Hi-
Our flatcoat has been on Tavegil since April/May and concluding her scratching was probably due to pollen allergy we stopped tablets recently. However she has started scratching like mad again now and we are waiting for 2 weeks with no tablets so she can have a blood test and be tested to find out exactly what is causing the itching.
As we can't give her anything internally for 2 weeks, I was wondering if anyone knows of a soothing lotion that could cool down her itchy skin- we feel so sorry for her!
Thanks x

Hi, just wondering why you have to wait two weeks to have the tests done, antihistamines don't interfere with the results, only steroids. I had my two dogs tested, one was on atopica the other antihistamines, it was yorktest who did the tests.  regards eleanor

Hi Eleanor,
It was the vet who told us that to get the most precise result we should stop her taking Tavegil tablets. She booked us in for two weeks for the blood test, which will then be sent off-i'm not sure where to. I don't know if she's right- but I just trusted the vets judgement??? She said we could then carry on with the Tavegil after the test- until we got the results, then decide on a treatment.
Thanks

Hi Sharon-Marie , its awful watching them scratch like crazy,  does she have spots or a rash, what part of her body is itchy ? what do you bath her with ? I have tried so so many lotions and potions, none really helped, its all depends on the skin my two dogs itch but have different symptoms, which show up differently on the skin. If you would like a list of some of them , e.mail me eleanorselfridge@yahoo.co.uk
Good luck with the tests eleanor

Hi.  She mostly scratches inside of legs, tummy and ears. Under the tops of her front legs (armpit type area on dog) is the worst place where she has now got spots from scratching and she will get antibiotics for a 2ndary infection caused by this after the blood test. She also gets mucky red eyes. My suspicion is that it is a grass allergy, the vet says this test will test for many different kinds of grasses. Also she said it's common that dogs with allergies are sensitive to more than one thing- so it's hopefully going to be worthwhile to find out. What did your results show?
Sharon x
p.s. We don't bath her very often, if we need to we use a sensitive skin aloe vera dog shampoo from petshop. We tend to just hose her down after walks if she's particularly dirty -othewise just let her dry off and brush her.

Hi Sharon,
      I have found Quistel spray-on lotion to be good - it's all natural, and definitely seems to take the itching away.  My dog has allergies, to something in the environment, not food, and can get balding patches especially on his legs - with the spray it cleared up in about 4 weeks and the hair grew back.  If it was all over itching it would be more difficult, but if it's certain areas, like you say the armpit area it would be worth trying.  My dog also gets sore eyes, more or less at any time, and I use Prednisole Forte drops - clears them up in days.  With the Quistel, I just wanted to say that I have got 5 persians as well, one who is 11, and he has been scratching himself to scabs for as long as I remember (round his neck, and more recently tops of rear legs and armpits), so he has been on steroids on and off for years - anyway, recently when he was all scabby again, I thought I'd try the Quistel on him, rather than taking him for more steroids - and within a week it actually all cleared up.  If you're interested, you can order it from www.actigeneruk.co.uk.
  Hilda

Quistel worked for my dogs too
Archer

Sharon

I have a girl very much the same as yours, the symptoms are the exact same, and my girls tests results came back as being allergic to mold and Yeast.  Trouble is with my girl she is over producing yeast to, being a Sharpei, she's on antifungal and antibiotic tabs for secondary infection.  The specialist have tryed several different methods of treatment and to date, nothing is helping my poor girl, she is also Hypothyroid to boot to :-(
Hope you get better hope then we have at the moment, best of luck for your girl

My dog seems to be having the same symptoms have yours sharon, ive got a basst hound pup aged 12 weeks she has scratched for day one. The vet has done a skin scrape which was clear and has changed her diet. She suspects it is yeast so as prescribed an anti fungal/anti bacterial shampoo to be put on twice a week she also prescribed piriton and anti-biotics. She has been on all this for 8 days and although she is still scratching slightly it has improved dramatcially. But im worried about what happens when we take her off the medication? I take her back next week. But am very interested reading threads relating to this.
Deb

http://b-naturals.com/Apr2002.php

HTH

I have been battling one of my girls allergies for 2 years now,i have tried EVERYTHING except for steroids(too scared of the side effects :( )
She always itches after walking on grass and i think she also has dust mite allergies.
I have finally found something that works. Mixed vegetable tablets and garlic&fenugreek tablets,both are available from Dorwest herbs.
The mixed veg cools down the skin and the garlic-fenugreek clears up any secondary infections,within 2 days of giving these tabs her itcing cleared up completely,i would highly reccomend these 2 remedies,they worked great for my dog and they are natural,no side affects :D

Christine

Hi,
My friends flatcoat has the same symptoms, she is also a flatcoat. Her flatcoat turned out to have a food allergy. Email me at foxpath4@yahoo.com and I will give you Sue's contact address. After many months the vet specialist Sue went to see discovered that the only two things Skye could eat were fresh minced lamb and rice, which Sue has to cook daily for her. If she even gets so much as a piece of biscuit Skye starts scratching exactly as you describe.

Polly & Foxpath Flatcoats

Hello Again,

Thanks so much for the replies. I have looked at the "yeast allergy" website and she seems to have the symptons described there, also with the brown smelly discharge often in her ears. I still feel that she has some kind of pollen/grass allergy aswell as it definately flares up  in the summer months. Probably she's a very sensitive dog and it's going to be more than one thing. Thanks for all the suggestions, it's great to know there are natural alternatives to medication. Just have to wait for the blood test and results now,

Thanks Sharon

Sue's dog Skye gets the smelly ears thing as well with her food allergy.

Thanks for everyones answers. We have just had the allergy blood test done so will hopefully find out in a couple of weeks. Wrote to Sue but as yet no reply(polly) Scratching has calmed down a bit which is a relief! Thanks x

Try Aloe vera gel and Propolis to sooth the skin - it works with my dogs

Sue is a bit shy of the computer, however she did tell me last night she had replied and asked for your telephone number, but had not heard back from you yet. Ring her on 01628 825691, she is usually easiest to get hold of in the evenings.