can anyone help my 2 year old choc lab with skin allergy.  she was sent for a skin biopsy which came back saying she had an a to b allergy.  She scratches constantly and is bald in places with red sores and dry scally skin on her back.  we have tried everything-antihistamine, tea tree, bathing her in shampoo from the vet, cod liver oil.  She is bedded on tuffies dog bed washed out with just water, we have tried cotton blankets washed every day in fairy non-bio but no joy.  She is fed arden grange hypo-allergenic was on chick and rice but have now changed her to sensitive which is fish and potato.  The only thing that helps are antibiotics and steriods but when she comes of them the problem returns.  I rescued this dog back in June - terrible coat and beat up.  She has now gained my trust but will still not come in the house due to her previous owners hitting her for comming in.  she stays outside in a kennel, we have tried her in some of my other kennels (away from trees) but still no different.  She is a lovely dog and I am her second chance she has been through such a lot - she even got a gastric torrsion after being knocked out for  her biopsy and we very nearly lost her!  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Hi igglepiggle,
Sorry to hear about your girl  :-(   I have a CKCS with a skin allergy although he doesn't have red sores, just scratches lots and has balding patches on his head. I find that he is much better when bathed every week - 2 weeks with epi-soothe shampoo, this really helps him. I have tried most foods but have had him on Origen 6 fish since 19th December and he is so much better - not half as itchy and no doggy smell coming from him. Origen has absolutely no grain included, just fish, fruit, veg and supplements.

I had a dog like this - also a rescue :(

The only food that improved his life was a vegetarian dog food (Linda McCartneys back in the 80's ) in tandem with antihistamines - Piriton, 1 three or four times daily, depending on how he was and the time of year.   I had him on Steroids and ABs for about 4 years before deciding enough was enough and weaned him off, it was expensive and they weren't helping him enough to make the other health risks worth while.  He was actually much better off them in  the end.

I agree with luvhandles about trying him on Orijen,also you could try spraying him with Dermacton.

Thanks for the advice have got Etiderm shampoo to wash with.  Who stocks Origen food?

Thanks for advice, we did try piriton only one a day perhaps increasing the dose up to three or rour may help.  How long did your dog live to in the end and was his coat 100% better or did he still have some a problem with scratching?

> Thanks for the advice have got Etiderm shampoo to wash with.  Who stocks Origen food?

http://www.orijenpetfoods.co.uk/

Its actually a little cheaper to shop with Zooplus for your first order - you get 10% off :-)

> Thanks for advice, we did try piriton only one a day perhaps increasing the dose up to three or rour may help.  How long did your dog live to in the end and was his coat 100% better or did he still have some a problem with scratching?

If you read the packet, Piriton is quite short acting and dosage needs to be repeated during the day ;)  The best way of finding the right dose is to ask the vet ;)

Our dog lived to 151/2 and his coat looked brilliant right to the end, he still got a little itchy but was far better than on steroids/ABs, but we couldn't find a veggie diet for him after they stopped making the Linda McCartneys food, in those days there wasn't so much info on diet available generally, the vet thought we were mad, they didn't beleive food would make a difference - no special diets then ;)  Vet wouldn't allergy test as he felt there were too many probables.

You could also try Evening Primrose Oil, it helps with allergies/eczema and can improve the skin.  Again check with your vet re safety and dosage.

These things may help, but they may not, as an example with the diet, it can take about 6 weeks before you see obvious improvement ;)

Obviously if anything you try makes things worse, stop and go back a step.  It might help to keep a record of what you're trying, dates and results.  This way you can spot what works or what causes problems ;)

My vet recommends 2 or 3 x 4mg tablets of Piriton 3 times a day (for a 25kg dog)

As suggested by Helen, I've used Dermacton with great success and would highly recommend it

After muddy walks it's worth sloshing off the mud with a weak solution of Hibiscrub - no need to rinse off.  You can also just wipe him daily with a damp flannel in the same solution if it helps

Keep a Buster collar handy for serious itchy scratchy moments - it will give your dog a bit of peace and helps to stop the cycle

Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth rather than polish, it removes more dust and doesn't introduce any chemicals

You vet can prescribe a topical steroid gel like Fuciderm, if appropriate, which will help heal very itchy patches

I would definitely look into food allergies and tweak the diet. You might also want to look into testing for hypothyroidism, which can also be an underlying cause of skin problems!

Vera

Sorry to sound daft but I don't know what a to b allergy means.
My dog suffered (sometimes still does) with a nasty skin condition. Scratching all the time amd making bald patches on his legs. He was so miserable. In the end we had the York test done which threw up a few different things but the one which we now knows causes the problem is meadow grass. After a couple of days walks/running about in fields he starts to scratch, keep him away for a few and it goes. We've managed to control it by doing this and his tummy & legs are so much better. He hasn't needed steroids for about 18 months thank goodness.
Also, even sensitive washing liquids and shampoos (including dog shampoo) contain Sodium Laureth Sulphate. A nasty chemical which is just a foaming agent. It's very strong and can cause skin irritation so check to see what is in the one you use for her. It's hard to find stuff without it - personally I think plain water is better than using anything which contains this on my dog.

Good luck - hope you can get your dog sorted.

thanks for advice, according to the vet a to b allergy just means that she could be allergic to anything, it could be something in her environment or something she is touching or eating!  As you can see almost impossible to work out what it is (possibly a number of things) causing it.  The York test you mentioned - what is this and how much did it cost?

Someone has suggested that I just try her on a chicken and rice (homecooked) diet to see if this helps.  I hope something helps soon as she is just misserable.

The York test was fully covered with PetPlan - I think it was about £200.

Funny - chicken & rice were both on his 'no list' although we do sometimes give him left over brown rice. Chicken upsets his tummy.
For us the meadowgrass is the real problem causer.

I would also adivse going for the blood allergy tests.  Insurance will cover them and it amy well point to the cause.  I had these done with one of mine and she is allergic to lots, including most tree pollens, grasses, weeds, nettles are a bad one for her.  I use EPA fish oils and oil of evening primrose as well as anti histamines which helps her feel more comfortable.  It may be something in her diet but the bloods can test for food allergies aswell.

I have a 7 month old pup who is really suffering with his skin too.

He gets so itchy he chews at his fur and his tail now looks like a string of bunting. He does really well while on steroids and antibiotics but as soon as he stops them he starts itching again and his skin gets infected.
His behaviour is also much worse durring a flare up, he gets so hyper, I don't know if it's just because he's itching so much or if it's a direct reaction.

I have just had a blood sample taken and sent for testing and hopefully we will get the results in a week or so. My vet said that antihistamines often don't work on dogs but we are about to give them a try. Unfortunately my poor boy has to go for a wee every hour and has to get up 3 times in the night while on the steroids so he is suggesting we try immunosuppressants next.

It's horrible seeing him so uncomfortable

We have just got back from the vet and have the results of my pups blood test.

The poor boy is allergic to so many things. Food wise it's not too bad just rabbit, milk, soya, oatmeal, barley and fish, but he's also allergic to nearly all grasses and weeds, 8 types of trees, 7 kinds of fungi, house dust and storage mites. Obviously these are impossible to avoid and a worry as he is having such a severe reaction and it's still winter.
The vet has said that we have 2 options :-
1. Long term steroids or immunosuppressants and antibiotics. Unfortunately the side affects of the steroids are already a problem and the risk of further complications means this is not a brilliant plan in a young pup.
2. A hypersensitisation programe. This means injections every other day, may take months to work and has a 25% chance of having no effect. It is also extreamly expensive. £230 buys 3 vials. So it would cost £307 pounds a week.

I must admit neither option is very appealing. :-(

Hugo,

The immunotherapy works really well removing all symptoms for about a third, gives some relief to about another third and the rest it doesn't work for.  I'm just about to go down this route with my girl.  I know a couple of dogs who have had it done, one it really worked for and the other it didn't make much difference, for me a 60% chance of her feeling at least some better is worth a shot.  With regards to the cost, the vials last for about six months so I don't understand why you've been told it will cost so much on a weekly basis.  The injections are only given more regulaly for the first couple of weeks, then it quickly moves on to monthly injections.  Unlike steroids, if this doesn't work there's not the same down sides and you can just stop.  Also if you are insured your insurance will cover it.

Often anti histamines don't work alone but combined with essential fatty acid oils can make a difference.

I don't know if your vet mentioned any of the things you can do to help but there are a few things.  If he's on a dry complete diet, pop his food into portions and pop them in the freezer, this kills the storage mites.  Dust mites - washing bedding regularly, hoovering really well, including sofas beds etc,  Also steam cleaning fabric areas once a week can make a big difference.  My girl is allergic to a lot of the same out door things as your lad, I'm careful about where I walk her as long grass really sets her off - seriously considering moving near the beach :-D  I also take wipes out and wipe her down with them when we get back to the van.  If your lad is medium or longer haired it might be worth washing him down after walks.

HTH and hope he is feeling more comfortable soon.

Try not to get too upset.
Many of the things on the list are things are things he could be allergic to, it doesn't mean he's in contact with all of them at the moment.
I was horrified when things like mould and other nasties were listed - I felt my house must be filthy !. The vet assured me that all possibilites were listed, not just things he was in contact with at that time.

Yes, my dog had the monthy injections for just over a year. For a long time I didn't see any improvement but as time goes by I realise he is happier and more relaxed - plus of course as I've said earlier we are careful not too let him run about in grass too often.

Pet Plan covered everything so we were very happy. 

I am going to check with my vet as to the cost of this test and if it is done in our area (we live in the north of scotland).  Although I have my dog insured- this condition isn't covered because when I bought her in June she came with bad skin and my vet says that the insurance won't cover existing conditions.  I have already spent about £850 as a result of this, with skin biopsy then her having a gastric torsion as a result of the anisthetic.  I am rally hoping that things are going to improve soon. 

Just a thought and it is very much worth mentioning.  Dogs are very often treated for allergies when it turns out they are carrying mites (which they can be very allergic to and do cause terrible itchy bald sore spots).  If you have not done so already ask your vet for one of the very good spot on treatments like Stronghold or Advocate and treat every month for 3 months.  The first dose has a 90% kill rate and the next doses start to kill off eggs that are continuing to hatch.  It is definitely worth a try.  We spent a fortune on a dog I co owned looking at allergies and one very bright newly qualified vet said lets do a blood test to see if she has been in contact with sarcoptes mange mites.  Bingo that was it.  In three months greatly improved condition.

thanks for that, we have already tried that one - she was frontlined and gets advocate spot on treatment.  I have been back to the vets again and saw a different vet who suggested it could be a yeast infection and gave us some maleseb shampoo to try. 

Hi igglepiggle

Yes the yeast infection is common following a mite infestation forgot to mention that and yes we had to bath the dog with Malaseb to.  Can't do better than Advocate IMO let us know how you get on :-)

hi i have a 3 year old white staffie which is very sensitive she to had red sores and really sore feet bald patches to her side and is not allowed on grass.My vet put her on some tablets called atopica  there are different dosages she is on the strongest and the most they can take she still gets red patches but not as bad i would advise you to ask your vet about these .