Allergy advice needed

abi31

abi31

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Posting on behalf of my neighbours.
They have a springer spaniel who has always suffered from what appear to be hayfever allergy symptoms. The worst affected part are his ears. The vet has been involved and every spring/summer he is treated with steroids to counteract the symptoms but these are only mildly effective and they would like to stop pumping steroids through his system. They would like to ask if anyone has any other remedies or ideas for the dogs symptoms which I will list:
As soon as pollen levels increase the main irritation is in the spaniels ears. It begins as an oozing brown wax which the dog then wants to scratch at causing redness and soreness. Sometimes this appears more infected and is a constant source of pain/irritation for the dog. He is kept near the coast so is only walked on the beach rather than on grass and has special feed/bedding.
Can anyone recommend any treatments that they have used to ease/alleviate similar symptoms? The symptoms lessen and disappear through late autumn/winter.
Thanks for reading.xx
 
Piriton antihistamines (check dosage with vet)

Use pure aloe vera gel to take the heat out of the ear

Try to lessen the grain content of his food

Epiotic is a great ear wash (it is actually a preparatory treatment for medicated drops but I find it clears the ears well enough on it's own once you have broken the back of the allergy)

Had this with my dog a few years ago, thick, oozing, crusty ears :( they have been fine ever since with Piriton, low grain/protein food and the very occasional swish of Epiotic.

Also changed vets, my old practise were 'bung him full of steroids until the next time', my new vet said, no, let's break it big time and stop it happening again.

We live in the middle of pine trees, which I think are the issue as he always was fine at boarding kennels, where there were none.
Also discount a household substance with pine in it that might accelerate the allergy.

They could also try Thornit powder in case it is driven by parasite
 
Thankyou Cave Canem, I have written this all out and will pass it on to them. Sometimes I do worry that vets will just prescribe steroids ad lib instead of looking at other ways of getting to the root of a problem.xx
 
Oh I hear ya, hence I changed! Hope he improves, it can make life miserable.
Seriously, if I'd known back then all I really needed was a £10 jar of human pills every few months, a £10 earwash and careful diet.....
 
I agree that he needs to be on a corn free diet. The other thing you can get them to go is to feed him a teaspoonful of NAF D-tox to build up his immune system.
Although this was designed for horses I have used it on dogs, cats sheep, cattle and humans with no adverse effects.
It will more than likely help now but if they start him on it early next year before the allergies start then it will be more beneficial.
 
My dog was prescribed piriton.
but a word of warning - the vets charge you three times as much as the shops!!! so tell him/her to get the prescription/dosage but not the drugs
 
My staffie boy has allergies and fairly confident its grass/pollens from his flare ups :( Buddy tends to get an itchy belly and feet and will take a layer off his pads when itchy :eek:

Vet put him on steroids which worked and also recommended antihistamines, but warned the likes of piriton works wonders for some dogs but not others. However I give him Attarax which the vet said is the best and it works well for Buddy :D

I have also recently started Buddy on Dorwest herbs Mixed vegetable tablets http://www.dorwest.com/Catalogue/Veterinary-Medicine/Mixed-Vegetable-tablets and the Garlic and Fenugreek tablets http://www.dorwest.com/Catalogue/Veterinary-Medicine/Garlic-Fenugreek-tablets I have to admit they seem to be working and am cutting down his steroids without the flare ups - even though I have just cut the grass :D So a thumbs up from us :cool:
 
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