Green's itching - I'm so upset

[GreensMom]

The vet said to try to reintroduce alpo canned since I fedjust a bit in the morning. Five days = 1 can. So after that 5 days he's itching and I'm so upset with myself that I ever gave it to him. I got him back on the Halo canned on wedneday. He is biting so bad he has torn fur out. He is red and I have tried everythingto soothe it so he won't bite. I have just had to put the cone on him as he woke me biting at it. Now he's on my bed wearing the cone. Neither one on uscan go back to sleep.
I cantbelieve i did this to him.
Does anyone have a suggestion? Do you still agree it ishis food? Lauren wants to give him a bath with oatmeal shampoo. Do you think that willhelp?
He has not beeneating the dry Halo as enthusiastically. Sometimes he doesn't eat all of it. His skinks getting quite dry again. Maybe this is part of why he is itching? I am beside myself. Please help.

[Tassle]

Have you tried Colloidal Silver? You can get it in a spray but I tend to have just a bottle in.

Possibly Aloe Vera gel or cream to help with the itching.

I am sorry he is itching again - but when dogs have allergy's it is always a process of elimination, if something sets it off you have to strike that and move onto the next thing.
Many dogs who have allergy's are OK with Fish stuff....so Sardines can make food more interesting...or Salmon Oil? (Which is meant to be good for skin issues) I get mine from Fish 4 dogs - but I expect you have an equivalent in the US?

Salmon oil

Do not feel bad....allergys are like this - but yes - my thoughts would be it is a food allergy.

[GreensMom]

Lauren read online that dry skin (which he sure has alot of) can be treated with olive oil. It said 1 tablespoon a day. I was afraid to give that much so I gave him a teaspoon. Sure makes him eat his food but I don't know it it will help his skin.
I am going to give him benadryl now. He is wearing the cone of shame and he is so very sad. Can I give him the benadryl more than once a day? I hate to have him on steroid and antibiotic again. He's had three times now already.

[Tassle]

(01-01-2011 05:18 AM)GreensMom Wrote:  Lauren read online that dry skin (which he sure has alot of) can be treated with olive oil. It said 1 tablespoon a day. I was afraid to give that much so I gave him a teaspoon. Sure makes him eat his food but I don't know it it will help his skin.
I am going to give him benadryl now. He is wearing the cone of shame and he is so very sad. Can I give him the benadryl more than once a day? I hate to have him on steroid and antibiotic again. He's had three times now already.

I don;t know about the benadryl sorry.

If it was me...and he was that bad....I would take him off ANY food that had anything other than Fish/chicken and Potato/rice.

Remembering that it can take up to 6 weeks for anything to clear form the system.

Its a bit hard to suggest possible foods you could use - but maybe someone from teh US can help you there....

Unless you got for natural....the food in its basic form. (I did with Zeff when I first had him, he had chicken and rice for 2 weeks and I started to wean him onto a dried fish/rice food) He now has the fish and rice food everyday. I add Sardines (in oil) to their food once a day, mainly because they really like it!
Tassle is the hard one - she is not really keen on dried food.

[only-borders]

Olive oil will help but I prefer fish or salmon oil. Yogurt is also good for skin and coat. I give 1 heaping soup spoon every morning, and a fish oil capsule every other day.

If Green had a reaction when you gave him Alpo, I would say no more Alpo of any kind.
If Green did good on Halo stay with Halo until his skin is cleared up. If you try adding yogurt to his meal he might start eating again. If you want to change food after he is cleared up then I would suggest only trying a very limited ingredient food, grain free also.

Benedryl can be given up to 100mg in 24 hours. The ones I give are 25mg each. It might make Green sleepy but nothing more than that.

Oatmeal baths do help and brushing will help get the oils in his coat flowing.
Good luck.

[GreensMom]

Thank you so much both of you. Once the two of you give me advice I feel so confident. You have made me feel so much better.
The case of alpo is going to the shelter on Monday. Nothing but Halo I even bought the treats. I am taking no chances.
Linda just a few more questions for now. By soup spoon do you mean the one you eat soup with? Also, what kind of fish oil? Do you just buy it at the health food store or is it special for dogs?

[only-borders]

Yes Kelly your everyday soup spoon. I just put a glob on the spoon, put it in their bowl and add their food.
What I have found over the years is not to mix the yogurt up. Every morning there is a little liquid and I pour that into their bowl first. That way the yogurt never gets runny.
Oh and make sure it is All Natural Dannon, nothing flavored, plain, and not the low fat or non fat stuff.

I get the fish oil at Walmart, human grade, by the vitamins. Spring Valley Fish Oil 1000 mg, 300 mg total Omega 3. 200 softgels, twin pack for about $11.00.
I just add the capsule to their food and they eat it up.

I doubt you will see results over night but you will notice a change in his coat soon enough. I hope it helps.

[LadyDaniela]

When my father passed away, my moms dog lost all his fur, she started giving him eggs (scrambled with olive oil and a milk bone garnish) and he's stopped his itchies and all his fur came back.

[sheepskin_border_collies]

So Sorry Kelly that you guys are having to go threw this. Allergies SUCK. Me and Scott go threw the same thing, He has his good days and bad days. I would say once you find a food that works with him then i would keep him on it...It does sound like food allergies to me.. Here are some things that will help

Oatmeal Baths, There is shampoo that is made for allergic dogs, Hypoallergenic shampoo that helps, Baths in Tgell really helps too.
Benedryll Really Helps too.
Fish Oil Pills and I get mine just from wal-mart You can get like 60 for 6 bucks.
Hydrocortizone Spay really really helps for the "hot itchy spots" you can get at walmart or Vet.

Hope he gets feeling better!

[Cloverandco]

My friend uses OmniPro holistic for his doberman who has skin problem and it worked within a couple of days he showed great improvement, and i think it is an american made product? it is salmon and potato based. Hope he is feeling better soon

[trickytrip]

http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-itchy-skin.html Don't ever give him any canned food (unless it is the same as his dry) again. Most canned food, ie. Alpo, is equal to garbage. Since he is wearing a cone, put some hydro cortisone cream on the spot. Donate the Alpo to a local shelter, as well as the Beneful.

[goldcreek]

I feed Grizzly salmon oil, but almost any oil supplement should improve the coat.

California Natural and Natural Balance both make limited ingredient foods, to help you eliminate possible irritants. Try to feed as few things as possible.

Turns out Bonnie is allergic to eggs. Tyson eats lots of them with no troubles.

[trickytrip]

(01-01-2011 12:36 PM)goldcreek Wrote:  I feed Grizzly salmon oil, but almost any oil supplement should improve the coat.

California Natural and Natural Balance both make limited ingredient foods, to help you eliminate possible irritants. Try to feed as few things as possible.

Turns out Bonnie is allergic to eggs. Tyson eats lots of them with no troubles.

Exactly, that is why the more expensive foods are best- they have fewer ingredients. Don't feed your dog any dog food that will not post ingredients on it's web site.

[GreensMom]

Obviously I am never straying to his old food again. I went on the vet's advice but I regret it. The old food is already gone. He is not wearing the cone now as I gave him benadryl and he is doing much better. He doesn't keep the cone on long. It did buy me some time for the benadryl to kick in. His dry, canned, and treats are all Halo now.

[only-borders]

Keep up with the Benedryl until you know he isn't itchy.