zayda_asher

Yeah, they can only fit so much into each suspension... We have three different ASITs... but when you start you will get 3 vials of EACH ASIT in three different doses: start on the lowest and then build up to the full potency... So I suppose it would depend on how they label them... they might count the 3 of one type as "one" because it's just the one vaccine?? Be interesting to see what you get!! <G> Actually you should be able to have a rough tell from price... but you may not want to post that up... here (and I'm sure it varies from place to place) we pay about $255 per vaccine...

Yeah, that's what I was going to say too: I would definintely do an elimination diet to trial those and see... you may find that they are not all things that cause him to react and you may find there are actually other things that do! Well worth the ED to test properly...

We're going well atm thanks! Had a bit of an "uh-oh" moment the other day where Zayda's fur all ruffed up (which is what happens, can't remember technical name lol, right before she gets hives) but it didn't progress any further and we've been good since - knock on wood! And Asher has been pretty darn good too... so all seems well. Zayda's immuno is progressing nicely, so all seems settled for now!

Haven't worked this out yet... life got in the way and then I got sick! Hopefully get on to it this week...

How weird! Do you have known anaphylactic reactions to anything? I wonder why they are worried... it's not like it's a big amount and the chance of anaphylaxis with the dogs is very low... Our derm never mentioned this to us and you would think it would be something they would check if it was that much of a risk (and she knows I have allergies). Maybe a second opinion on this issue wouldn't hurt... when I write to my derm I'm going to ask her for interest sake... Well good luck with them anyway!

Meh. Proof shmoof, we knew what you meant Not yet, was helping with a seminar last night for work, didn't get home til late... hopefully over the w/end...

Yeah, I have allergies too... am allergic to some of the same things as my dogs and get itchy skin from the allergies too!! I'm laughing at your cats ingenuity though... aren't they amazing? Pity it's resulted in vet bills and painful abscesses though!

Well done!!

Bummer I empathise having the two allergic ones here... I've heard cats can be even more difficult with allergy stuff, don't know how true it is though..

No worries! I hope it helps you and your dog out...

Will do.. and don't worry, the OH knows I only keep him on for his math and computer skills...

Good luck, let us know the results...

Thanks! good to hear it makes sense on the outside of my head... I'm always learning and revising what I know... there's so much out there to learn... For example I've recently stopped using the Grapefruit seed extract, as I've found studies that show it's probably just added preservatives that make for the antibacterial effect! (not listed on the labels I might add)

Well it's nice to know my brain manages to retain some information! look forward to an update when you have it...

No worries Just on a quick look around you could probably do one Vit E cap a week or something @ 500 IU... I'm going to look into that more and I'll let you know what I find... Actually just figured out I can work it out from Optimal Nutrition, but I need glen home to help make sure I do the math right!

Good luck with the ASIT, looks like they've prolly added in the "top" of the medium level allergens as well... hope it helps!! I've seen a bit about emu oil, but my guys always did well on what we used, so I never really looked into it... looks like Zayda is still safe with salmon, so we shouldn't have to worry about swapping... but it would be worth keeping in mind... I do think Emu is high in Omega 6 though perhaps?? That's just a random memory, may be wrong...

Go the one with the 180mg EPA... that's actually the most beneficial, so best to have it in the higher amount. When we were put on EFAs were were told to look for 180mg EPA in the caps, and still @ 1 per 5 kilos Vit E I honestly can't remember how you dose for... I think it's on weight and relation to oils again... I give 1 500 I.U d-alpha tocopherol (dl-alpha is your synthetic type) cap a day, which is prolly a bit more than you need, but shouldn't hurt. Did a quick google and couldn't find much, however, you can get fish oils that have E added so you don't have to worry about adding your own too... Here's some info on the omega-6s http://www.thewholedog.org/id23.html

If it's not on the pack, you can prolly get a rough guide from one of the on line analysis sites by checking the meat for Omega-6s... it's normally the meat component that is high due to the change in how we feed the animals (grain fed etc.).

General rule of thumb is one 1000mg cap per 5 kilos of dog. I think there are some fish oils you can get in liquids, someone else may know. Nature's own seem to be the only one's who make borage oil supps: http://www.naturesown.com.au/main.php#/products/results/ Look for Starflower oil (it was rebranded for some reason). I use caps... if you can't feed the cap, it's easy enough to stick a skewer in and squirt the oil out (which is what we have to do for Zayda atm). ETA: Caps last longer than bottles of oil and are often easier to deal with... should still be refrigerated though.

Another thing to consider is that modern diets are often very high in Omega - 6s so it's actually the omega-3s that need high supplementation.

Oh, and I suppose I should say that I don't use a blend myself because they tend to use generic oily fish, which I have to be careful of with Zayda's allergies. So it gives me more control to buy and combine myself. It would depend on your dog as to if that is relevant or not. It's also a good idea if you use fish oil to make sure the company checks for heavy metal contamination.

Found it! This is from Monica Segal's Dec 07 news letter: I've steered clear of flax because, anecdotal evidence it seems a lot of dogs (regardless of allergies) don't tolerate it well (and this seems to apply to alfalfa too - certainly the case for Zayda). Make sure your Vit E is from a natural and not a synthetic source, and it's important to check what it comes from if the dog has food allergies (same as what the capsules are made from if you feed them the whole lot).

I use a combo: salmon oil, evening primrose and vit e... I buy supps separately and give to dogs dosed according to weight. Zayda atm is on Borrage (Star Flower) oil due to the elimination diet. This is a bit more exy as the only brand in Aus seems to be one that does a bottle of 30 caps (at 5 a day that doesn't stretch far)... but it would be good to use in combo with the salmon oil, and I may swap from the EPO when she is back on her full diet. There was a study done on this, I'm trying to locate the info I had on it, but I can't lay my hands on it...

And, no, nothing is simple.... <sigh>

I use epitsoothe on both my guys unless they actually have a secondary infection. Keeps their skin in much better condition that constant medicated shampoo use. And Aloveen conditioner if they need it. HOWEVER, for some reason both my guys started reacting to the malaseb, so not sure what we will use if we do need to go the medicated route again. We never ascertained if they changed the formula or what happened... Asher I have to check every new product as he is allergic to the propylene glycol which is in 99% of things, so that means calling the company a lot of the time as they only list active ingredients on most animal products.