aussielover Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 My 10 month old labrador has had ongoing skin issues from a young age. It has really flared up in summer but she has had a history of occaisonal itchiness and secondary pyoderma as a younger pup, even in winter. She also had digestive problems (runny poo etc) as a young puppy but this has now resolved. One vet thinks this is typical for a dog with atopy and food allergies and is unlikely to ever resolve and recommends a food trial and then if still a problem (she thinks it will be as many of these cases have combined food/environment allergy) skin testing for allergywith a specialist. Another vet thinks that it may resolve with age? This vet said that young dogs can have an overactive immune system and this may settle down with age. I am more inclined to accept the first vets opinion, but I was just wondering if anyone had ever had experience with an itchy puppy, that had actually had this resolved as an older dog? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have an allergy dog - and was told by numerous vets that it gets worse with age unfortunately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormie Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have an allergy dog - and was told by numerous vets that it gets worse with age unfortunately ;) yep this is what I believe to be correct also. Derms have said the same thing. I'd go down the Dermatologist path now to help you prepare for later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I've not heard of a dog 'growing out' of a skin condition... have GD's spoken of a dermatologist appointment ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borderpower Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have a 13 year old Border collie with Atopy, whitch started when she was 2 years old, he got worst, all the vets I have been to a few QLD and a couple here all say the same thing NO cure. its extreamly costly as well. I have to keep her on steroids so things dont get to out of hand and sometimes the steroids dont even work. try and use Oatmeal shampoo and wash your dog twice a week this will help... My border collie is on the extream side of Atopy, she also as thousands other problems as well due to that fact she is interbred. ;) I truley do feel for you. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have a 13 year old Border collie with Atopy, whitch started when she was 2 years old, he got worst, all the vets I have been to a few QLD and a couple here all say the same thing NO cure. its extreamly costly as well. I have to keep her on steroids so things dont get to out of hand and sometimes the steroids dont even work. try and use Oatmeal shampoo and wash your dog twice a week this will help...My border collie is on the extream side of Atopy, she also as thousands other problems as well due to that fact she is interbred. ;) I truley do feel for you. ;) DO not use oatmeal, every dog is different and oatmeal sets my dog off big time and makes him itch like mad. I myself have never heard of a dog outgrowing allergies, my derm recons it gets worse and with my lab this has been the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borderpower Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have a 13 year old Border collie with Atopy, whitch started when she was 2 years old, he got worst, all the vets I have been to a few QLD and a couple here all say the same thing NO cure. its extreamly costly as well. I have to keep her on steroids so things dont get to out of hand and sometimes the steroids dont even work. try and use Oatmeal shampoo and wash your dog twice a week this will help...My border collie is on the extream side of Atopy, she also as thousands other problems as well due to that fact she is interbred. ;) I truley do feel for you. DO not use oatmeal, every dog is different and oatmeal sets my dog off big time and makes him itch like mad. I myself have never heard of a dog outgrowing allergies, my derm recons it gets worse and with my lab this has been the case. wow really, lol didnt know that :D , it was recommended by vet for me and helped a tad. But I didnt think that everydog is different ;) I probley should of said that lol.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have an allergy dog - and was told by numerous vets that it gets worse with age unfortunately ;) Same here and the dog is nearly 4 and has been very allergic since about 9 weeks and he has got much worse over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) Thats what i thought, however, i know humans can "grow out" of allergies, but I guess this isn't the case with dogs. I used to be VERY allergic to cats when I was young and now I work with them all day, no problems. I have got the first vet to send off a report to guide dogs (although they already have all her medical history, so they must realise she has skin issues), asking about a derm referral. So i guess it is up to them now as to what we do next. She is currently on 3 tablets, twice a day Nizoral, Zyrtec and Rilexene and must be on these for at least 3 weeks. She also gets 1/2 a pred tablet if the itching is extreme. Not sure how this will affect her guide dog chances yet, but I can't see a visiallu impaired/disabled person giving all those pills and applying creams, baths etc, its like having a geriatric dog! Perhaps she will be more comfortable in winter though and not require as much medication. Edited February 9, 2011 by aussielover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 IMO, no way should she be a part of the GD training program Ongoing health issues, special diets, costs of vet/medications ..and a dog who has physical symptoms are not what a visually impaired person signs up for ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macka Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Leia has had bad allergies that started when she was about four-six months. She is now 3 and no signs of it stopping. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 IMO, no way should she be a part of the GD training program Ongoing health issues, special diets, costs of vet/medications ..and a dog who has physical symptoms are not what a visually impaired person signs up for :D I know in WA she would be taken out of the program. Here is my dogs schedule, no way I could see a vision impaired person doing it. Baths 2x a week with QV wash and then spray with diluted QV oil 2x a week ear wash Zyrtec 2x a day Pred when bad 1 x a day Fish oil Daily Evening primrose oil - daily Duoxo Pipettes weekly Insect repellent - daily Elocon cream on ear flaps and tummy when needed On top of this I check him daily for sores as he gets hotspots and sores on his paws if he licks them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormie Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Thats what i thought, however, i know humans can "grow out" of allergies, but I guess this isn't the case with dogs.I used to be VERY allergic to cats when I was young and now I work with them all day, no problems. I have got the first vet to send off a report to guide dogs (although they already have all her medical history, so they must realise she has skin issues), asking about a derm referral. So i guess it is up to them now as to what we do next. She is currently on 3 tablets, twice a day Nizoral, Zyrtec and Rilexene and must be on these for at least 3 weeks. She also gets 1/2 a pred tablet if the itching is extreme. Not sure how this will affect her guide dog chances yet, but I can't see a visiallu impaired/disabled person giving all those pills and applying creams, baths etc, its like having a geriatric dog! Perhaps she will be more comfortable in winter though and not require as much medication. I don't want to scare you or doubt your vet or anything, but did they make sure those medications are safe to take with Nizoral? It's a pretty hard core medication and can have interactions with quite a number of drugs. I'm not sure which drugs exactly, but I just remember when Orbit was started on them we had to be pretty careful. They made him too sick in the end and we resorted to twice weekly malaseb washes instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Here is my dogs schedule, no way I could see a vision impaired person doing it. A lot of folks 'could' do it , but they should not have to ..and if the dog is a working dog,and on various drugs then safety could be compromised Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I would not wish an allergy dog on anyone - stressful, expensive and the dog is uncomfortable with no real cure. I certainly would not want one as a Guide Dog - sight impaired people do not need that kind of stress for something that is supposed to enhance their quaility of life and mobility. Sorry :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Aussielover, is the dog on medical insurance? If you take her over if she wont be used for a GD will she still be covered on the insurance, if not and you keep her you are going to be in for a lot of vet bills, you probably know this already though :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Aussielover, is the dog on medical insurance? If you take her over if she wont be used for a GD will she still be covered on the insurance, if not and you keep her you are going to be in for a lot of vet bills, you probably know this already though :D If the dog is not already on insurance, getting it now won't cover skin problems as it is an existing condition :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Aussielover, is the dog on medical insurance? If you take her over if she wont be used for a GD will she still be covered on the insurance, if not and you keep her you are going to be in for a lot of vet bills, you probably know this already though :D If the dog is not already on insurance, getting it now won't cover skin problems as it is an existing condition :D I know thats what I am worried about for the OP!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Having a dog who has/had allergies, I know I physically examine my dog every day to check there is no flare up - skin, eyes, between the toes and checking any lumps etc. IMO you need to have this visual check to treat accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Our Old Stafford's allergies started showing at 14 months. He is now 14 and has progressivly gotten worse. He is now on 20mg of prednisolone every second day for another issue but even that is not enough to stop his allergies completely over summer anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now