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  1. #1
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    Extreme Itchiness, Scratching 24/7

    Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone had a similar problem with their lab?

    My lab is itching non-stop and scratches himself like crazy with his hind leg. Sometimes he also likes rolling around in the grass to get that itch.
    I've taken him to the vet and they've done all sorts of tests, prescribed medication, shampoos, and the like, and yet after $1000 later, they still can't recommend anything useful. None of their advice has worked or done anything to relieve his itchiness and it's killing me to see him suffer. I'm considering changing vets as soon as I get my monthly paycheck and can afford to take him again, but now I just really want to help cure this for him in any way possible.
    In the meantime, I would appreciate any help or advice!

    SYMPTOMS
    - intense itchiness (at worst times, he gets up every 5 - 10 minutes to scratch, lick and bite constantly). There's hardly a moment where I can see him when he's not scratching or biting away.
    - hair loss on arm pits, above stomach area, hind legs, face, snout, around eyes, paws
    * hair loss not extreme but very noticeable. Some parts are worse than others. He's rubbing his face so hard on the sofa that he's drawing blood.
    - hair is not growing back, resulting in greyish skin especially on hind legs near joints
    - when we put our arms around him, giving him a hug, we came away itchy as well. Little red spots appear on our arms (like mosquito bites) and are intensively itchy! But they disappear after a couple of minutes/hours and never last long. Our vet has suggested this is because we are allergic to our lab, prompting me to explain again and again that this happens to EVERYONE that comes into contact with our dog

    WHAT THE VET HAS DONE
    - no fleas/ticks
    - skin scrapes to test for mange (which came back negative)
    - tape test for yeast infection/bacteria (results were clean; everything normal)
    - prescribed Advantage Multi which we've been applying as per instructions for 3 + months with no results
    - given Medicated shampoo and anti-dandruff shampoo, told to use once per week, alternating between the two. Again no relief and ineffective
    - prescribed steroids to help with inflammation
    - other medication/pills to help with itchiness... none which helped but sure did cost a small fortune
    - been in and out of vet examinations numerous times, and each time our vet has been unable to help us in any way, leaving us both heartbroken and frustrated!

    HIS CONDITION NOW
    - very itchy, constantly, to the point of sometimes whiny as he scratches
    - is still an adorable, happy lab albeit being really down for being so itchy
    - eats regularly, water intake normal
    - activity level normal. goes happily on walks
    - pooping regular

    We are feeding him the grain free dog food from Costco. Originally he was on Pro Plan adult formula, but food might not have any relation with it because he has been this itchy on both kinds of food, and switching to grain free hasn't helped in terms of his itch.
    I've done some googling on the internet and have come to believe it's mange, but if it was mange why isn't Advantage Multi working against it?

    Please if anyone has ANY suggestions or advice on how to help, it would be greatly appreciated!
    Recently, he's been biting away at his paws and at his backside, tearing away the fur and leaving exposed skin that while I was away at work, he's been chewing/worrying away at to make it red, bleeding, and an open wound.

    I have taken some pictures as references to show my vet on our next visit but in the meantime I just want to do everything in my power to help him. He can't sleep... constantly scratching away. The only time he has any sort of relief is when he actually does manage to fall asleep. Also, in case any one is wondering, this has been going on for over half a year, during which time we have been consistently to our local vet with zero results.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    It's too bad you didn't join a day sooner, maybe you'd have seen the thread about a webinar tonight on allergies. It's going to be available in a couple of days on the site that presented it. In the mean time it sounds like you are doing the first thing recommended tonight in that webinar and that is to document when, where, how and when the itchies occur.

    You sound well into this but your Vet has not been able to say if it even is allergies? My boy has seasonal allergies and Atopica worked for him two summers in a row but this year it's making him vomit. Apparently food allergies are far less common than environmental so the grain free food might not be helping. Or hurting. What meds did you try?

    Your Vet should be able to diagnose mange. I wonder if you should be seeing another Vet, one who specializes in Dermatology? Sorry, not much help, but it sounds like you are doing everything you possibly could and the professional you are seeing is letting you down.

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    Charlotte K. (06-11-2014)

  4. #3
    House Broken dynamicgang's Avatar
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    Did the prednisone help at all?


    The Dynamic Gang

  5. #4
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    Consult with a Veterinary Dermatologist. My first dog had similar problems, and she had a laundry list of allergies (food, dust, weeds, etc). With help from our vet and dermatologist, she was almost symptom free (with medicated bath, steroids, allergy meds, shots, and perscription food). I know of a Fantastic one here in MN, not sure if you could consult over the phone. PM if you want more info.
    Julie & Jake, Bacon's Humans

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  6. #5
    Puppy JennS's Avatar
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    Our 5 year old lab, Reilly, has allergies. She was on Atopica for quite a while, plus medicated shampoo and cream rinse every two weeks. That worked well. At one point, we ran out of Atopica and they told us to just use Benadryl until we could get more. The Benadryl actually worked pretty well for her, so we have just been doing that for now.

  7. #6
    Best Friend Retriever Snowco Labradors's Avatar
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    The strange thing is that you get itchy from your dog and so does any one who comes in contact with him. I can't imagine what it could be that is on his coat that is causing this.

    I agree with seeing a derm vet. Praying you find the answer and cure. Poor boy sounds miserable.

    As much as I hate it ask the derm vet about giving a cortisone shot to give him relief while you treat with other things. Most of the time the more they scratch the more they itch so the shot will help while you start some type of treatment if the derm vet can come up with one.

    You may also want to try this. I give 2 per day to start split in 2 meals and then cut down to one. Its all natural antihistamine.

    Vitacost Quercetin & Bromelain -- 250 Capsules - Vitacost

  8. #7
    Senior Dog charliebbarkin's Avatar
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    Please get your post count up so I can Private Message you. I know a group in MI that can help you.
    Charlie and Burton


  9. #8
    Real Retriever 3ChocMom's Avatar
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    I think it's time to find a specialist and be done with the regular vet. It sure sounds like allergies, but the fact that people get itchy after touching him is very odd. Maybe it's some sort of parasite that your regular vet hasn't thought of, like lice or something? I think finding a derm vet would be a good idea. They are expensive, but your poor dog is miserable and if it's some relatively uncommon parasite, they'd be more capable of diagnosing and treating.

    In the meantime, you could try to soothe his skin. My dog has a flea allergy, which I've only recently realized is the most likely cause of her excessive itching. Her itching isn't as bad as your dog, but it was definitely excessive and made her miserable. My older dog has allergies and I was able to get her itching and skin issues cleared up with herbs and homeopaths from her holistic vet. None of it worked for Lily though. She doesn't have fleas, but they are in the yard and occasionally, she will pick up one or two. Just one bite sends her into an itching frenzy and she has dealt with several staph infections on her belly and hind legs from the resulting scratching and chewing on herself. I tried everything I know of to help her - Benadryl, the same herbs my other dog takes, different herbs for itching and dry skin, baths, Vetericyn, etc. Nothing worked. I recently tried a skin soothing spray called FidoDerm. I spray it on her belly twice a day and her itching has almost completely stopped. I couldn't believe it. I only wish I could buy it by the gallon, but the stupid thing only comes in 4oz spray bottles, which I go through in a matter of days. I don't care though, it works. Might be worth a shot.

  10. #9
    Senior Dog
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    what food are you feeding and have you ever done an elimination diet?

  11. #10
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    What about mites or lice? Would the previous treatment have worked on that? If others are coming away with an allergic reaction, it must be more than just the dog having allergies? Or does the dog have prickly hair that could cause it, from the bald spots? Weird! I would go to a dermatologist.

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    Charlotte K. (06-11-2014)

 



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