Allergies - How Have You Dealt With/treated?

[lillim]

I know there are lots of posts about allergies, but I wanted to get a general idea about how people have dealt with/ treated their dog's allergies.

So my queries are:

what allergy does your dog have?

how have you dealt with/treated it?

has it helped?

have you used any alternative methods to deal with/treat?

I have a dog with dust mite allergies, so would be particularly interested in hearing from owners of dogs with dust mite allergies.

[sas]

what allergy does your dog have?

All Sorts

(See below allergic results)

how have you dealt with/treated it?

Diet

Topical creams and lotions, Vet brought and store brought - some we still use today

Vitamins & Powders - Being careful here as an allergy problem is an over active immune system, you don't want to send it into over-drive.

Special Shampoos and rinses, can't even tell you how many

Homeopathic treatments

Desentising Injections

I think we're up to about 102 Miracle cures

Cortisone every 2nd day, use tablets so we can change around the dossage

has it helped?

Homeopathic was great until one allergic reaction to Heartwom treatment went past his threshold

Cortisone keeps him comfortable, without it, he would be put to sleep due to the damage he does to himself and the stress it causes him which in-turn creates other health issues.

have you used any alternative methods to deal with/treat?

Yep, as per above

In addition, minimising chemicals used in the house.

Edited December 30, 2009 by sas

[lillim]

what allergy does your dog have?

All Sorts

(See below allergic results)

how have you dealt with/treated it?

Diet

Topical creams and lotions, Vet brought and store brought - some we still use today

Vitamins & Powders - Being careful here as an allergy problem is an over active immune system, you don't want to send it into over-drive.

Special Shampoos and rinses, can't even tell you how many

Homeopathic treatments

Desentising Injections

I think we're up to about 102 Miracle cures

Cortisone every 2nd day, use tablets so we can change around the dossage

has it helped?

Homeopathic was great until one allergic reaction to Heartwom treatment went past his threshold

Cortisone keeps him comfortable, without it, he would be put to sleep due to the damage he does to himself and the stress it causes him which in-turn creates other health issues.

have you used any alternative methods to deal with/treat?

Yep, as per above

In addition, minimising chemicals used in the house.

geez, he is allergic to alot, just out of curiosity, are you still on the desenstising injections, or did it not work?

My dog is still on the desenstising injections, but we are yet to reach the stage where we know if it works or not, so I wanted to find out more about homeopathic remedies, got any pointers as to where to start looking?

[Lab_Rat]

Hi lillim, sorry to hear of your dogs allergy. Our girl has certain meat protein allergies - to do with her food, which I am still not sure about entirely, but am researching! She is on a diet which restricts some meats, and has also been on several courses of Chinese Herbs for helping her gastrointestinal system and rhinitis (which she developed this year!!). She was also on a short course of cortisone which turned her into an eating machine . Sure is one icky drug that one. I feel for people and their dogs who have to be on it long term.

Im still not quite sure Ive got my head around it, but I think that allergic reactions are the immune system reacting to "proteins" entering the system. Im quite interested in researching and understanding the whole allergy thing, one so I can understand whats happening to my poor girl and two so I can do something about it!

SAS - I would love to know where the allergy test for your dog was done! Ive only been able to get a test done that didnt contain foodstuffs - which Im really concerned about!!

I hope you get some more stories lillim, sorry I havent been much help!

Rat

[elsa]

I have one dog who is allergic to beef and preservatives and another that has a flea allergy. I wont give either of them cortizone as I have heard too many bad stories about it. Mainly, that they can only take so much in their lifetime - and then what?

I bath them in Malaseb and use Neem Oil in the rinse water. Neem Oil not only puts oils back but it is a repellent to biting insects. I have also used a horse product called Heritage Downs. The shampoo and conditioner and also they have a massage oil, which helps with the dry skin and also contains Neem Oil. I have had great results from the massage oil. I did a fairly extensive research on the internet and found that you can also use cooking oils on the skin, such as vegetable and olive oil and also to feed them Cod Liver Oil with their meals, also Fish Oil (particularly coldpressed Salmon) is the best. Fighting it all from the inside out.

With the dog with the food allergy, she is fed only fresh meat and I have to be very careful what dry food she gets. I have recently been using Nutrience which has had no ill effects on her. When she chews herself, I use Aloveen Conditioner on the wound and scabs. It stops the itching and gives her relief.

I am also careful not to give either of them any dry that contains wheat. Wheat is heating to the skin and makes them itchier.

In your dogs case, I would suggest Neem Oil. You can add it to their rinse water after bathing them (water needs to be warm for the oil). You could also try the Massage Oil from Heritage Downs. I had great results with this with my dog who has flea allergies. She had lost most of the coat along her back, down her back legs and her tail - makes for a funny looking German Shepherd who was a long coat! Anyway, after using the Massage Oil, her coat started to grow back almost immediately. I also treat her for fleas fortnightly instead of monthly, and give her Capstar for a few days when she is bad. She also gets under the house in the dirt, and we have a bad flea season this year, making my job a little harder.

Worth a try though for your dog. And good luck!