Allergies

[basenjiboy20]

My dog has bad allergies this time of year (he gets shots) but lately hes been hurting himself by scratching himself. I've clipped his nails as far down as they can go…what else can i do with his paws? Everything else is fine so i just wanna know about the paws

[tanza]

If he is getting shots and still scratching…. then something else is going on.. otherwise he would have stopped scratching. Nothing you can do to stop that other then find out what is causing the allergies. What are you feeding him? Have you considered that it might be a food allergy?

[basenjiboy20]

I know its not a food allergy because he's been eating the same thing for a while now. He only has allergies this time of year until winter..so it sucks cause i have no idea what it is my vet thinks it might be something he is inhaling like a pollen allergy or something

[lvoss]

Just because he has been eating that food for awhile or even for all his life does not mean that he has not become allergic to something in it. Many food allergies develop after the animal has been eating the food for quite some time.

If you think it is something more like a contact allergy or inhaled allergy, you should be wiping him down with a damp towel after every walk and your vet should have prescribes some allergy medication. If you dog is not getting relief from the current treatment and you vet has not recommended any other treatment then seek a second opinion. Sometimes fresh eyes can see something that was missed.

[nobarkus]

Try a holistic vet. Here's a link to some in MN.

http://www.holisticvetlist.com/ahvma_query_advanced.php

[Janneke]

@basenjiboy20:

I know its not a food allergy because he's been eating the same thing for a while now. He only has allergies this time of year until winter..so it sucks cause i have no idea what it is my vet thinks it might be something he is inhaling like a pollen allergy or something

You can only make sure that it is not a food allergy, by putting your pup on a hypoallergenic diet for 6-8 weeks. You can prepare it yourself (rice and a sort of meat that the dog hasn't eaten before) or buy a special diet the vet probably sells. This of course without using any medication.

If this isn't helping it's probably something else, like pollen or a flea allergy. (the fact that it only occurs in summer does suggest something like this) Your vet can do a blood test and a scratch test to find out to what allergens the dog reacts. If these are known you can try to avoid contact with them or give the dog desensibility therapy. He will get injections with small amounts of the allergen in it, which will hopefully make the dog less reactive to the allergen.

I don't understand your question about the paws? Is that the place where it itches or do you want to make sure he can't scratch himself? If the second: I think it's better to find the cause. I have psoriasis myself and if I wasn't allowed to scratch myself when it itches… I would go crazy.. If he does scratch himself too much, maybe you can scratch for him? Don't know.. Allergies are awful
I was also wondering what shots he gets, prednisone? Why does he get injections and not pills? How old is the dog, how long has he been itchy/allergic and how long has he been on the pred? Has the vet done anything to find out what's causing the itch?

[basenjiboy20]

@Janneke:

You can only make sure that it is not a food allergy, by putting your pup on a hypoallergenic diet for 6-8 weeks. You can prepare it yourself (rice and a sort of meat that the dog hasn't eaten before) or buy a special diet the vet probably sells. This of course without using any medication.

If this isn't helping it's probably something else, like pollen or a flea allergy. (the fact that it only occurs in summer does suggest something like this) Your vet can do a blood test and a scratch test to find out to what allergens the dog reacts. If these are known you can try to avoid contact with them or give the dog desensibility therapy. He will get injections with small amounts of the allergen in it, which will hopefully make the dog less reactive to the allergen.

I don't understand your question about the paws? Is that the place where it itches or do you want to make sure he can't scratch himself? If the second: I think it's better to find the cause. I have psoriasis myself and if I wasn't allowed to scratch myself when it itches… I would go crazy.. If he does scratch himself too much, maybe you can scratch for him? Don't know.. Allergies are awful
I was also wondering what shots he gets, prednisone? Why does he get injections and not pills? How old is the dog, how long has he been itchy/allergic and how long has he been on the pred? Has the vet done anything to find out what's causing the itch?

My vet said its the plants by our house. The most common allergens this time of year, which sucks because they are everywhere since we live by the woods. I'm trying to cut them all down if i can. He doesn't want me to scratch him, and I think it just makes it worse because then he scratches himself again. I'm giving him benadryl right now. My question with the paws is, is there anything I can put on his claws or his feet to prevent him from hurting himself when he scratches? Kinda like those claw caps they use on cats..?

[basenjiboy20]

and his behavior has changed too..for the better (at least to me) before the allergies he was being aggressive towards people alot but now he's not really doing that anymore…does anyone have any idea why that would be? I would think since he's so bothered by his allergies that would make him more aggressive.

[lvoss]

Is he on medication for the allergies? Most allergy medications have the side effect of making the animal tired.

[Kananga]

@basenjiboy20:

and his behavior has changed too..for the better (at least to me) before the allergies he was being aggressive towards people alot but now he's not really doing that anymore…does anyone have any idea why that would be? I would think since he's so bothered by his allergies that would make him more aggressive.

I'd say it's a combo of not being as irritated (I know I'd be aggressive with people if my allergies were acting up and I had no meds… ;)), and as Ivoss mentioned, usually allergy medications (both human and canine form) have side effects including drowsiness.

[Vicki]

Do you live in the country in MN?

My 4-year-old hound mix, Priss, has problems in the summer months starting about August. She will lick her feet until they are red and the fur is almost gone. I have tried all kinds of medications, shots, and changed her diet, but it is something environmental. I've even taken her to different vets to see if someone might have a solution.

Most of the medications are steriods; they work for a week or so, then are ineffective. I won't use them anymore. Priss bloats up like a balloon!

My vet thinks it is either a particular weed that grows this time of year or possibly a mite or small insect that is invisible to the naked eye. I wash her feet in vinegar and water when she comes in the house and have started using Willard Water, http://www.dr-willardswater.com, too. Sometimes, I use a diluted solution of tree tea oil to soothe the itching.

Priss smells like a dirty sock from licking her feet when she is troubled by allergies. Also, she runs a low-grade fever, especially in the morning. I give her 1/2 a baby aspirin and wash her face with cool water.