Guest BluMommy Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 (edited) I had posted about this once before. Blu came home with very bad flea dermatitis on both of his rear thighs. One side cleared up and the fur grew back, but the other side has been a constant problem. The only thing that was helping was prednisone, but he can no longer be on it because pancreatitis is a side effect. Vet suspected seasonal allergies, but it has been cold for weeks and he is still biting his leg. He bites it so much it gets raw :-( We changed his food as well and that is not making a difference. I have tried oatmeal, hydrocortisone, aloe, lanacane, neosporin, witch hazel and stuff from the vets. I am going to call my vet tomorrow and inquire about allergy testing because I do not know what else to do. It will look better for a day or two and them he chews it and we are back to square one. The vet said I could give him benadryl, but I worry about side effects from that too Does anyone have any suggestions? Taken today :( Edited December 28, 2009 by BluMommy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Energy11 Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 The ONLY thing I can think of is food allergies. What do you feed? A friend's GH puppy can only tolerate Natural Balance White Fish and Sweet Potatoes. Also, ask the vet about giving Benedryl, too. Cbudshome has a grey that has to take Benedryl daily for allergies. You might want to PM her. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheUnrulyHound Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Stepper takes benadryl two times a day as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BluMommy Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 The ONLY thing I can think of is food allergies. What do you feed? A friend's GH puppy can only tolerate Natural Balance White Fish and Sweet Potatoes. Also, ask the vet about giving Benedryl, too. Cbudshome has a grey that has to take Benedryl daily for allergies. You might want to PM her. Good Luck! He is on Natural Balance Venison and Sweet Potato right now. We tried fish and that did not make a difference. I guess I will try the Benadryl again. Thanks. Stepper takes benadryl two times a day as well How many mg's? my vet said he can have 75mg twice a day, but I would like to give him the least amount I can. 25 does nothing so maybe I should try 50? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cully Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Benedryl is 1 mg per pound for dogs. Quote waiting at the bridge Connie Van Teddy & Jojo, Cobra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Benadryl has quite mild side effects--makes some dogs drowsy, but not others. But its effect on itching is wonderful. (I take it when I have mosquito bites.) Ask your vet about something to stop the licking/biting. My vet said he had something supremely nasty that would stop a dog from licking. I didn't investigate further because Sam left his staples alone, so we didn't have to go there. Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheUnrulyHound Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 The ONLY thing I can think of is food allergies. What do you feed? A friend's GH puppy can only tolerate Natural Balance White Fish and Sweet Potatoes. Also, ask the vet about giving Benedryl, too. Cbudshome has a grey that has to take Benedryl daily for allergies. You might want to PM her. Good Luck! He is on Natural Balance Venison and Sweet Potato right now. We tried fish and that did not make a difference. I guess I will try the Benadryl again. Thanks. Stepper takes benadryl two times a day as well How many mg's? my vet said he can have 75mg twice a day, but I would like to give him the least amount I can. 25 does nothing so maybe I should try 50? I do 50mg two times a day, and I am thinking of upping it... anyhow, if you go to walmart or maybe Sams (I gotta look there I am running out) you can buy a big bottle of generic benadryl. it lasts a lot longer and saves a ton! get him some pants like bullys they may keep him from licking and biting long enough for it to heal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahicks51 Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 How is he with fish? Have you tried adding fish oil to his food? The Natural Balance Venison and Sweet Potato looks pretty good- grain-free. Quote Coco (Maze Cocodrillo) Minerva (Kid's Snipper) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BluMommy Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 The ONLY thing I can think of is food allergies. What do you feed? A friend's GH puppy can only tolerate Natural Balance White Fish and Sweet Potatoes. Also, ask the vet about giving Benedryl, too. Cbudshome has a grey that has to take Benedryl daily for allergies. You might want to PM her. Good Luck! He is on Natural Balance Venison and Sweet Potato right now. We tried fish and that did not make a difference. I guess I will try the Benadryl again. Thanks. Stepper takes benadryl two times a day as well How many mg's? my vet said he can have 75mg twice a day, but I would like to give him the least amount I can. 25 does nothing so maybe I should try 50? I do 50mg two times a day, and I am thinking of upping it... anyhow, if you go to walmart or maybe Sams (I gotta look there I am running out) you can buy a big bottle of generic benadryl. it lasts a lot longer and saves a ton! get him some pants like bullys they may keep him from licking and biting long enough for it to heal That is not such a bad idea!! I will give it a try!! I really think if we could get it to heal like the other side, he would leave it alone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Gee is on 75mg. twice a day and I just switched her to Taste Of The Wild Prairie Mix, it's grain free and she seems to be doing really well. Before the switch, she was scratching herself senseless. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 The biggest thing is to stop the biting/licking cycle - pants (or various sorts), a muzzle with a stool guard, bitter apple spray (or another bite-stop product), a "Bite-Stop" collar (one that prevents him from turning his head but isn't a cone) - anything to keep his mouth away from his leg. The main side effect from the Benadryl will be to make him drowsy. This should also help him bite the area less. Be careful the first couple days as he may be wobbly, but he WILL adjust to the dose. Jut ive it time to take effect. Good luck! Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytkidsmom Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Do you hide your pills in anything? Lucas did a lot of itching and scratching but that went away when we stopped using cheese and started using peanut butter to hide his pills. Our best guess was that he had a milk allergy. Hope your Blu gets to feeling better real soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TeddysMom Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 When you reach your "wits end" it is better to get the allergy tests done. I had a dog that itched constantly and I was trying everything I could think of, one being oatmeal shampoo and rinsing with Aveno oatmeal rinses. I had the tests done and he was allergic to lots of stuff..including oatmeal. Benadryl has been a life saver around here with no real side effects at all. Good luck, I will be curious to what the allery test revel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swiftwhips Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Poor Blu! I tried all the remedies you mentioned, along with Benadryl & several other antihistamines with little relief for my itchy boy. Genesis spray (available through your vet) was a miracle in that it broke the cycle of scratching the area raw. I have had great luck with feeding TOTW Pacific Stream & adding a 1000 mg fish oil capsule daily. Also, keep watch that he is not developing a staph infection which will need to be treated with antibiotics. Hope this helps & that Blu can find some relief soon. Stef & the silly seven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 If he has pancreatitis you'll want to be careful about adding in fish oil, as that can exacerbate the condition. Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Has he had skin scrapings done? Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kydie Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 I'm with Batmom do the skin scrappings if it hasn't been done first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BluMommy Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Has he had skin scrapings done? Yes he has had several skin scrapings done and they came back negative. I gave him 50mg benadryl this morning and I will call the vet to see about the allergy testing. I am home all this week so I am going to start leaving his muzzle on so he can get used to it. (He doesn't care for it) It has a stool cup already which is good. I will have to leave it on him when I am not home so he can not bite his leg... poor boy :-( What makes me crazy is that the other leg is perfectly fine! Go figure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Is he current on flea meds (Frontline/Advantage)? What did you change the food from/to? Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest argolola Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Poor Blu. I'm so sorry that both of you are going through this. Rudy has allergies and gets lots of sores/bumps, etc. The two things that have worked wonders are : Lavender essential oil on a warm wet washcloth to the affected area Benadryl ointment (not at the same time as lavender.) I feel for you, and will keep you both in my prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mountain4greys Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Has he had skin scrapings done? Yes he has had several skin scrapings done and they came back negative. I gave him 50mg benadryl this morning and I will call the vet to see about the allergy testing. I am home all this week so I am going to start leaving his muzzle on so he can get used to it. (He doesn't care for it) It has a stool cup already which is good. I will have to leave it on him when I am not home so he can not bite his leg... poor boy :-( What makes me crazy is that the other leg is perfectly fine! Go figure! My boy had a red circle on the outside of one back leg. It wasn't ringworm. After fighting this for quite a while, we had a biopsy done. The biopsy didn't say what it was, but it did tell the vet a lot of things it wasn't. Medicine wasn't working, so we took him to a Dermatologist. The specialist said if it was allergies, it would be on both sides. Since my hound only had it on one side, that cut allergies totally out. A simple culture sent out to another lab told him exactly what it was. It only took a few days. There are a whole lot more things it could be other than allergies. But it took a specialist to figure it out with ours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BluMommy Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Is he current on flea meds (Frontline/Advantage)? What did you change the food from/to? no he is not on any flea medication right now. He was on TOTW and now he is on natural balance venison and sweet potato He bit his whole leg raw while I was at the store for an hour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sheila Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 There are a whole lot more things it could be other than allergies. But it took a specialist to figure it out with ours. so what was it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerlinsMum Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Oh, poor Blu! :( That looks so sore Have you tried flaxseed oil? It has been known to help with skin issues and allergies. I really hope your vet can give you some answers! :goodluck Quote Kerry with Lupin in beautiful coastal Maine. Missing Pippin, my best friend and sweet little heart-healer 2013-2023 Also missing the best wizard in the world, Merlin, and my sweet 80lb limpet, Sagan, every single day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IrskasMom Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 That looks awful Painful.I hope your Vet canget to the bottom of this and Blu starts healing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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