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Possible allergies?

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • J

    Can anyone recommend a good dog food and safe treats for allergies please? My boy has had a nasty neck rash for months now. He doesn’t wear a collar so it’s not that. Vet seemed concerned but stumped - gave him a shot of antibiotics and a chlorhexidine mousse I put on him once a day - hasn’t really improved after a few days. He’s been on the same brand of food since he was a puppy (Open Farm). Moved from puppy formula to Beef at like 8 months but had loose stool so went to Lamb which was much better and now also consider trying Pork but nothing seems to help with his neck irritation so thinking of abandoning this all together and trying something completely new. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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  • eeeefarmE

    What other than food could be causing this? A collar is the obvious thing, but you say he doesn't wear one. What do you walk him on? Anything in the house like laundry detergent, fabric softener, sprays like Febrese, perfume or aftershave that you wear and cuddle him, put your thinking cap on....

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

    J 1 Reply
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  • D

    The best thing is to get him tested. Could be all kinds of things. We had a dog who was allergic to cotton. We got rid of the cotton bedding and voila, a lot less itching and licking. When you say rash do you mean bumps or open lesions?

    I'm thinking contact dermatitis rather than a food allergy but I'm not a vet. Like eeefarm I'm going down the path of laundry detergents, new blankets, and lotions.

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  • J

    @eeeefarm said in Possible allergies?:

    What other than food could be causing this? A collar is the obvious thing, but you say he doesn't wear one. What do you walk him on? Anything in the house like laundry detergent, fabric softener, sprays like Febrese, perfume or aftershave that you wear and cuddle him, put your thinking cap on....

    I'm always petting my pups on and about the neck line. Just how I love them right before I kiss the top of their heads. I'm wondering if maybe... hand soaps or lotions? I'm hesitant to say what I'm feeding mine because it doesn't address @jmgatt96 pup's allergies. I'd be sending you kicking a can down a path hoping to hit a target without even knowing what the target is that we're aiming for. Tremendous waste of time and money. That, and... I'm no Vet.

    Kinda curious if it's dry flaky skin, red inflamed irritated skin, or something different?

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  • S

    Give him some benadryl three times a day in liver cheese.

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  • I

    could there be something stuck in his neck, Izzy got a rose thorn that scratched his neck and irritated it inside so he was scratching on the outside. Vet gave him some meds to get rid of the irritation inside and he quit scratching the outside.

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  • tanzaT

    @jmgatt96 - I would suggest you seek an opinion from a specialist.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • F

    There are several different sensitivity tests that one can do at home. While some scientific literature doesn't think the testing is that great, my personal experience has been that it does help - and that addressing sensitivities indicated by testing has corrected many health issues, more than just a skin irritation.

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  • B

    Hi, Wondering if you found a solution to your boy’s neck rash? My boy 12 month old Basenji started about a month ago with same neck rash, vet says it might be mites, she plucked some hairs and looked on microscope and said it looks like demodex mites, prescribed Credelio and fish oil, but even though his coat seems better it didn’t do anything for the neck rash, has a lot of dandruff and now rash seems to be appearing in other parts of his body, although not as bad. I read that changing foods could help with this and someone recommended The brand Nutro but there’s so many options that I don’t even know where to start. If you have found any leads as to how to go about this rash I would greatly appreciate it.

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  • tanzaT

    @bowdyg - Here is a link for Demodex mites, https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/skin/c_multi_Demodicosis

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    2
  • wizardW

    Try switching to chicken or turkey based foods.
    Here's a link to an excellent evaluation of kibble brands:
    www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/whole-dog-journals-approved-dry-dog-food-list/
    I would also be careful what you put on your hands before cuddling with your dog; lotions, essential oils, etc. can cause allergies in dogs

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    What works for allergies ?

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    BasenjimammaB
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    MDSPHOTOM
    @Vanessa: I was allergic to our basenji when he first came home. I would break out in a rash when he touched me. My eyes would water and become really itchy. Just wash your B and wipe him down a few days a week until you adjust. Also consider some allergy meds…Zyrtec works great and now you don't need a perscription. Agree, Zyrtec is a great drug for allergies, but can make some people very sleepy. There is a new prescription allergy treatment available called Xyzal that has shown equal symptom relief to Zyrtec in clinical trials, but has less sedation. However, I will warn you that it is very expensive!
  • Ninabeana26N

    Allergies

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    E
    Both my sons have allergies diagnosed by a professional allergist and do fine with Basenjis. We have just got our 3rd B two weeks ago and no sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes. I think for you that it MUST be something the dog is bringing in or perhaps your dog is one that performs one particular way and my family lucked out with 3 of the other way. Maybe someday they will have a test like the Fanconi that shows the DNA of this family tree has more dander and the DNA of that heritage has less dander to near none. I do agree with the smart person that has posted on this site the best idea I have ever heard: rub a t-shirt all over the possible family addition, sleep with the t-shirt, and THEN decide. I know it is too late for you but a good thing to repost for readers. Good luck with your situation.