I'm a little uncomfortable with our vet practice at the moment. I have posted in Health about Harvey's allergy problems. On Friday, Harvey was prescribed Atopica - I asked for a prescription because I knew that I would be able to get them at a better price online, the Vet was lovely and said that I could take 1 tablet then come back the following day with a print out of the price and where I could buy cheaper and she would match it. I did this but when I took the print out into the vets, they seemed to look down there noses at me and appeared a little off with me questioning postage costs etc. Harvey had 5 tablets over 5 days and had the most awful runs so I rang the vets and they advised me to stop giving them and to start again when the dire rear settled down. Yesterday when out walking I was chatting with another dog walker and told her all about Harveys allergies. She explained that she had gone through similar with her little cross breed but was controlling flare ups with Piriton - 2 tabs per day one am and one pm. Her little dog was no bigger than Harvey so I wondered why he could have 2 Piriton per day because when Harvey was prescribed it, he only had 1/2 a tablet each morning which didn't really help. I wondered if an increased dose was possible for Harvey to try so when I got home I rang the Vets and explained to the receptionist what I had discussed with the dog walker. The receptionist was really off with me and said that she would ask the vet and call me back but nobody got back to me. I am sat here wondering if I should call back to ask or if I should make an appointment - am I being rude phoning for advice without paying for yet another consultation fee to ask a simple question?

>am I being rude phoning for advice without paying for yet another consultation fee to ask a simple question?

No you're not being rude, and it was disappointing that the vet couldn't get back to you, but if he/she was having a day like we had yesterday, there was barely time to breathe, let alone make a phone call! It only takes one emergency (or overly-chatty client! ;-)) and the schedule's gone right out of the window!

So certainly ring again, and if the vet's busy ask if there would be a good time to ring back. :-)

Thank you JJ, I just really needed an opinion as to whether I was being rude to call back again - I wouldn't like to think that I was pestering.

Just rang and they are closed now!!!!

Will they be open tomorrow morning?

Yes, the telephone message says from 9am tomorrow  :-) 

You could just try the Piriton - make sure you get the original one  not one of the non drowsy ones. We buy the Boots own make ones - Chlorphenamine Maleate is the generic name - They are not very expensive and come in packs of 30 (they don't have them online - we go to the shop). Treacle gets 2 in the morning and 2 at night (Gordon setter around 30kg). Just found them on Chemistdirect website for 99p for 28. A lot of the ones on the market are Cetirizine now ansd I don't know if they are suitable for dogs so make sure its the chlorphenamine maleate you get as that's the one my vet told me to use

HTH

Marion

> Treacle gets 2 in the morning and 2 at night (Gordon setter around 30kg).

Hi Marion,
Was treacle prescribed this dose by the vet? Harvey was prescribed a while ago 1/2 a tablet in the morning which didn't give him much relief. He's 9.5kg in weight. I'm a bit frightened of giving him any more until I have the go ahead in case I overdosed him although I'm sure he will be allowed a bit more as the little cross breed is on 2 per day during a flare up.

Yes, vet told us to give 2 twice a day as they tend to provide relief for 12 hours at a time. Found this on another forum

PIRITON DOSAGE FOR DOGS

Tablets are 4mg, dosing is:
Small dogs 2-4mg every 8-12hrs
Large dogs 4-8mg every 8-12hrs
Maximum recommended dose 0.5mg/kg every 12 hours
There are contraindications so if your dog has medical conditions or is on other medications then check with your vet before giving them.
(Taken from BSAVA formulary 5e)

and thiswhich seems to say the same.

M

Thank you Marion. Can I ask, do you give them to treat allergies and if so, do they seem to help? No wonder just 1/2 a tablet in the morning wasn't helping Harvey :-(

Each tablet is 4mg so 1/2 a tablet kind of fits with the small dog dosage but maybe twice a day? Treacle gets them as she itches constantly without them - we know she is allergic to cheese but there must be something else too and we haven't found it yet. She has bad ears too - currently getting treated for yeast. A new vet has joined the practice and has suggested allergy testing but we had asked before and we were told it was a waste of time :-( . Treacle is back at the vet tomorrow so we will decide then whether to get her tested or not. The tablets definitely help her, she starts scratching again if she misses a dose but we were giving 3 in the morning before and I've noticed she is better with the 2 x 2.

Dakkobear,

As she is allergic to Cheese are you excluding anything with MILK in it?    Sounds obvious I know, but it could make all the difference ;)  I made that mistake with my daughter ;)

my newf gets 4 a day at 65kg and hes okay.
stopped him nibbleing at a hot spot.

Thanks Dill, yes we do exclude all dairy from her diet but she still itches when she doesn't get the piriton, she is also a thief and will steal the empty butter tub or yogurt pots if she gets the chance :-O . She has more tablets from the vets today for her ears (typical long droopy ears with no air circulation) hopefully this time we will get rid of the yeast. Once we get them sorted out I'm going to try Colloidal Silver for her ears as I know some people have had good results with it.

Dakkobear...
If your girl has yeast in her ears and it is not clearing, have a look at her paws.
My parents girl had yeast in ears and it would be treated and kept coming back...
Then  my mum mentioned to me she has quite red paws(between the toes).
Yep, guessed it she has yeast in her paws and would transfer it between paws and ears.
Now that the paws have been treated ears seem ok too!
Funnily the vet never thought it even though she knew about the paws too, I told my mum to get it checked and she told the vet who then went yes, it is possible.
The vet had started to talk about allergies etc. obviously it is possibility she is sensitive to something but so far all good since having both treated...

Just a side not..

My girl also itches, piriton helps a little but she does need steroids from time to time!

But I read up on this product ,and found them at Crufts...

Have to say I am impressed , when she starts I spray it on her..   they also do a soap that you can bathe them in.. (leave it on for 5mins)

Have used it on myself too, have a bit of eczema.

I love the smell too, it is very Lavender based

I use the Dermacton spray, along with  the soap

http://www.petnat.com/