Itchy Season?

[Wobbly]

I have a grassy backyard too, not sure exactly what type of grass it is, I'll have to find out. I wonder if there are any native ground covers that would be better than grass? Perhaps native grasses that don't produce so much pollen?

I just googled low allergenic grasses, apparently Santa Ana & Buffalo Bison are very low allergenic, neither require much watering either which is also good.

[ell&diesel]

Some pics:

This only came up about 5 days ago (I think when the weather here warmed up?), at first it was much less so I wasn't too worried, now it's gotten really bad.

It looks like demodectic mange maybe?? I'll take her to the vet on Monday for another skin scrape, think I'll use a new vet this time, the last time it cost over $200 odd just to scrape the skin & look at it under a microscope. :rolleyes:

She is only a little itchy, rubs her face on me once or twice a day, but doesn't go at it with her paws, but it worries me it could be symptomatic of something bad even if it doesn't seem to bother her too much atm.

From the front, her fur looks fine:

But from another angle, you can really see there is something wrong - this is her worst bit - lots of "motheaten" bald patches

Those look exactly like what I call Diesel's "hives". They're the only part of his skin that we have never been able to figure out - they appear completely at random, without any changes in diet or environment. The only "common" factor we've ever been able to notice is that when he gets anxious or stressed, they appear, and appear really quickly - we can watch them grow. But then, after about 5 minutes, they go down again and don't re-appear for months. Our vet hasn't ever even seen them, because as soon as they appear we take him to the vet, but that's an 8 minute drive and by the time we arrive...they've disappeared. They don't seem to be itchy, sore or irritable at all - Diesel pays no attention to them whatsoever.

ETA - We have buffalo grass of some kind and it's quite good for Diesel's skin. It's the grass everywhere else in the outside world that's the problem

Edited August 18, 2008 by ell&diesel

[Wobbly]

OMG Elle & Diesel - I wonder if it's the same??? It sounds Very similar! I was at the beach today trying to show a lady there who is very knowledgeable about doggy health Jarrah's mothbites and there were none to be found.

They're literally gone now?? After only 2 days??? Unless there's been some kind of miracle fur can't have grown back that fast, so it must be a swelling bad enough to stretch the skin & make it look like there's fur missing?? Again like Diesel, it's not very itchy, she will rub her head on me, but not itch with her paws??? These patches did last for a good few days though - sounds like Diesels are much shorter lasting?

I'm going to get her her allergy tested, but this is something to mention to the dermatologist too, at least I have the photo of how bad it looks if it's fine on the day of our appt! Stress it could be - very good point, I have been very stressed the last week or so (I filed a civil court suit last week, so make that incredibly stressed), Jarrah may very well be stressed by my stress, she is an empathic dog as the Bullys tend to be.

Aly I wonder if you can get Buffalo bison grass where you are for your yard too?? Then it's a matter of avoiding everyone else's grass, but at least it's not the grass she sunbakes and drag-races on causing it.

Edited August 18, 2008 by Wobbly

[ell&diesel]

OMG Elle & Diesel - I wonder if it's the same??? It sounds Very similar! I was at the beach today trying to show a lady there who is very knowledgeable about doggy health Jarrah's mothbites and there were none to be found.

They're literally gone now?? After only 2 days??? Unless there's been some kind of miracle fur can't have grown back that fast, so it must be a swelling bad enough to stretch the skin & make it look like there's fur missing?? Again like Diesel, it's not very itchy, she will rub her head on me, but not itch with her paws??? These patches did last for a good few days though - sounds like Diesels are much shorter lasting?

I'm going to get her her allergy tested, but this is something to mention to the dermatologist too, at least I have the photo of how bad it looks if it's fine on the day of our appt! Stress it could be - very good point, I have been very stressed the last week or so (I filed a civil court suit last week, so make that incredibly stressed), Jarrah may very well be stressed by my stress, she is an empathic dog as the Bullys tend to be.

Aly I wonder if you can get Buffalo bison grass where you are for your yard too?? Then it's a matter of avoiding everyone else's grass, but at least it's not the grass she sunbakes and drag-races on causing it.

That's creepy, I've never heard of anybody else whose dog has this..."issue" haha. I remain fairly convinced (what with all my veterinary knowledge and whatnot ) that it's the stress, because when Diesel's stressed it's extremely obvious (and just like Jarrah, he picks up on my stress) and that's the only time it appears.

But I can't think of a physiological reason why stress = hives?

Please let us know what the dermatologist thinks about it when you show her the photos, I'm really interested!

[mizzpiggy]

The absolute best thing that I have tried on my Staffy who is a red nose and therefore has higher sensitivity to EVERYTHING!. Benadryl Original Formula... none of the fancy Chesty Forte stuff. My dog Cali was breaking out big time, Vet said mange Dermadectic Mange but I didn't think so. Also bought some shampoo from Dermacare off Ebay and use it once a week. She looks like a new dog, sure there are a few bumps once in a while but nothing compared to what she had previously (bumps and hair loss). Powder Vitamin C a teaspoon a day also helps. This has been the cheapest and most effective treatment considering I have no idea what it is that sets off her symptoms.