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  1. #11
    Real Retriever 3ChocMom's Avatar
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    Sorry to hear that you may not get approval for a holistic approach because it really can work wonders. I've never had the black skin issue, but my oldest dog started having allergic reactions at the age of 7. Full body hives, it was horrible. I still haven't figured out what caused it, but I have been taking her to a holistic vet for the last 3 years. She eats a home cooked diet and gets a treatment called autosanguis every 6 weeks. They take a small amount of her blood and mix it with different homeopaths, then re-inject it back into her at various acupressure points. She hasn't had a hive breakout in almost a year and a half. It does take time, typically about 2-3 years before you get to the point of little to no reactions, but the herbs and diet change helped my dog immensely right away. And we managed the breakouts when they did happen for awhile.

    My first Lab also had horrible allergies, but he didn't have hives, he had the more typical symptoms (foot chewing, nasty ears, oily/stinky coat, etc.). I wish I had known about holistic medicine then because all my general practice vets could never do anything to make him more comfortable.

  2. #12
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    At this point I have to let the dermatologist do his "diagnostic" trial before I can go on to something else. To much time and money has been spent already trying to fix this dog. Even though he is a working dog, he is my buddy as well and lives with me. But this process is taxing. Who wants to bathe a dog almost daily? When he is not working or occupied he has to wear an E-collar (cone) so he wan't tear himself up. He doesn't itch to bad, but left unattended he will lick his belly and testicles enough to cause irritation and infection.

    I'm not allowed fish oil, probiotics and technically no OTC creams for his surface wounds on his testicles. He feels its a food allergy because he basically has this issue all year round, not seasonal.

  3. #13
    Senior Dog Black Labbies's Avatar
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    Hi, along with trying to figure out what your pup's allergens are, boost his immune system with things like echinacea - 1X daily, natural apple cider vinegar -1/8 tsp on food 2X daily. And focus on his intestines as allergies/intolerances brew in there, so a live probiotic/acidophilus 2X daily will help him.

    Good luck!

  4. #14
    Senior Dog Black Labbies's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tacswa3 View Post
    I'm not allowed fish oil, probiotics and technically no OTC creams for his surface wounds on his testicles. He feels its a food allergy because he basically has this issue all year round, not seasonal.
    Have you tried Calendula cream? This stuff works wonders and if he licks it off, no worries, just reapply as it will help his skin and tummy. Calendula: A Great Herb For Dogs - Dogs Naturally Magazine

  5. #15
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    Don't trust the vet on diet. Two of my dogs would have been dead if I had done that. There's no 10-12 week process. It will be too late. Get to a holistic vet who specializes in nutrition. You'll probably be put on one protein and one veg for a couple of months then that will expand slowly. Most vets just don't get it yet. Be proactive for the sake of your dog.

  6. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Black Labbies View Post
    Hi, along with trying to figure out what your pup's allergens are, boost his immune system with things like echinacea - 1X daily, natural apple cider vinegar -1/8 tsp on food 2X daily. And focus on his intestines as allergies/intolerances brew in there, so a live probiotic/acidophilus 2X daily will help him.

    Good luck!
    I have used ACV and a probiotic before, not sure it helped but that was before his issues exploded. Again, technically I'm not supposed to use any supplements as part of the elimination diet. I don't think the vet will know if I do but it may cloud the results of what is actually working and what is not.

    Janedoe- I agree with the vet's knowledge on nutrition. I don't agree with food being prescribed that they store in the waiting room. IE; Science diet. Although he is on Royal Canin so that is fairly decent. I'm trying to be proactive, I tried for a raw diet and it wasn't approved.

  7. #17
    Senior Dog classiq's Avatar
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    My neices dog had something like you are describing. His skin blackened, and was like leather. Her vet did all kinds of tests, called a lot of vet schools, and finally came up with a zinc problem. As long as she gives him his zinc pills, he's fine. Have you had his zinc level checked? Just putting that out here. It sounds stupid, but that's what his was. Hope he's doing better.
    Kathy--mom to:
    Mac--chocolate lab
    Scotty--Arabian gelding


    No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.
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  8. #18
    Best Friend Retriever Sue's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Black Labbies View Post
    Hi, along with trying to figure out what your pup's allergens are, boost his immune system with things like echinacea - 1X daily, natural apple cider vinegar -1/8 tsp on food 2X daily. And focus on his intestines as allergies/intolerances brew in there, so a live probiotic/acidophilus 2X daily will help him.

    Good luck!
    The last thing you want to do is boost the immune system. Allergies are an immune system run wild. You're better off using an immune modulator, one that would try to level things out. I love astragalus. It does wonders for my Abby, who is an allergic mess. Not as bad as some of the other dogs mentioned, but she has the ears, the itching, etc.

    Remember, don't boost, but modulate. I give, as a general rule, half the adult dosage. That works out to 1 capsule twice a day for my girl.

    Black Labbies is correct on the probiotics, as it's been proven that good gut health helps keep allergies at bay.
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    “It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are.”

    Cheryl Zuccaro

  9. #19
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sue View Post
    The last thing you want to do is boost the immune system. Allergies are an immune system run wild. You're better off using an immune modulator, one that would try to level things out. I love astragalus. It does wonders for my Abby, who is an allergic mess. Not as bad as some of the other dogs mentioned, but she has the ears, the itching, etc.

    Remember, don't boost, but modulate. I give, as a general rule, half the adult dosage. That works out to 1 capsule twice a day for my girl.

    Black Labbies is correct on the probiotics, as it's been proven that good gut health helps keep allergies at bay.
    NOT boosting the immune system is what our Vet says too, not when it's out of whack and over reacting to things it shouldn't. Once it's in control a normal healthy immune system should only need maintenance. The new meds for allergy, Atopica and Apoquel, work by suppressing the immune system. Atopica is cyclosporine, which we all know is given to transplant patients so their own immune system will not attack/reject the new organ. It's a lower dose than would be used in a transplant recipient but I'm awfully glad we were able to get off it. It's a lessor evil than Prednisone but still has serious side effects for some. As a matter of fact the wellness test that first revealed an inkling of Oban's Lymphangiectasia was done at age 5 when I thought it wise to do because he was on Atopica. Ironcially the L. is not thought to have anything to do with the Atopica.
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  10. #20
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    His zinc levels have not been checked, I'll keep that in mind next time I see the vet. He also has been on Atopica and Apaqual(sp). He's not allowed immune suppressors, or steroids of any type as that will mess up any future allergy testing. Maybe I'll start him back on some probiotics.

 



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