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  1. #11
    Senior Dog Doreen Davis's Avatar
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    To the new folks, I had a black lab with overwhelming environmental and food allergies. We benefited greatly from a derm vet. Once we established a protocol our regular vet managed Amy. Here's where we started, she had ear and skin issues.

    They checked her skin for yeast and bacteria. Most itching creates a scratch itch cycle, opening the skin up to infection with one or both. We couldn't stop the licking/itching until we cleared the infections. She worsened in spring and fall.

    Prednisone treats the inflammation which relieves the itching, it is an incredible drug for humans and animals but has plenty of side effects and needs to be titrated down when discontinued. It was never used by any of the derm vets we saw over the years. Antihistamines like benadryl (there are others) also only treat symptoms but do not have side effects as severe as pred. They are usually reported to work about 40% of the time.

    The length of times used and strength of the antibiotics/antifungals are different. We often had higher strengths for longer periods of time and she looked under the microscope to ensure the infection was cleared. Once she was cleared we used treated wipes (antifungal and antibacterial) along with a medicated shampoo and antihistamines.

    Amy was tested and was allergic to mites, mold, trees, grass, cats etc. and we took her off chicken based kibble and she did well on fish kibble.

    The he derm vet was the best investment we made. Amy went on shots and with the baths and wipes we reduced her itching and scratching to almost nothing.

    The biggest lessons we leaned 1. A Derm vet is worth the investment. 2. Steroids and antihistamines treat the symptoms not the root cause 3. Scratching from allergies open the skin up to infection which exacerbates the scratching, clearing the infection with antibiotics and then keeping the skin clear was critical to establishing a scratch free dog.

    Amy was with us until September, just shy of her 15th birthday.

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Doreen Davis For This Useful Post:

    happy_blackbird (12-30-2014), ronmcq (11-19-2014)

  3. #12
    Puppy ~~KK~~'s Avatar
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    My dog has stomach issues more than anything, but I have noticed since I put him on Royal Canin hypoallergenic HP he barely itches (he itched quite a bit on Pro Plan). have you considered a hypoallergenic food?

  4. #13
    House Broken happy_blackbird's Avatar
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    Food Sensitivities and Skin Issues

    Hi, everyone! I just wanted to add our experience with our last lab, Stella, who had sensitivities to seemingly everything and join the chorus recommending a consult with a specialist. After years of repeated yeast infections, interdigital pododermatitis, and pyoderma caused by staph, we took her to a vet who specialized in both dermatology and allergies/sensitivities. After a protracted exclusion test diet, we finally understood the long list of foods that Stella simply could not tolerate and discovered the short list of those she could (primarily, rabbit as a protein source and potato as her carbohydrate). For many years, she did great on Royal Canin limited ingredient rabbit and potato. The results were remarkable and for the first time in her life, no more infections! For a couple of summers in a row, Royal Canin ran out of the PR kibble and within a week of trying something new (even Science Diet's hydrolyzed, supposedly super hypoallergenic food), she would break out in big, open staph sores or develop inflammations in her toe webbing. I always knew when my mother-in-law would give her table scraps while taking care of her because she would come back to us once again covered in sores.

    Is Royal Canin and quality food? Honestly, no. On more than one occasion I opened the bag only to discover that the kibble would be a different color or smell differently. The relief, however, that Stella was able to get from her persistent skin/immune system issues made it an acceptable trade off for us. In 2013, they suddenly changed the formula to lesser quality ingredients and I had it with them entirely. In the end, due to her fight with cancer, I switched to home cooking (we were lucky to be able to purchase good quality, locally raised, fresh rabbit) supplemented with Grandma Lucy's Rabbit formula.

    I have a post about her food sensitivities HERE:

    All of this is to say, with a good vet specialist and some time exploring what foods to exclude from Cooper's diet/environment, I am sure you'll come to a place where he is no longer so itchy. It's just hard to see our sweet kids so uncomfortable in the process! I hope Cooper is more comfortable very, very soon!

  5. #14
    Senior Dog stitchmanz's Avatar
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    Cooper is on his second round of pregnisone since September (we get 25 pills and eventually get it down to 1/2 pill every other day/) We are now trying coconut oil (internally and externally) to see if it helps

  6. #15
    Best Friend Retriever Snowco Labradors's Avatar
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    May 2014
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    This works well as a natural antihistamine. I start with 2 per day (1 in a.m. and p.m. meal) and dropped to 1 per day.

    Vitacost Quercetin & Bromelain -- 250 Capsules - Vitacost

  7. #16
    Real Retriever amyb's Avatar
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    I had to take our chocolate lab to a dog allergist. She is on drops and allergy pills every day.
    DOGS ROCK!!!

  8. #17
    Senior Dog ckfalz's Avatar
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    Ava has had itching issues for the first time. Three different local vets have said it's been really bad lately and they are giving a lot of dogs shots to deal with it. One commented that it's the worst he's ever seen it in 20+ years of practice. Hoping it blows over soon. Ava would itch the most at 4 in the morning so I could wake up early to the noise of scratching and chewing. She's been great since her shot.
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