Itchy dog - allergies, any advice?

[LadyRascasse]

So my Lab x has been back and forth to the vets and we have tried lots of different medications and none are working for him. He will be going on Apoquel when it's available (hopefully around feb time) In the meantime it's a case of management, so looking for suggestions to help keep him as comfy as possible. In terms of remedial things we have tried, Malaseb shampoo, baby shampoo, tea tree shampoo (this has been going on for a while I don't bath him all the time ) and at hydro they kindly bathed him in ruggle it shampoo for me. We have also tried piriton as well as the medicines from the vets. When it first started I tried him on flax oil but that didn't help. He wears a cone when I am not around to stop him lick but obviously I can't stop him scratching.

I don't use any spot ons to eliminate an allergic reaction that way but he does have a seresto collar and wormed on milbemax. We have also tried an elimination diet but that didn't help, currently feed on natural instinct and this suits him well. He can't eat kibble as he has food intolerances and vomits every type I have tried (RC, JWB, skinners, goldline premium, burns the list goes on and on) even with a slow feeder bowl.

Any ideas welcome

 

[Umbongo]

Is it worth doing an allergy screen with a blood sample? It might help to narrow things down a little?

Apoquel has had great success when it launched, however the manufacturers underestimated how popular it would be and ran out! Apparently the drug takes a long time to make. I know some dogs that did well on apoquel but then stocks ran out, and had to revert back to steroids or atopica.

My friends dog had bloods and is literally allergic to the world. At the moment she manages it with 'allergy injections' (not sure what these actually are) feeding fresh food to avoid storage mites in dry food bags, regular bathing (at the moment she is trialling shampoo from Lintbells - same people that make yumove). Regular hoovering, hot washing sofa covers, dog beds etc.

 

[Teaselmeg]

Have you had him tested to see what he is intolerant to ? My lad came back with various things, but the strongest one was house dust mites. We started him on a course of immunotherapy injections and this has really helped him.

We also tried:

Flax oil
Evening primrose and starflower oil
Yumove for skin allergies
Zinc tablets
He is already raw fed ( Nutriment)

His tests also showed to avoid turkey/beef/dairy/white fish, some odd ones there, but we have avoided them all. He has been on Apoquel, but then the supply ran out, so he went on Atopica. I have to say the injections have made a difference.

 

[blackcob]

We've had a limited but steady supply of Apoquel for a couple of months now at our place - can you get a written prescription and start calling round to see if you can get hold of it elsewhere?

Assuming you've tried Atopica and steroids!

 

[LadyRascasse]

Atopica was ruled out because of his other issues, I am happy to wait for the Apoquel just want to try and make him comfortable as possible in the mean time. In terms of medicines we have cleared the cupboard so to speak, little annoyed at myself as I knew how good Apoquel was but hope we could sort out his problem without resorting to it as his size means costs quickly mount, now I have missed the boat so to speak. I've had suggestions for aloe vera gel, yumuga, spirulina and coconut oil. Any experience of these? As soon as the Apoquel is available he is going straight on it so medicine wise we are covered just looking for supplements I can try at home in the meantime

 

[Baileybones]

I started my pointer on turmeric 10 days ago to see if it could help with stiffness. Interesting though he's also stopped scratching and many other people apparently feed it for skin issues.

 

[Summer pudding]

Atopica was ruled out because of his other issues, I am happy to wait for the Apoquel just want to try and make him comfortable as possible in the mean time. In terms of medicines we have cleared the cupboard so to speak, little annoyed at myself as I knew how good Apoquel was but hope we could sort out his problem without resorting to it as his size means costs quickly mount, now I have missed the boat so to speak. I've had suggestions for aloe vera gel,
yumuga, spirulina and coconut oil. Any experience of these? As soon as the Apoquel is available he is going straight on it so medicine wise we are covered just looking for supplements I can try at home in the meantime

Have you had the screening tests done so you can eliminate the 'bad' foods? My terrier is allergic to rice, poultry, venison, and beef so is on a mainly fish diet - most commercial dog food and treats have meat derivatives to add flavour so we have to avoid them. She is on Apoquel daily but had a recent 'incident' and had a course of prednisilone so the itching has calmed down again. TBH I am not a big fan of supplements as I think this problem needs the big guns of drugs that have undergone in depth research - I can't believe Apoquel is in such short supply, poor you, or there is such a high demand. Incidentally my vet says it takes 6 weeks or so for adjustment to food regime to take effect. It's horrible seeing a dog scratching and chewing its feet in discomfort, and so lovely when it stops - I had no idea how much time my poor dog was spending doing it until it stopped. VERY good luck, we share your pain.

 

[cremedemonthe]

I've PM'd you with some info, Oz

 

[LadyRascasse]

Have you had the screening tests done so you can eliminate the 'bad' foods? My terrier is allergic to rice, poultry, venison, and beef so is on a mainly fish diet - most commercial dog food and treats have meat derivatives to add flavour so we have to avoid them. She is on Apoquel daily but had a recent 'incident' and had a course of prednisilone so the itching has calmed down again. TBH I am not a big fan of supplements as I think this problem needs the big guns of drugs that have undergone in depth research - I can't believe Apoquel is in such short supply, poor you, or there is such a high demand. Incidentally my vet says it takes 6 weeks or so for adjustment to food regime to take effect. It's horrible seeing a dog scratching and chewing its feet in discomfort, and so lovely when it stops - I had no idea how much time my poor dog was spending doing it until it stopped. VERY good luck, we share your pain.

He doesn't have any commercial processed foods as he has food allergies. I can't mess about with his food or he just vomits the whole time. It's a nightmare, I feel so bad for the poor boy He has tried all the things that are suitable for him drug wise until we can get some Apoquel. Supplements are just a short term help rather than a fix and not in anyway to replace vet treatment there is just nothing more they can give him at the moment.

 

[Summer pudding]

He doesn't have any commercial processed foods as he has food allergies. I can't mess about with his food or he just vomits the whole time. It's a nightmare, I feel so bad for the poor boy He has tried all the things that are suitable for him drug wise until we can get some Apoquel. Supplements are just a short term help rather than a fix and not in anyway to replace vet treatment there is just nothing more they can give him at the moment.

Oh dear..you sound at the end of your tether..I am so sorry, a real worry for you. Isn't it amazing that you have to wait for Apoquel - our vet told us that the demand hadn't been anticipated, and the first company that produced it changed hands. It makes me appreciate how lucky we are to have got some. What is your dog allergic to? Ours can't eat the old standby of chicken and rice! I hope you can find something to alleviate the situation - please keep posting, good luck.

 

[Annie B.]

Hi, I have a black lab with a multitude of allergies who is on ucerax tablets twice a day and cortavance spray four times a day sprayed on his tummy. I can't wash their bedding with any soaps or conditioners they just have to go through twice and the kitchen floor I can't use any cleaners on just steam as products like this drive him potty. I had a boxer years ago who had allergies and seasonal alopecea she was sent to see Sue Patterson at Rutland house in St. Helens who is a skin specialist really was amazing at helping us.