Help with skin allergies

lexiedhb

lexiedhb

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So we have been back to the vets today for the second lot of steroids this year. First lot in april after he tried to scratch his eyes out. Second lot today, trying to gnaw a leg off, and had hives, but he did charge through some stinging nettles.......

I think its seasonal, pollen, grass etc vet offered to do allergy testing but if its something he eats, or in the home hed itch all the time no? So as the treatment is the same I optd not to have them done. The vet agreed with me, shd had her dog tested and it came back said dog was allergic to 5 pollens, 8 grasses and some tree sap......

just wondering if anyone supplements their dog with anything if they are prone to be itchy.
As an aside dog was awesome at the vets :)
 
Not really itchy, but mine has very reactive/sensitive skin. I feed salmon oil and green lipped muscle on the basis that it may help reduce any inflammation, the green lipped muscle (and turmeric) is also associated with inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase, a key inflammatory enzyme. Its not really going to out-do steroids, more 'what the hell, it might help' :)
 
Sprocket has developed allergies this year !

We have tried:

Coconut oil
Zinc tablets
Evening primrose oil
Starflower oil
Garlic and fenugreek tablets ( Dorwest)

All recommended by various people/vets

He is on Atopica tablets and has started a course of immunotherapy injections. He is definitely more comfortable.
 
I have a Westie, who has piriton up to three times a day, and the dried food he has is burns weight control, he will not eat raw.

He has only had to have the piriton for the first time this week, as he has started itching since the harvesting has been going on, but the dog food has up until now kept his "Westie" skin in good condition, he never has any tit bits which includes raw hide bones.
 
Dex was one piriton sorted.... 2 a day didnt touch the sides in tbe last 2 "episodes" hence the steroids.... will research all the above thanks :)
 
As a random thought-is he worse when the weather goes a bit muggy and humid? He might also have a bit of insect bite hypersensitivity from midges and things.
 
Yumega Plus from Lintbells is a good skin supplement that doesnt break the bank. My dog is usually on steroids three or four times a year for skin flare ups. I started using this in October last year and she hasn't been on steroids since my helpful housemate bathed her in human shampoo so she smelt nice for Christmas.

She gets problems with yeast as well between her toes/lip folds so I use clx wipes on those bits. I routinely clean foldy faces out with these at work. The rip into strips so you get a lot of use out of one wipe!
 
My dog became very itchy, scratching herself sore about 4 weeks ago she is now on steroids and it all seems to have calmed down now. Vet has suggested allergy to flea saliva which is being made more likely by the reduced potency of Frontline. Vet recommended salmon oil and changing to Vectra for flea control, evidently with vectra the fleas don't actually get chance to bite. I have found a very lively flea on her today despite treating her with frontline just 3 weeks ago. My vet said the same as yours about allergy testing, not really much point.
 
Mine started to get really itchy around 1 year old. Mainly his eyes (really runny) and his ears, the vets thought he had sarcoptic mange! He actually enjoyed having the skin scraping taken! Once this was ruled out they wanted to put him on steroids but I wasn't keen. He weighs in at around 6/7kg and was having 3 piriton a day! I decided to get him allergy tested and I am so glad I did!!! It came back he was allergic to chicken (he was having chicken wings nearly every day!) pork, beef, dairy products, storage mites (he has always been on raw so nothing in his food) and he also got a low score on some grass/pollens. I would really recommend getting the test done, it meant I could completely rule out the triggers and I now have a happy dog! His flare ups also seemed to be seasonal so I wouldn't have thought it was his food, but no more! I still give yumega as a supplement and if I know there is a high pollen count I just go over him with a damp cloth after walking.

A neighbour has a parsons, she went down the steroid route and the poor thing almost doubled in size :( I recommended doing the allergy test and now they are aware of the allergens she's off the steroids and back to perfect weight.

Hope you can get your boy comfy :(

Livie.
 
Hes perfectly comfy now thankies, and the steroids are not permanent, just to treat a flare up- he didnt put on any weight with the last course..... My vet and i both agreed that if it were food related he would get it all the time, I cant see how he can have an allergy to chicken - which he pretty much eats every day but only develop an itch to it twice a year......

Its not flea related as he does not have them, short coat, would be very easy to spot- and again the itch is not permanent.

Ordered him some salmon oil and green lipped muscle.... cant hurt.... :)
 
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