First Time Puppy Owner

Hi - may I be so rude as to ask what Kibble his is on? I am changing Benson over shortly to what I believe to be good for dogs with allergies EP Holisitic Duck Formula, but would love to here what other's are on!

I will do that next time thank you Wylie - need to get onto the council to get that drain unblocked! Thank you WM - I suspect that I will not see real results for a few weeks either but I am hopeful!

Go back to the first post - WM has underlined in capslock HERE! that is the site. Thus far tonight - little itching, but the dag rolled in a blocked drain at the park so I had to apply baby powder to the wet area's to to try to dry it out and clean at the same time - hopefully this doesn't stuff things up. Oh well at least he get's his next bath on Thursday arvo. Will keep you posted!

Might be worth a shot - but get the really thick stuff from a health food shop - not filtered etc!

I second this! I love my coat king - I use it around about every 4 weeks and get a shopping bag full of hair off my GR!

Here are the safe levels of different human antihistamines to give to dogs! Telfast 60 mg tabs - Give 2mg/kg twice a day (so a roughly 30kg dog - 1 tab twice a day) Phenergan - I've got variable doses here, but you should be safe to give 1 wtmg tab twice a day Polaramine 0.4mg/kg twice a day Claratyne 0.5mg per kg once a day.

I have not taken Benson to an immunologist as this is certainly seasonal - never had a problem prior to Mid November. I believe it is grass/pollen, no changes was made to diet or environment otherwise. I am still trying to work on different natural methods to alleviate the itching, and I am up to my last one now - however if this does not work he will be given anthistamines probably every summer for the rest of his life.

Not sure yet as I am at work. I wish I had been able to bath him on Saturday - but I had my nephew's b'day so it had to wait till yesterday - will watch him like a hawk tonight though to see if he itches!

Hey WM - received the EP shampoo on Friday and started treatment on Sunday - so I will let you know how we go! *cross fingers and touching wood this works*

No prob - hope it helps!

I am no expert at this but what are the vitamin/mineral supplements you are adding? As that is what I thought you needed to do with a BARF diet?!?!?

Possibly an adjustment period but as well how much you are feeding of EP. Maybe cut the EP down to 1 and a half cups a day and look at he amount of bones etc s/he is getting as well. I was over feeding on EP as well and now my boy has lost 2kg and way more active with solid non stink poo's! More info might help but this is what my GR gets with approx 1 & 1/2 hrs exercise per day 1 & 3/4 cups of ep a day a big table spoon of natural yoghurt every morning a little vegies every second night sardine, tuna or a approx 80 grms of mince every other night to the vegies (tuna and sardines in spring water) a soup bone or briskit bone during the days I am at work - otherwise none as he gets a few other treats while we are home on the weekends I pack each morning I go to work 2 kongs with a thinish slice of cheese all cubed up with some of his kibble (from his daily portion). As well a carrot or apple diced up thrown all around the place!

I not enrirely sure it grain free but there is on by Eagle Pack - Holistic Duck that has I think oatmeal and rice in it but no other grains?!?!

I was imagining the same thing ;)

Sorry I am certainly no expert in this field - but this webiste might help http://www.groomersproducts.com.au/ Dogrooma and Westiemum, recommended this lady to me for my Gr's skin issues. I had at least a 30 minute chat with Lynda this arvo and I can tell you now the lady knows what she is on about from the way she speaks! So give her a call and have a chat with her, she will recommend the stuff most suitable as she has been in the showing/breeding world for years! Don't be scared of prices as she is understanding of financial issues and will give you the best of advice inaccordance to your financial ability!

I know what you mean exactly - if I can possibly help someone I will always try, as this site and all the people that contribute has been so great to Benson and I! Thank you dolers!!! Will let you know what happens - even if it is a week or two away from today! PROMISE Suz

Thank you WM! I will give her a call tomorrow on my lunch break! EPO tablets have not made Benson's condition any worse - actually for him I think it has helped some - along with everyting else?!?! But then again I really don't know what is working at the moment but I guess what I am trying to do is boost his immune system to a point, that maybe by next year (hopefully) he has no more problems! (where is a praying emoticon when you need one?) Also WM he has a half and half diet with bones, mince, sardines, tuna, vegies and fruit. All of which he has had well and truely before anything started in regard to scratching and biting (also have checked what is ok to feed.) So thank you again - I mean I guess why I did such a long post was because I would prefer not to spend money on something that is not going to work as well as not medicating him if I do not have to with antihistamines.

Betadine diluted to resemble weak tea to clean and then pad dry with paper towel and then apply curash!

What do you think was the problem with your foster Westie? Why I ask is that my GR has been with me since puppyhood and he only got skin issues in mid November ie allergies to something environmental and more than likely seasonal. So I guess what I am wondering is, do you think that the foster you have has allergies or was it from neglect and malnutrition that he got such bad skin / coat? I personally am doing everything I can to help my boy stop itching but thus far nothing really has helped 100% other than pheregan to put the boy to sleep for a few hours (am yet to try other antihistamines but I think I will be going down that path next.) See I am wondering if it would be worth me buying this EPO Shampoo as well. Sorry not to hijack but just so you understand why I am asking this question is that Benson is on the following approx 5-6mths on EP Large Breed Fish oil Adovocate Since syptoms started - a 5 day course of antibiotics, and then a ten day course, Cortisone shot the first vet visit, Cortisone tablets last visit. Advantix, Daily EPO & Zinc tablets, Kelp every second day, Weekly wash with Eqyss Micro-tek and for a little over two weeks I think, he has been on Chinese Herbs as well. Sorry I am just at my wits end, don't get me wrong Benson's scratching is nowhere near as bad as since starting all this stuff (no more hotspots since), but I would just like a solution as I hate to see him itching.

My whole fur family and I are all really blonde hehehe! Benson is a GR, Bella is a Blue Point Ragdoll and I am of Finnish decent!

No prob - but ease up with the blonde comments

Hi this is from the General Health Thread in the pinned section! http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=81686 Potatoes Solanum alkaloids can be found in green sprouts and green potato skins, which occurs when the tubers are exposed to sunlight during growth or after harvest. The relatively rare occurrence of actual poisoning is due to several factors: solanine is poorly absorbed; it is mostly hydrolyzed into less toxic solanidinel; and the metabolites are quickly eliminated. Cooked, mashed potatoes are fine for dogs, actually quite nutritious and digestible.

No I haven't - what are the symptoms? if you know of hand that is! I had phenergan at home so I thought I would give that to him as some one suggested it was ok to use for dogs on this forum. Could I try Zyrtec?

Yep same here - atopic dermatitis.

Yes My Golden Retriever and Laffi's Aussie Shepard are both going through the same thing. They have been suffering from around mid Nov and we believe it to be an allergic reaction to something environmental, pollen or grass. We are both doing the following and have seen some improvement even though it is not a cure all. Phenergan - daily Fish Oil - daily Zinc - daily Evening Primrose Oil - daily Kelp - every second day Bathed with the EQyss on Saturday EQyss Spray Coat king rake every 3 weeks Apple Cidar Vinegar in water Advocate once a mth Advantix once a mth Plus Benson is currently on Prednisone and Antibitotics from the vet for 10 days. We both will be trialing some herbal tablets shortly and will let you know how they go as we understand they may signifiicantly reduce the allergy.