Antihistamines

[Erny]

Erny you're a legend!

I made up a stock pot of calendula tea yesterday afternoon, (normal tea strength), let it cool and then bathed her in it. I decided not to rinse and just towelled her off - and her scratching has already decreased and her tummy is less red. I plan to bathe her again Wednesday night then again on the weekend and then go to once a week or as needed. Do you think thats about right?

Thanks tons - For us I think you've just given me the miracle cure! (And its soooo cheap!)

Westiemum and Sarah

My Vet suggested to me to have anti-histamines on hand, but to only use them if my dog's scratching was damaging his already damaged skin. In the meantime, to bath with Calendula Tea. The latter did the trick and the anti-histamines remain unopened in the medicine cabinet.

Fantastic! I'm glad you are getting great results. I have found the same for my boy, and cannot believe more people aren't onto trying that before they resort to any chemical treatment, including shampoos and ESPECIALLY cortisone and antibiotics, which seems to often be the first course of treatment so many go to first.

I would apply once a day until the redness disappears - this shouldn't take more than a couple of days or so, if my boy was anything to go by. Then drop it back to every two or three days, or unless you spot ANY sign of redness. I have found the earlier you get onto it the better and faster the result. And it also means you can just treat the 'spot' rather than a larger part of her body.

Keep the antihistamine in the cupboard should you need it (ie if scratching is causing damage) but otherwise, just use the Calendula. (Oops! Just read you didn't need to use any ) And I'd avoid using any shampoos at all. I haven't bathed my boy since last April/May. The only times he really smelt was when his skin was acting up - a yeasty smell - but the Calendula freshened that up as well. It's a bit easier with a short-haired dog, I know.

ETA: I took Mandela to a park today for a run (and training and all the things that go with a 'walk' ). There is a man-made lake there and he went for a swim. The water tends to smell up a bit - it's not exactly rank, but ducks and all sorts share it. When we got home I hosed him off with warm/tepid water. His coat and skin is as shiny and squeaky clean as it would have been if I'd bathed him in shampoo ...... which further confirms that 'suds' aren't really always as necessary as we think it is .

ETA: I have Mandela on the VAN "Allerblend" diet (especially for allergy dogs). Between that, the VAN "Skin support Medi-treats", Roo-tails for bones and the Calendula Tea - that's ALL he gets (for the moment, until I think he is ready for a "diet challenge") and I haven't had need to use the Calendula tea for about 2 months now. Initially he was covered in at least 200 hives - these broke and threatened skin infection. The Calendula stopped that in its tracks and with his diet he barely gets any hives at all now.

Edited November 16, 2009 by Erny

[StaceyB]

I use Polarmine for Gypsy during summer too, 2mg in the monring and 2 mg in the evening. That and a weekly bath generally keeps her grass allergies at bay.

[westiemum]

Thanks Stacey - yes polaramine is a popularand it seems effective choice. If you don't mind me asking, how much does Gypsy weigh?

Cheers,

Westiemum

I use Polarmine for Gypsy during summer too, 2mg in the monring and 2 mg in the evening. That and a weekly bath generally keeps her grass allergies at bay.

[Got Spots]

Having been unable to control our scratching with just antihistamines + the tea we have resorted to a new cortisone spray from the vet dermatologist - Cortivance

Apparently it is inactive in the bottle, active on the skin but by the time it reaches the blood it is inactive - that is how she explained it

I am finding i only use it when things get out of hand and she is distressed - approx every 2 weeks about 2 sprays on her tummy. Takes the edge off things. Also she has terribly dry skin and the Alpha kerri bath oil made her so glossy and smell great - as a rinse and not washed out. Her scratching and itchies decreased drastically afterwards.

The vet dermatologist also suggested the body suits from fluppies - however it is stinking hot up here in queensland and I just couldn't subject her to 6 weeks of experiments - 2 weeks suit on the whole time, 2 weeks suit off inside on while outside, 2 weeks suit off and see how things go. This is because we don't have a clear atopy vs contact allergy there are features of both.

For now its occ antihistamine though haven't had to resort to one for 4 weeks since I have used the spray 2x . The tea and the kerri bath oil if she is really flaky.

[westiemum]

Neats thanks for your post. I am getting a really good list of things to try. A couple of people in other threads have also mentioned the Alpha Kerri Bath Oil - so will definitely keep it in mind. In this Adelaide heat I'd be reluctant to try a fluppies as well - and nervous about leaving her for the day with it on in this heat while I'm at work - but thanks for the idea and your post.

Cheers,

Westiemum :D

Having been unable to control our scratching with just antihistamines + the tea we have resorted to a new cortisone spray from the vet dermatologist - Cortivance

Apparently it is inactive in the bottle, active on the skin but by the time it reaches the blood it is inactive - that is how she explained it

I am finding i only use it when things get out of hand and she is distressed - approx every 2 weeks about 2 sprays on her tummy. Takes the edge off things. Also she has terribly dry skin and the Alpha kerri bath oil made her so glossy and smell great - as a rinse and not washed out. Her scratching and itchies decreased drastically afterwards.

The vet dermatologist also suggested the body suits from fluppies - however it is stinking hot up here in queensland and I just couldn't subject her to 6 weeks of experiments - 2 weeks suit on the whole time, 2 weeks suit off inside on while outside, 2 weeks suit off and see how things go. This is because we don't have a clear atopy vs contact allergy there are features of both.

For now its occ antihistamine though haven't had to resort to one for 4 weeks since I have used the spray 2x . The tea and the kerri bath oil if she is really flaky.

[SarasMum]

Well I purchased some Calendula tea last night and tried it and by this morning all the redness was gone and all that was left was the raised dots. I have completed bathed her in it just now and am waiting on her to dry. I didnt want to resort to drugs if I could help it. I am pretty sure it was the cause of all my problems with my last staffy that we had to pts at 8yo.

Fingers crossed!

[Erny]

I am so pleased to hear this feedback - and moreover, am pleased to hear that the Calendula is helping so much.

I think it is a great 'first place' to start with so we can try to avoid the application of any drug or chemical (including shampoos) leaving things such as those as a last resort.

.... I'm really happy for these results. Thanks for reporting them in.

ETA: For anyone who is reading : The Calendula Tea wash is NOT a cure for the allergy itself. What it does is helps to stop secondary skin infection, which is usually what we see as a result of the allergy (red, pustulous skin/skin lesions). So if you use the Calendula and get good results, please don't forget that you also need to give mind to what it is that's the reason for the allergy and why the dog's system is causing it to be allergic to that.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Erny

[westiemum]

Yes its great to see such good results with such a cheap easy solution. Thanks tons Erny.

Good to hear you are getting good results too Sarasmum.

Cheers,

Westiemum

[LouiseBrooks]

Thanks LB - yes it seems polaramine is the top of the pops antihistamine - so thats what I'm trying. I'm giving her 3mg twice daily based on the Ingleburn Vets dosage guide - and her eyes are looking better already. Yes I bought a box from the chemist too - and was surprised how cheap it is - half the price of the others on the shelf (of course I had to ask for it - it was behind the counter!).

By any chance do you remember the dosage that your vet gave you? Just would be interesting to compare - I'm very wary of under-dosing and then assuming it doesn''t work (wary of over-dosing as well of course).

Thanks again and we'll see how we go.

Cheers,

Westiemum

Yes I still have it at home - He checked with an Canine Allergy Specialist and when he was between 8 - 10 kgs he was allowed a 2mg tablet 4 times a day

Say 6am 12 noon 6pm and when you go to bed he said it was better than giving say 2 large dosages. My daughters Tibbie gets because he is 12kgs weight 1.5 tables 4 times a day and also for his eyes I wash them with cold strong tea. One green and normal tea bag placed in a large cup of water when cool use cotton balls and wipe his eyes at least morning and night - my dog is white but it does not stain so have no fear of racoon eyes. the specialist said it would help because of some chemical in the tea. Then a TV programme mentioned if your dog has the itches to also wash him in cold tea and some of the chemicals in the tea shrink the blood vessels under the skin that swell with allergies and this cuts down the itches.

We use all of the above and it does work.

[SarasMum]

4 days in and its great. Only occasional itchies, no redness whatsoever. The back of her feet were getting really red and inflamed but with one dose of tea they were back to being normal albeit a tad bald from the biting. I steaped it until it cooled and applied, now she sees the spray bottle coming and drops and rolls over lol.

Does anyone know how long the goodness lasts? It would be great to just use whats in the spray bottle (fridged then warmed of course) rather than making a new batch all the time.

[westiemum]

Sarasmuum given its tea, I'm guessing it probably lkeeps its effectiveness for a couple of days - so I would hope to get away with two batches a week. Erny are you around? Any advice?

Cheers

Westiemum

4 days in and its great. Only occasional itchies, no redness whatsoever. The back of her feet were getting really red and inflamed but with one dose of tea they were back to being normal albeit a tad bald from the biting. I steaped it until it cooled and applied, now she sees the spray bottle coming and drops and rolls over lol.

Does anyone know how long the goodness lasts? It would be great to just use whats in the spray bottle (fridged then warmed of course) rather than making a new batch all the time.

[Erny]

Sarasmuum given its tea, I'm guessing it probably lkeeps its effectiveness for a couple of days - so I would hope to get away with two batches a week. Erny are you around? Any advice?

Cheers

Westiemum

LOL .... did you finish your cuppa yet?

Initially, I gave my boy a couple of douses with the C.Tea inside one day. He was covered with hundreds of swollen hives - had more bumps than flat skin, along with rashes and pimples on the inside of his back legs. He was so itchy at one point that he gave a shiver. Bless him, he was pretty good about not scratching when I asked him. The next day, the hives were half the size and the scabs from where they had erupted had dried (the scabs were previously greasy and there was redness underneath, indicating infection). I gave him another couple of dousings (I used a saturated flannel and rubbed the tea in over his body with it) the next day. I didn't plan it ..... I just did it when I saw him irritating at his skin and/or if his skin looked angry in any way. The two times in a day (morning/late afternoon) over those first couple of days seemed to be enough.

After that, I went to once a day for a couple of days.

Then it panned out to once every couple of days, to here and there every few days and/or whenever a new hive popped its way to the surface.

As I said - I had no strict plan. I just did it according to whether there was any new activity on the skin; how comfortable/uncomfortable he was with his skin; how much redness there was; etc. In the end it was just an every now and again application, just directed at the few spots that might have developed.

In fact, I've just given him an all-over-body rub down with a flannel saturated in the C-Tea because I've noticed him rubbing himself a bit in the past few days. This is the first time in a few months that I've used it.

He barely gets hives at all now (*touch wood*). His diet, coupled with the application of the C-Tea has, it seems, allowed his system to work things out. His age and period of development could also have been an affect (although his litter brother suffered hives from way, way earlier, so perhaps not?), so with any luck, we've worked through that.

Edited November 19, 2009 by Erny