My poor dog has allergies ...?

Question

I have taken her to the vet and gotten the Cortizon shot, which does not help the constant itching or biting, they even prescribed her a little yellow allergy pill, which failed as well. My poor dog is now getting a bald back, near her butt and a bald tail (those are the main places she bites). The vet told me I can give her 1-2 Benadryl a day ...which seem to work as long as I keep them in her system ... she is just really lazy after those though. Is there any other option that anyone knows of that could help her allergies ..maybe something the vet isn't telling me? The vet I take her to is very paticular with the way he does things, and I fear he maybe isn't telling me about other options out there.

Answer 1

Try changing her food. Dogs most common allergies are corn, wheat,soy, chicken, and beef. Try Blue buffalo lamb and rice it is hollistic and excellent quality petfood. It may take as long as a month to notice changes, but it usually works great. Vets are often more willing to treat problems with medication than actually healing problems the homeopathic and old fashioned ways. Food allergies are usually the ones that show up on a dogs skin, coat, and their feet.

Answer 2

If you are not satisfied with what your vet is doing, ask to be referred to a dermatologist who specializes in dog skin problems. You can do intradermal skin testing and find out exactly what your dog is allergice to. Then you must begin a year long treatment of allergy shots that you will learn to give at home. The specialist will rule out other allergies such as fleas, inhalant, and foods. Adding fatty acids to the diet in high enough levels is very important. There is a lot more you can do. Simply changing the diet may not help without knowing what the offending ingredient is. It could be a protein, carb, additive, etc. Fleas like to bite the back half of the dog, so that is a suspicion. Food allergies typically present with red ears and itchy feet. Inhalant allergies are itchy all over the body.

Answer 3

Have you discovered what it is that shes allergic to?? If it's food related it may help to experiment with different hypoallergenic diets such lamb and rice or duck and potato. Is she allergic to dust or pollen?? If so you could buy an air purifier and try to keep the house clean. I suggest you keep up with the Benadryl because it seems to be helping her. It really is the best Antihistamine drug out there. If your ever dissatisfied with your vet go and get a second opinion. Some vets are a little more knowledgeable about certain things then others. Good luck

Answer 4

Assuming she does not have fleas, she most likely has Atopy (inhalant allergy). This has the same causes in dogs as humans (dust mites, molds, house dust, human dander, feathers or pollen). The best way to make it better is to try to keep your house as clean as possible. Use a HEPA filter air conditioner/vacuum. Wash bedding, etc. as much as possible. Stay away from fields with lots of flowering plants/grasses and watch pollen reports on weather.com or other weather sites. If your dog sleeps on feather pillows, maybe try to replace them with allergy friendly pillows. Essentially, if a product says its allergy safe for humans, it should help dogs as well.

There is also the potential that she has some sort of contact allergy due to sweaters, collars, special bedding, etc. If any of the things she has come into contact with have changed recently (a new bed perhaps) maybe try getting rid of it for a while to see if it goes away.

If neither of these help, you may wish to try another vet to get a second opinion. Using drugs will only try to treat the symptoms. Changing your house/lifestyle can treat the cause of the problem and hopefully get your poor dog the health she deserves.

Answer 5

My pitbull has the same thing. We have spent a fortune on shots and pills.

What really seems to work is figuring out what she was allergic to. Start with eliminating foods from her diet. Go to a lamb and rice dog food. This has a lower risk of allergies.

Bathe your dog in hypoallergenic shampoo, you may have to purchase this online. Rinse the soap completely and bathe her often.

If your dog sleeps on a pillow, wash it in Dreft, it's a baby formula laundry detergent that is safe.

It is tedious but well worth it to have a happy dog.! Good Luck.

Answer 6

my dog had a similar allergy. The problem might be in the food. An ingredient you could try to watch out for is corn flour and corn starch. If that is the case, you should be able to see results in up to a week.

Answer 7

You can look online at Veterinary Skin Specialists in your are and they can help you more than a normal vet can! Good Luck!

Answer 8

buy bitter apple at the petstore and spray it in the places she is biting it works well w/ my dog.....when i got her from the pound she had it real bad on her chest and above her tail bad my vet gave her anehisimines and i rubbed vasilne on the areas that were very dry....now she has started at her paws so i use bitter apple spray and also she has scabbing under her muzel but i can put bitter apple on that b/c she will just rub her mussel on the rug....Good luck hope that helps

Answer 9

What is she allergic to? First you should try to eliminate the cause (such as corn, wheat, etc. in her food, which many dogs are allergic to) instead of pumping her full of meds.