advice for semi-wiry mixed breed itching?

Your dog may have seasonal, inhalant allergies, especially if it isn't going on all year long. The type of hair coat doesn't really mean anything, and you would treat the allergies the same for all.

There is allergy (blood) testing, where the blood is sent off to an allergist, who analyses it to tell you what your dog is allergic to. The allergist will then make up an allergy solution for you to inject into your dog on a regular basis. This works a little over half the time, but when it works, it works very well!

The depo injections are to be avoided if possible. There are other things less harsh that can be used. Our clients with allergic pets know that they can call us at the very first sign of itchiness, and they can come in to pick up their meds. We use a lot of a product called temaril P, which is antihistamine with a little steroid. We also can use Medrol and pred tablets. Quite often, the temaril P will take care of the itching. We do recommend Benadryl; however, most tell us it doesn't really help. Sometimes our doctors recommend Zertec. I don't know about using anything else over the counter.

If your dog is especially itchy around her lower back and back legs, then I would suspect it is fleas. You don't have to see any fleas for your dog to be suffering from flea allergy. The best kill for fleas is Comfortis, which kills after only one bite. The topicals, such as the one you use, can take up to 12 hours to kill the fleas. When you realize a flea bites every 15 minutes, that's a lot of bites before the flea is dead. If your dog is flea allergic, then all it takes is one tiny bite to set off the problem. See your vet for Comfortis, if you suspect it could be a flea. You said you didn't see any fleas, and used Advantix just in case, that sounds like your dog isn't on flea prevention all the time. That really needs to be your first step in all this. It could honestly be fleas.

As far as food goes, a dog can be allergic to anything, just as we can. Most often, dogs would be allergic to beef (that's what our docs tell us.) We take all allergic dogs off beef first. They are put on Science Diet Sensitive Skin food (gradually change foods, over 7 days.) If that doesn't help (it can take 8-12 weeks to see the change) then we go to something like duck and potato or salmon and potato. There is another food, called z/d ultra, which is made in a lab under sterile conditions, and dog's bodies cannot recognize the protein source. That food does work. The idea was to run a food trial with it, and then reintroduce just one ingredient at a time to see what the dog is allergic to. Most owners, though, just keep their dog on it and never do the trial.

Shampoos are temporary fixes. Bathing too often is not good. It can remove the oils from the skin. It also can lift the layers of the skin and create the perfect environment for infection. We recommend a shampoo called Relief Shampoo, which is used with tepid water. Leave it on the skin for 10 minutes, rinse well with cool water, and dry thoroughly with a cool dryer.

Allergy can be a real headache for the pet, the owner, AND the vet. There is no cure for allergies. All we can do is manage them, and every dog seems to be different. Cooperating fully with a good vet can shorten the time it will take to find just the right meds to help your dog. Once you find the right things, then you should be able to just call for refills.

So: Rule out fleas by using the best and fastest flea prevention.

Try the foods listed above.

Realize that if it isn't food and isn't fleas, then it's going to be more difficult, so consider allergy testing and injections. Continue trying meds that contain the lowest possible amount of steroids until you hit on something that helps a lot. (Itchiness is from 0-3 on a scale of 1-10 is considered good.) Don't fall for all the things on tv and radio, etc, about allergies. Topicals aren't going to do much, and would only be a temporary fix. Taking meds by mouth is the best way to go. The injections WILL stop the itching, but do carry side effect risks over time.

It sounds like it may be a food allergy. You may want to switch foods to something that eliminates the things that dogs could be allergic to. Some of the biggest allergy issues I have come across are chicken meat, corn, wheat, and rice. I usually recommend a lamb and rice formula as a first option to see if that helps. If you are still seeing the allergy issues on that food then you wan want to switch to a grain free food.

Personally, I like to recommend the Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Whole Brown Rice formula for dogs with severe allergies. The lamb, since it is generally something that isn't fed to dogs, is very good for dogs with skin and coat allrrgies. The Natural Choice line is actually the only brand that is guaranteed to improve your dog's skin and coat. If the Lamb formula doesn't work, Natural Choice also has some great Grain Free formulas.

I hope that helps!!

Geoffrey

Pet Nutrition Specialist for The Nutro Company

does your dog smell like dirty socks ever?

I learned this the hard way, my pug had a systemic yeast infection, poor fellow was miserable, changed his diet to raw food, shaved his coat and used antifungal shampoo. Took two years to get it completely out of his system. The steroid injections only treat the symptoms and are hard on the kidneys and liver.

do some research on raw food diet for dogs. dogs have the same digestive system as coyotes, wolves, dingos and other wild canines. A dog is a dog is a dog is a coyote is a wolf......... same system

Raw food is the abolute best for canines. Do some research on wha tis REALLY in that bag of dog food you feed Fido

http://dogfoodchat.com/

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/hea...

My guess is its down to diet. Not necessarily caused by what your feeding but a raw diet works wonders. One poster recommended Hills Science Diet, PLEASE DON'T go down that road unless you want to make your dog a lot worse. Seriously research the benefits of feeding raw. Its exactly what a dog was designed to eat and their physiology hasn't changed in hundreds of years. I have switched dogs with similar problems onto a raw diet and the difference in a couple of weeks was remarkable.

It's probably food allergies, corn used as fillers is usually the culprit.

The most common reasons for skin issues (i.e. itching, skin irritation, hair loss, etc.) include:

- Allergic reactions to flea bites, food/treats, grooming or house-cleaning products, etc.

- Mites

- Fungal/Bacterial infections (ringworm, yeast, staph etc.)

- Steroid use (also called prednisone, cortisone or the so-called 'allergy shot')

Scratching opens the door to skin infections. See remedy below.

ALLERGIES

For sensitive dogs just one flea can cause havoc. Even if not visible, you can always see the debris fleas leave behind that looks like finely ground coffee. If placed in water, they will turn red.

You can get rid of the fleas with natural methods to avoid exposure to the toxic chemicals of Frontline, Advantage and other popular flea medications which will cause harm sooner or later. For recommendations see http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Fleas-Naturally Also, you can dust your yard where your dog roams with inexpensive diatomaceous earth. For more info see http://www.care2.com/greenliving/all-around-non-to...

and http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/diatomaceous_ear...

The dog's digestive system is not designed to handle grains well. Discontinue any food/treat with corn, wheat, etc. Get ones with no grains and with meat as a primary ingredient – chicken, lamb, salmon, etc. If possible, raw meat diet is best http://www.healthypetjournal.com/default.aspx?tabi...

Discontinue use of grooming or house cleaning products that can be allergens. For a while, use white vinegar as the cleaning agent for your floors, counters, etc. Vinegar has strong cleaning and antiseptic properties and the smell disappears quickly after use. See http://www.vinegarworkswonders.com/faqs.asp

MITES

Three types of mites attack dogs most often: demodectic (not contagious and may itch or not), sarcoptic (very contagious and extremely itchy) and cheyletiella (contagious and mildly itchy). This condition is known as mange. The typical symptoms of mange as the condition progresses include hair loss and scaly or crusty skin.

Avoid the medications most often prescribed by vets that contain toxic chemicals which will harm your dog sooner or later. These are Ivermectin (also known as Ivomec) and Amitraz (also known as Mitaban). Instead, I recommend the use of natural products. Search the Internet to find them. I prefer the spray type treatment which is effective, easy to use, and inexpensive that will kill the mites but is harmless to pets and humans. You can get it at http://www.florapetnaturals.com/online-store.html

STEROID USE

As Dr. Karen Becker, DVM states - "Steroids (also called prednisone, cortisone or the nondescript “allergy shot”) are the least optimal treatment choice, as they work by suppressing your pet’s immune system. Not only can steroids have a negative effect on your pet’s liver, adrenal glands and kidneys, but suppressing your pet’s immune system with steroids also allows for opportunistic yeast and bacteria to grow on your pet’s skin..." Please read the information below: 'Steroids The Great Pretender - Even Low Steroid Doses Can Be Trouble'.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/steroids.htm

Many vets prescribe steroids knowing the risks. Steroids are very dangerous and do not cure anything, they just mask the symptoms temporarily but the underlying cause remains and result in undesirable health complications, including skin problems.

SKIN INFECTION REMEDY

For many skin issues I recommend a powder called 'Flowers of Sulfur' (also known as 'brimstone' or 'sublime sulfur').

This substance has been used for thousands of years to cure all kinds of skin ailments including fungal and bacterial infections and if there is itching, it will stop within a few days. Google it to learn more about its healing properties.

Even vets have forgotten about this wonderful and inexpensive remedy but fortunately you can still purchase it at your local pharmacy for very little money. You can also buy it online at http://www.pennherb.com/search?mv_session_id=eDEGJ...

Flowers of sulfur is safe to apply to your pet's skin but take care not to inhale sulfur powder.

You can dust this powder and rub on your dog's skin OR mix it with an oil to rub on the skin. The dusting can easily be accomplished if you use a powdered sugar duster or an empty talcum powder bottle. Separate the hair as you go around dusting to expose the skin until you have covered it.

Alternatively, mix 1 tablespoon of flower of sulfur powder with 1/4 cup of Jojoba oil and put it in a bottle. Always shake to mix well before applying to the skin as it tends to separate. This method works well for smaller skin areas. You do not need to wear gloves as it is not toxic to humans either.

Apply daily until the problem clears.