Grass Allergies

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I owned a dog with grass allergies before and spent much energy and money trying every cure under the sun to try and do something for my poor boy. Nothing worked and it was very upsetting too. The worst thing in the world was wet grass. He sadly died young, from a suspected brain tumour.

Now I'm fostering a dog for a week until his new owners pick him up. He arrived from our kennels with slightly pink legs but since coming here, he's been chewing himself like crazy. I've bathed him in Alloveen and put on Neocort cream, nothing is working.

I'm worried that his new owners won't want him when they see his sore legs (unless I can do something) and I also don't know if they've got grass or a courtyard and where they plan to walk him.

Does anyone have any suggestions? It's been raining this afternoon and will keep raining until next week apparently - does anyone have any suggestions?

[Clyde]

Antihistamines and regular bathing is our routine aswell as supplements, diet etc.

Try to keep him off the grass. You may have to resort to a training pad for him to go on and keep him inside at all times.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Clyde - what sort of antihistamines do you use and what would be the dosage pls?

[westiemum]

Agree with Clyde - don't laugh but when I pull my house down and redevelop my big block the grass is going!! My girl westie in particular licks her paws (all 4) like theres no tomorrow because of what I'm sure is a grass contact allergy - after months of no rain and and dead grass the licking eased off and paw discolouration got better as it seemed whatever the problem in the grass was had finally died off - and last week it rained, the grass recovered a little and she's licking again like mad. ;)

I talked to my great vet about it - he was honest and said 'we are notoriously unsuccessful at treating these things' - and I could try anti-histamines but he wasn't sure it would work in my case and he doesn't like prescribing anti-histamines unnecesssarily - and unless its going to solve the problem I was reluctant to medicate her even short term anyway.

I have been using a cream called Epoc Cream (Evening Primrose Cream) from here which certainly works well in easing her itchiness with frequent application but doesn't solve the problem - it returns on each exposure - but the vet said he thought that would be as good as it was likely to get in my case and recommended I continue to treat her symptomatically with the cream.

Really, after trying a myriad of creams, shampoos and potions I think the only real solution is to eventually get rid of the grass or keep her inside - radical as that might sound. And in my case she would hate not having the backyard to race around in so I persevere with the Epoc cream.

Hope that sort of helps - but my impression is overall that there aren't any real solutions to this problem - but happy to hear of a miracle cure here too if anyone has anything esle to suggest.

Cheers,

Westiemum

Edited March 8, 2009 by westiemum

[puggy_puggy]

Do you know that this dog has a grass allergy for sure?

Clyde - what sort of antihistamines do you use and what would be the dosage pls?

How big is the dog?

I use claratyne.

I know alot of people say to use phenergan, which is an older style (first generation) antihistamine, which has the side effect of making whomever takes it a bit sleepy as it acts on the CNS.

Personally I would choose a newer style of antihistamine (second generation) that do not enter the CNS and do not have the side effects of drowsiness. Claratyne is one of these but others included Zyrtec & Telfast.

[Baby Dragon]

...

Edited March 8, 2009 by Baby Dragon

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Thanks guys. As my dog died in 2007 (fox terrier cross) I was wondering if there were any new things I hadn't tried. My vet said if he hadn't died of the brain tumour, I should have been thinking about putting him to sleep because of his allergy which I'd struggled with for 3 years. We tried (through vets and the internet), herbal products, Chinese herbs, lotions and potions. The thing that was best was a cortisone injection which he had every now and then but they stop working eventually. Antihistamines (from vet) that I tried didn't work for him, I would have tried others if I'd known that I could.

Westiemum, I have had 3 westie crosses, 2 are still with me and I'm pretty sure the temp foster dog is a westie cross too. Only 1 of my westie types doesn't chew his paws constantly. The remaining other westie cross is currently on a cortisone course for sore feet. His at least aren't like it all year round.

I'll try some tablets today. I'm one of the % of people who Zyrtec knocks out like being run over by a truck! I'll try giving him some tablets and report back!

This little guy weighs 5 kilos.

[Tenties]

I wouldn't be to worried about grass allergies, i think it sounds more like a flea allergy i have a boy doing exact same thing at the moment due to a flea plague and i use Advantage on him.. but in saying that i do realise Advantage fails in alot of cases and Frontline is much better in these situations.... I would give him a nice bath and apply Frontline if you can afford to get some at the moment and try to treat your house as well as his bedding.

Linda...

[Clyde]

Dog Mad, we used Phenergan with no success and am now using Polaramine. One tablet, every 6-8 hrs if necessary (for 5-10kg dog). To be honest I don't feel it does very much and also am not keen on using them. However it is certainly worth a try for your dog while our grass is so wet here atm.

I have a foster Pug here with mad itchies and she is on Periactin which I believe helps, but it knocks her out. So I guess of course if you are sleeping then you are not scratching.

[Clyde]

.. but in saying that i do realise Advantage fails in alot of cases and Frontline is much better in these situations....

Linda...

It's been my experience that Frontline fails is so many more situations than Advantage. FRontline is like applying water to the dogs neck IMO.

[westiemum]

Yes thanks dogmad - skin issues and allergies are certainly in my mind the major problem with the breed. I have a foster westie too at the moment (who is in grave danger of becoming a foster failure assuming he continues to ignore the cat so well ) - he's been with me 6 or 7 weeks as of yesterday and is an ex stud dog who has spent his life in a corrugated iron, wire and concrete run - quite sensorily deprived IMO - on touching grass seemingly for the first time he recoiled into a ball and didn't want to put his paws down on it or touch it - very sad to watch. He now loves the grass and is rolling in it and not licking and itching like my old girl - yet you would expect a dog with no experience of grass or 'immunity' (for want of better word) should be licking like madly - but no, he's not, so far. But I must admit I'm waiting for it to happen.

So will be very interested to see how you get on. Please can you let us know?

Cheers,

Westiemum

Thanks guys. As my dog died in 2007 (fox terrier cross) I was wondering if there were any new things I hadn't tried. My vet said if he hadn't died of the brain tumour, I should have been thinking about putting him to sleep because of his allergy which I'd struggled with for 3 years. We tried (through vets and the internet), herbal products, Chinese herbs, lotions and potions. The thing that was best was a cortisone injection which he had every now and then but they stop working eventually. Antihistamines (from vet) that I tried didn't work for him, I would have tried others if I'd known that I could.

Westiemum, I have had 3 westie crosses, 2 are still with me and I'm pretty sure the temp foster dog is a westie cross too. Only 1 of my westie types doesn't chew his paws constantly. The remaining other westie cross is currently on a cortisone course for sore feet. His at least aren't like it all year round.

I'll try some tablets today. I'm one of the % of people who Zyrtec knocks out like being run over by a truck! I'll try giving him some tablets and report back!

This little guy weighs 5 kilos.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Definitely not flea allergy, only happened the minute his feet touched the grass.

I have fleas completely under control with Advocate, only experienced the odd one this last season. I've also been unfortunate enough to experience grass allergies for 3 years with my foxie boy and there's a marked difference in location of the problem.

I have Polaramine so will try some.

Thanks for the help - I've only got him till Sunday but will give you all an update before then.

[sas]

Good luck is all I can say, my dog is 2 years old with pretty bad allergies from 6 months.

You could try the injections but they may not work.

There really isn't a cure, you can only manage allergies.

It may be more difficult to adopt a dog with allergies, I guess you could just hold onto the dog until you find something that seems to help the dog somewhat and then reduce his adoption fee?

I personaly wouldn't wish allergies on any other dog owner.

Have you put booties on the dog to confirm it's grass allergies?

We manage ours with Eqyss Microteck Shampoo and Spray for itchy dogs, Rufus & Coco Skin Formula, anti-histymes and Cortisone every 2nd day.

Cortivance spray is worth a try if you want to speak to your Vet about it, although that's just managing it as well.

Edited March 9, 2009 by sas

[puggy_puggy]

Isn't there a certain autoimmune skin condition that Westies suffer from?

[firedrop]

Allergies are definetly a pain :D . I also would wish them upon nobody. My GSD has allergies and it took a long time to get this diagnosis . We went from Puppy Pimples to Mange until finally I went to visit a dermatologist who did the allergy test and confirmed my suspicions. My GSD is on de-sensitizing vaccines which I inject every 3 weeks and also has a anti-histamine every morning. I find as someone else said that there is no real cure for allergies it is all about management and being very vigiliant - checking your dog every day and monitoring them and acting immediately to any sign of break outs. I also have spent alot of time and money on my GSD with his allergies but if you perserve you can normally find something that works for your dog. I am ever so thankful that I came across a wonderful dermatologist that is only a phone call away.

FD

[Odin-Genie]

I have been reading about grass allergies and it looks like my goldie has it:

The fur on her paws turn reddish after it rains

The reddish colour goes away when the rains stop

However, it doesn't look like there is any itchiness. She doesn't bite her paws or seem in anyway concerned with them.

Do I need to use antihistamines, or just let it be? Is it likely to get worse if I don't do anything? She is due for her annual check up this month so I'll ask the vet as well.

She didn't have this issue last year during rains. Could that be because she was a puppy? Or could it be caused by the grass type (we recently returfed the lawn)? Not sure what type of grass we had before.

[sas]

I have been reading about grass allergies and it looks like my goldie has it:

The fur on her paws turn reddish after it rains

The reddish colour goes away when the rains stop

However, it doesn't look like there is any itchiness. She doesn't bite her paws or seem in anyway concerned with them.

Do I need to use antihistamines, or just let it be? Is it likely to get worse if I don't do anything? She is due for her annual check up this month so I'll ask the vet as well.

She didn't have this issue last year during rains. Could that be because she was a puppy? Or could it be caused by the grass type (we recently returfed the lawn)? Not sure what type of grass we had before.

You'd be best speaking with your Vet & Breeder :rolleyes: