Yes, you can use cortisone but is is like a band-aid for the real problem. Go to the Vet like we suggest and get the meds that will stop the itching.

Believe it or not but you can also use any of the medications for hemroids. It stops the itching and any inflamation and cools the skin. But again it is also just a band-aid for the real cause.

Answer 10

There are lotions & shampoos you can buy in stores made just for dogs. But like others said you need to find the cause. My dog had itchy skin problems for 6 years until we finally found out it was a food allergy causing it. So I'd definitely try switching her food.