Homer's mummy Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 I would love to hear from you if your dog is suffering or has suffered from either of these conditions. Atopy is apparently like a canine hayfever where dogs are often allergic to something that they breathe in or touch on a regular basis which could be something inside the house (like dust mites) or outside (pollens, grass etc). We are not sure if this is what he has as he is too young to respond to an allergy test (did one at six months only to get a negative result. The specialist has also not ruled out food allergy so he is on a special diet for the next six weeks or so. My boy definitely does not have any flea, mite or mange problem as we've crossed those paths already. He is only 7 months old and it seems like a long journey, poor fella! It does not seem like a contact allergy either although his main itchy areas are his contact areas such as the chest, tummy and legs so who knows. But generally he is very itchy all over and has been on cortisone and antibiotics to help prevent the allergy from exploding. I was interested in finding out what are some of the most established allergies that dog owners have experienced and what you do to soothe your dog. I use omega 3 oil in food, Pyohex (for spot shampooing) and Episoothe shampoo and conditioner and also calamine lotion and cubes of ice to calm the affected areas. I'm so worried as he is a gorgeous and happy boy but he suffers a lot and pulls huge amounts of fur off from his hindquarters and underbelly. would love to exchage notes with other allergy sufferers who might have had similar experiences as I'm sure you know how helpless I feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InspectorRex Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Hi Homer's Mummy, what sort of allergy test did they do? was it blood or intra dermal skin testing performed by a Veterinary Dermatologist? I had a pup with severe ATOPY that was confirmed at age 7mths with intra dermal skin testing. a food elimination diet should only take 4wks to do. If you want to PM me your email addy I can send you heaps of Info on Atopy Note Atopy cannot be cured, it is a lifelong disease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zayda_asher Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 I have two allergic dogs - the two in my avatar: Zayda (cream) has: Food: Beef Lamb Corn Tuna Sardines and an intolerance for eggs Atopic: Alternaria mould Asher (blue) has: Atopic: 1) Dandelion 2) Melaleuca 3) Fleas 4) cocksfoot grass 5) Johnson grass 6) Yellow dock weed 7) Deer Flys 8) Dust mites 9) Fodder mites Contact: Proplyene glycol (used in shampoos, ear cleaners, spot ons, vaccinations, semi-moist foods) and bad sensitivities to a lot of chemicals and preservatives We use antihistamines, bath them with medicated soaps, have them on a raw diet, are doing immunotherapy treatment for the atopic ones, use herbal remedies, probiotics, and many many other things to control the symptoms and treat the causes. You have to find out what they react to as you can only treat the symptoms if you don't know. Also you could be using a product that will make them worse, thinking that they will get better. For example Asher can't have any tea tree products because he is allergic to melalueca! Zayda is an extreme and sensitive case: she came home with her allergies at 7 weeks of age. She is now well under control though, looks beautiful and is healthy! Asher was more typical as his became more apparent as he got older and was diagnosed at about 1.5 yrs of age. He is also in great condition. They can be well maintained, but the key is finding out what the allergy is! Good luck Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zayda_asher Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 (edited) Also thought I would mention if you do a search with the key word "allergy" in this forum you will find heaps. If you do a search with the key word "allergy" and my name in the name box "Zayda_asher" you will be able to see all the past threads I have told my dogs' stories in and also what treatments, remedies etc. have worked in more detail Dan Edit: spelling Edited January 10, 2006 by zayda_asher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteLight Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 My Godzilla has all the wonderful hybrid vigor of the maltase, shit zu and Westie He is allergic to all pollens and grass seeds at present he is locked in the house with recycled air from the conditioner. If I want to get him really bad just have to feed, chicken, beef or anything with colouring or preservatives. YOu now can get Pyohex leave on (thank you Dru ) that is wonderful. As I am following the American protocol on vaccinations I have noticed the longer time after his last vaccination the more improved is his allergy reaction. He also went on a 6th month elimination diet. I now feed him goat, rabbit, duck and any fish that is going cheap, plus turkey with sardines, flaxseed oils. Cannot wait to move to Tasmania. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer's mummy Posted January 10, 2006 Author Share Posted January 10, 2006 Thanks guys for your replies! Homer sends you a hug for caring enough Inspector Rex, they did a intardermal test at six months. is the blood test any good and should I talk to the dermatologist about it? Yes I thought that the food trial is pretty long too! Personally I am losing trust in them pretty fast as all they have managed to do so far is making us poorer by a few thousands but I do realise that these things can take time. As zayda Asher says, finding out the allergen is half the battle won! I will PM you once I figure out how to do it. Thanks! Zayda Asher, Thank you for all the info. You have been great help too and I just can't believe how many things they can be allergic to! I thought it could be only one or two agents affecting each dog but obviously not necessarily so! One question.... how did you find out about each and every allergy that they have? Was it apparent in the allergy test or by observation. Also, how long did it take you to identify the causes? Here's one of Homer on a good allergy day (6 m.o.) with his little brother, Yoda who was 11 weeks then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zayda_asher Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Both of my dogs had intradermal testing and we did FULL elimination diets with Zayda... The contact allergies are a matter of observation and then a bit of clinical experimentation... I did respond in the other thread, but I will put it here too: The Blood test is less reliable than the intradermal skin testing which is the gold standard... The blood test also looks for the IgE count. Blood testing will only tell you what that dog was reacting to at the time, not what all its allergies might be (for example if a dog is allergic to lamb, but has not eaten any, then it will not show). Did the dermatologist say that he might not produce the IgE response? I have never heard of this before. I've done a lot of research in the last 4 year, but by no means know everything... this sounds very strange to me though. It is expensive: we spent $12,000 on Zayda in the first year and stopped counting! Never even started for Asher... You have to be really dedicated and consistient to do things like the elimination diet, but it is the best way. Like anything there are good and bad practitioners of dermotology - ours is excellent. I thought it could be only one or two agents affecting each dog but obviously not necessarily so! Ha! I wish!! Hopefully HeidiB will come in and tell you about her dog Busta which has only about a million allergies... poor girl Actually here's Busta's thread: Busta's allergies Feel free to PM me too - there's a little button under our posts with "PM" - click that. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer's mummy Posted January 10, 2006 Author Share Posted January 10, 2006 Thanks L.B.- especially for Pyohex leave on.. will look out for it. Will let Homer know that there are lots of other doggies who are sufferers too and that he has no excuse to be a naughty boy any more. His food treats are out so Homer's on a bit of a holiday from training as he is very responsive to food. BTW....anyone knows where Camel Jerky is available in melbourne? I'm searching high and low for them as they are the only treats he is allowed. It is good to be on this forum with like minded people. I don't tell people how much his treatment is costing us. A few so called 'well wishers' have suggested I give him up and I don't want to lose many more 'friends' LOL. Thank God I haven't had any PTS suggestions or I'd probably kill them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zayda_asher Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Forgot the important bit: Homer's really cute Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zayda_asher Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 (edited) It is good to be on this forum with like minded people. I don't tell people how much his treatment is costing us. A few so called 'well wishers' have suggested I give him up and I don't want to lose many more 'friends' LOL. Thank God I haven't had any PTS suggestions or I'd probably kill them We cop that too and have been told the pts crap - I tell them to stuff it where the sun doesn't shine!! Oh, can you get camel meat, I assume that is what you are feeding? If so cut it into thin strips and dry it in your own oven... or cut it into chunks, boil it lightly and then dice. Or if it it minced roll it into balls and cook in the microwave for a couple of minuets - it holds together like a meat ball. These are the ways I make my dogs' treats. That way you know it has no chemical crap and is purely the meat they are allowed to have Dan Edited January 10, 2006 by zayda_asher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zayda_asher Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 As I am following the American protocol on vaccinations I have noticed the longer time after his last vaccination the more improved is his allergy reaction. Good to know LB - I have just moved to this as well and will decide over this year exactly where I want to go with vaccination... Glad to hear its helped your boy! Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rappie Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Did the dermatologist say that he might not produce the IgE response? I have never heard of this before. The onset of clinical signs of atopy falls between 6 months and 3 years of age in about 70% of dogs. It rarely occurs prior to 6 months, or later than 7 years. A young patient who has been on corticosteroids might show a false negative. However while I was working with a dermatologist, I do remember her saying that often even if a young dog IS allergic they may not react spectacularly to the intradermal skin test (the exact reasoning has slipped my mind). IMHO, if you've had the skin tests, and plan to repeat them at a later date there isn't a lot of point getting the IgE blood test done. This test has a higher incidence of false positives, and is generally a less sensitive test than intradermal skin testing - which is the gold standard. As for food trials, they're probably the hardest thing a pet owner can be asked to do At a minimum they should be 6 weeks, and might extend up to 12 weeks if the response is slow. It's always tricky if / when a dog is both food allergic AND atopic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirra_Bomber_Zeus Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Hi Homer's Mummy Sigh - yes, we have been going down the allergy path for 3 years now My Staffy Kirra started her allergies after she had a reaction to one of her puppy vaccinations (the last vaccination she every had). When we first took her to the vet because she was scratching her fur off they put her on Prednisole (Cortisone/ Steroid). It took me several weeks to convince the vet that she was violently allergic to the cortisones - she almost died before I spat the dummy and wouldnt give them to her anymore!! So, after this her immune system and its response to almost any chemical was shot to bits. Since she now reacts badly to almost any chemical or medication (including anisthetic), beef, corn, dandelions, some grass, cereals, dust mites, bees and wasps and organisms in the soil (say if she digs in the garden) - I have not had her tested yet (as she needs to go under anisthetic for it and she almost died last time ) so these are just the things I have worked out for myself!! She has gotten much better in the last 3 years after I took her to a homeopathic vet here who gave me some remedies but she's still not 100% Right now Im trying to get brave enough to take her to get tested so I can at least try and avoid some of the other things she is allergic to! It is such a hard path and Im sorry you have to go through it I wouldnt dare count the money we have spent on Kirra - but I would do anything to stop her allergies Please let us know how you go and ask for any information you need - there are many people here in the same boat as you! Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buster's Mum Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 One of my dogs was scratching so bad he was pulling fur out. My vet put him on an elimination diet and within 3-4 weeks he was not scratching at all until I re-introduced beef. It was obvious pretty quickly that this was the cause so no more beef for this boy and no more scratching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteLight Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 (edited) BTW....anyone knows where Camel Jerky is available in melbourne? I'm searching high and low for them as they are the only treats he is allowed. May I suggest you buy a cheap food dryer as a lot of the jerky type of products are coverd with a smoke coloured dye. The just buy the meat he can eat (such as camel) and dry it yourself. you can if you wish make this strips like large potato chips and dry them down to little chew bars. Be prepared to be how small they become when the water is removed. You can make your own liver treats, a friend of mine buys the ckicken livers also and does this as well as little nuggets. The allergen tests were not positive so I put him on the Fish and Potatoe dried dog food and gave him ONE different food at a time. Gave him chicken one day and his ear flaps and the skin around his nose was bright red that gave me a big hint. Took some paspalum (sp?) grass seed and placed on his stomach started scratching. ETA I also do this will mullet fillets when it is cheap and in season this I give him in place of pigs ears. Good luck and he indeed is very cute. Thank god he is not allergic to house dust or I would have to do house keeping. Edited January 10, 2006 by L.B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirra_Bomber_Zeus Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Thank god he is not allergic to house dust or I would have to do house keeping. HA! That is just NOT funny - I hate house cleaning and Kirra is allergic to dust mites! Waahahahahahaha!!!! Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zayda_asher Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 A young patient who has been on corticosteroids might show a false negative. However while I was working with a dermatologist, I do remember her saying that often even if a young dog IS allergic they may not react spectacularly to the intradermal skin test (the exact reasoning has slipped my mind). IMHO, if you've had the skin tests, and plan to repeat them at a later date there isn't a lot of point getting the IgE blood test done. This test has a higher incidence of false positives, and is generally a less sensitive test than intradermal skin testing - which is the gold standard. Ah, thank you Rappie! Yes, we had to hold off one lot of Zayda's testing becuase she had to have cortisone for a wasp sting (did I mention she's allergic to bees and wasps, think I forgot to put that one up there)... It is one of only two cortisone injections she's ever had, the other being for a bee sting. She had her intradermal test at 7 months, and I do remember them now saying she was very young for it and if she wasn't such an extreme case they would've waited... Well, hopefully Homer can have it redone when he is older and it will show some response! Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteLight Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Thank god he is not allergic to house dust or I would have to do house keeping. HA! That is just NOT funny :p - I hate house cleaning and Kirra is allergic to dust mites! Waahahahahahaha!!!! :D Jen If that is the case Jenny. Why not get a spray bottle, then mix tea tree oil with eucupatalus ( ) oil in a water base and as you vacuum spray under the bed the carpet, everywhere. Also put it in the water that you wash the floors in mites hate that mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zayda_asher Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 then mix tea tree oil with eucupatalus ( ) oil in a water base and as you vacuum spray under the bed the carpet, everywhere. No tea tree Jen, other wise you wont be able to come near Asher ever again :p :D Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirra_Bomber_Zeus Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 then mix tea tree oil with eucupatalus ( ) oil in a water base and as you vacuum spray under the bed the carpet, everywhere. No tea tree Jen, other wise you wont be able to come near Asher ever again :D Dan Oh no! We're a sorry bunch arent we Thanks for the tip LB - do you think I could fool the dust mites and get away with just eucupatalus oil? :p I couldnt live without seeing Asher again Jen 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