Has anyone tried using anti histamine on their dogs?  Becks suffers from hot spots and he will stracth and bite at the area making it sore and the fur come off.  I have got some tablets from the vet which I give when he starts but long term I'd rather prevent than cure.  Any ideas?

You need to determine what is causing the hot spots; what do you feed?

vitamin C is a natural antihistamine.

Feed nature diet, although my dad who cares for Becks when Im out at work sometimes give him ceasar and alsorts of left overs, Ive told him to stop but I dont think he listens.

If you don't want to go down the allergy testing route you may find the following may reduce but not necessarily "eliminate" symptoms:

Fish Body Oils - 1000mg per day
Antioxidants - Vitamin E (natural) 200iu per day for small dogs, 400 iu per day for large (must give this if you are on FBO), Vitamin C up to bowel tolerance (excess causes diarrhoea) usually up to around 1000 per day, preferably Ester C with bioflavonoids, you might also want to consider aloe vera gel.

regards

I think I'd be firmer with Dad.........  It's no good feeding a specific diet to reduce the dogs discomfort if there is alsorts of stuff being added which isn't in the regime.......  Whilst anti histamines are relatively safe, they are still drugs, which may be totally unnessasary (sp?) if the feeding is controlled.

Anti-histamines should not be given to dogs with vWD - I assume this would also apply to other clotting disorders.

I would suggest that you make a notice and print off lots of copies and stick them all over the house.
Maybe something like:
~~~~~~~~
Becks is allergic to various foods and the result of feeding these causes more pain than the brief pleasure it gives him in eating them.

He is allowed the following treats as they don't cause him to develop hot spots, where he scratches and removes all fur.

Apple
Banana
Carrot
Cauliflower
  whatever he can safely eat

He is not allowed
Grapes (poisonous to dogs)
Human leftovers
  whatever he regularly gets given

If it is not on the top list then don't feed it - otherwise I will get some itching powder and put it in all the culprit's clothes just to give a very mild idea of what Becks goes though when fed the "forbidden" foods
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That is a brilliant idea Christine :)

I give one of my girls antihist. she is allergic to grass,they have stopped her itching and also increased her appetite,which is a bonus as she is a touch on the lean side.I use human tabs. "periactin" i dont think you have this brand in the U.K but you have something similar sounding. I am waiting for an order to arrive of a homeopathic skin allergy treatment,i would much rather go down the holistic route than pump my dogs full of drugs,i have heard many good reports from owners who have used homeopathic treatments on their allergic dogs :D I am also using an "immune" booster,i think a weak immune system is at the core of most allergies.

Have you looked into natural treatments?

good luck

christine

I have a german shepherd who is 8 years old and suffers from hot spots during the warm summer months.....particularly at the lower end of his back....he bites himself raw and we always end up at the vets for treatment which is usaully antibiotics and steroids to reduce the imflammation...
Now we use anti histamines instead of steriods....recommended by our vet as worth a try....we use Piriton but obviously a non branded version brought over the counter...he starts on 2 tablets twice daily but can have 3 twice a day max....and it works.....
we also have him on a low protein dry food which has also helped him...
best of luck it really does get you down sometimes when all they do is attack themselves...