First Time Puppy Owner

One drop of Advantix will kill a cat, so you more than likely have Advocate or Advantage. Not sure if they are suitable to use on a dog - perhaps find a shleter that you can give them to or sell them to a friend?!?! You should make sure your dog is dry to touch after applying Advantix before allowing a cat and dog in the same room/area, because all it takes is for the dog to shake and a drop lands on your cat, which can be fatal for your cat.

FTP my boy's skin is always pinker than normal. I know that stress (like having foster dogs at the house - stopped that) makes him really itchy to the point where he scratches parts until they bleed He does not appear to lick overly nor chew to a silly point. (IMO all dogs will scratch, chew and lick at times but not to the point of blooding themselves). I have checked the garden and walk sites for bad plants, he has been on many types of different meats for elimation purposes. Yeah going through the same thing here - pulling my hair out and my boy has his bucket on all day to stop him licking/chewing which create hotspots on him. My vet believes it's Atopia but have not rules out Hypothyroidism.

Loraine may i ask what type of itching was you boy doing - just scratching or licking and chewing as well??? And were there other symptoms?

Turkey necks are great too! :nahnah:

Thank you for your reply!

Hi There We might be trying Cortavance Spray on Benson - getting a consult this weekend. What are people experiences with this product and how would rate and what is the cost? Thank you inadvance! Suz

Oh is it - I didn't realise that it was an immune suppressant Ok well I will just continue trying antihistamines till I find one that work best for him.

I am certainly considering it Will see if the Telfast helps this week but if still no good then that might be our last resort as I have done everything to try to stop the itching - ie homeopathic vet, prednisone before that and even that wasn't great cause as soon as it was reduced it would come back again. Can't not afford to do desensitation injects and know that they are not a gaurentee anyway so am not looking at that as an option. Will also see if vets in Australia stock Atopica yet as I saw in on a US site and it is supposed be excellent. Thank you for all your responses guys - very very much appreciated!!!

Will keep you guys informed - at least no big hot spots yet or anything - a few little scabs but can get to them in time before they turn nasty *sigh*

Sorry to hear you have the itchies at your place too I am going to trial the Telfast Antihistamine in the green packet - that is specifically design for skin allergies as of today with my boy so I can let you know how we go. Look in the antihistamine thread that I have just started today as there is a website there that shows all the acceptable antihistamines to use for dogs. See I think you have to do it from inside and out to help effectively.

Yep back with avengance Just had his belly/groin area shaved a bit at the groomers and his hind legs a little too where he has been licking this week and mats had built up - but seeing a he can't stand me doing it and runs away we went to a groomer instead. Also had a bath in Malasba and then a second bath in the Evening Primrose Oil Shampoo just to see if that would soothe his skin. Hmmm well I am going to try the telfast green box because it is specifically for skin allergies and to start off with, and see how we go with with half a tablet morning and night as having googled it says no adverse effects on dogs studied having used it for 6 mths daily. Just thinking - if it's meant to help people specifically with itchy skin it might be effective for dogs too that show no other signs than just itchy skin?!?!

Thanks for that - I was thinking it's an awful lot too if you work it out like it says Phenergan and Zyrtec have not worked for my boy in the past, though then again I was only giving half a phenergan. Has anyone tried Telfast - the hive and skin one on a dog before??? (Green packet) And would you halve the tablet?

http://www.ingleburnvet.com.au/antihistamines.htm Hi There This website tell you what you should calculate out as the correct doseage to give to your dog of antihistamines - but I am seriously having a blonde day and can't work out if I am calculating this correctly So my boy weighs 38kgs and I was thinking Polaramine so what I think is that I sould be giving is 15.2 mgs (ie 0.4mgs x 38kgs = 15.2mgs) but that means seven tablets a day - that doesn't seem right does it??? Sorry and thank you in advance for your help! Suz

I also have an itchy boy and he is the best he has never been since putting him on the following things. I recommend Mega Oil or an equivalent Omega Oil Blend (Dr Bruce's Vets all Natural is another) Orijen Dog Food and Dr Bruce's Vets all Natural Health Booster - Doggie Multivitamin! Hope you find a solution for Rufus! Edit and Malasba Shampoo (from vet)

Thank you - I will give her a buzz!

Hi My Goldie has had heaps of problems with allergies and now he is obessively licking around his groin area and this is all knotted. However I can not get to it cause he doesn't seem to trust me as I had to treat so many hot spots on him etc. I am working on building the trust again, but would really like to get rid of this knotted fur as I am worried it may cause further skin issues. Thanks in advance for your help!

I only have a basic answer but I am sure someone else can help further. The type of protein is related to allergies - i.e. if protein is only from beef and itching occurs but not when only protein source is chicken dog ia actually allergic to beef not protein as such. Also red meats are not metabolised by the body as easily as chicken, turkey or pork.

Sorry is he scratching anymore?

Orijen food contains no grains and no beef - I find during the warmer months that beef seem to make my boy itch more - see beef is not metabolised by the body as easily as chicken. Do try adding to your Goldies diet a little mega oil though - how old and what does she weigh? I noticed a dramatic difference in coat and skin condition after going through 2 x 500ml bottles! Edit - also did you know we have our own thread in the breed sub forum, there are alot of us Goldie lovers in there! Please pop in say hello and put a piccie of your girl up on the thread k! :laugh: Sorry I can not type for crap today

Yes but only is small amounts and is dependant on the size of the dog to how much as it can be toxic if too much is given. AF - I have been wondering how is Dougal responding to the Duralactin Canine (dried milk protein tablets) Ok well we have been to hell and back with Benson, to the point that the homeopathic vet we just saw today (possibly for the last time) was amazed at how good he is doing since 6 mths ago. Back then he said you could light a match next to this dog and he would just go up cause his coat was virtually no existant, coarse and brittle - like straw. So anyway what has helped my GR are the following 3 visits to the homeopathic vet (today included) where he provided us with remedies each time. Mega Oil - now he is a 38kg dog (not over weight - just tall) so for first 4mths 50ml a day, and now reduced to 30mls a day (6mths on) Dr Bruce's Health Booster Orijen Food - 1 cups a day now - half morn/night A bone each day - chicken frames, necks (6 in a bag frozen together), turkey necks, brisket bones or soap bones - once in a while a marrow bones. And Malesba shampoo.

The kibbles is quite large and I can imagine it would be the size of a chi's mouth - so perhaps Varicool's suggestion is better. Then again get a sample packet of 400grms and you can see for yourself and see what the chi's think too!

Couldn't agree more - I have had my boy on Mega Oil from the health food shop and it has changed his life!

Yeah you can do that too poochmad or get from a vet Dr Bruce's Omega Oil for dogs or Mega Oil from a health food shop and add about 15 ml to 20 ml to his food every night for a while and that should help with the itching too!

Fantastic news poochmad! Maybe add sardines every week too and reduce the amount of kibble that night for assisting further with the itching (great source of omega 3!)

Definitely get rid of the wandering jew. But I can not recommend enough adding an omega oil blend to the dogs diet, plus washing with a medicated shampoo. Dr Bruce's Omega Oil Blend for Dogs or Mega Oil from your local health food shop. I started with giving my boy 50 ml a day - expensive yes but a dramatic change in skin and coat condition after only two bottles. Long term - perhaps take to a holitic vet or Dermatologist!