Serios Health Concern - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Robertn · 12-19-2008, 10:38 PM

Hello Everyone! I have not been on in ages, but decided to ask everyone their opinion on troubles I am having with my yorkie lexie. She is one year old and having terrible allergy problems. When we first got her she broke out with rashes we stopped giving her Royal Canin and the rashes went away. She had no issues for a while. Now for the past few months she is consistently itching, scratching her ears, and biting her paws. We went to 4 vets, and each had their own opinions. The first said she had no fleas, we gave her front line and we saw the actual fleas running from her body. Then our doctor put her on a hypoallergenic dog food diet for an estimated 6 weeks, and it did not help. We switched now to Natures Best herring flavor kibble, because this is a flavor she has not eaten before. Now daily she scratches and bites, her body is covered in rashes and wounds she created by biting so hard. We have probably spent $500 or so, but no results. Also we bath her in special shampoo the vet gave, we tried dawn, we tried strict diets nothing is working. The doctor gave her medicine(small dose steroids) and she stopped itching. As soon as we stopped the medicine she continued itching. Now she is only taking a multi vitamin the doctor gave. The doctor recommends doing a allergy test which is $300, and which I wish I did in the beginning Should I do this test and find what the problem is? Maybe it is something in the environment or she is just an allergy dog. Your advice and insights are greatly appreciated. I apologize for the long post, but this is still a condensed version of what I could have written.

Robertn · 12-19-2008, 10:41 PM

Also I forgot to add. She kept scratching her ears and we found she had an ear infection which has now been treated. I feel these VETS dont know anything and continue wasting my money....

PrincessDiana · 12-19-2008, 10:45 PM

Can you list all of the foods (brands and flavors) she has been on? We might be able to see more. Sometimes grains cause dogs to be itchy, things like that.

Honestly, getting the allergy test is probably the best idea but I can completely understand why you don't want to spend that much money. In the end it's up to you. You might be able to figure it out on your own but then again you may never figure it out, spending lots and lots more money.

Robertn · 12-19-2008, 10:48 PM

I dont mind spending the money , because I dont want her to suffer. The VET said keep her on the allergy food for 10 weeks, but i asked her If you were not feeling well would you want it treated right away or 10 weeks from now? She had nothing to say of course, and I found another vet which was a friend of the family. When she was younger she ate turkey with vitamins. Then the royal canin which she was allergic too, then some prescription food I am not sure the brand because I no longer have it. Now she eats Natural Choice Dog Dry Adult Herring Meal, Rice & Potato Formula

Baby Blessing · 12-19-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertn

I dont mind spending the money , because I dont want her to suffer. The VET said keep her on the allergy food for 10 weeks, but i asked her If you were not feeling well would you want it treated right away or 10 weeks from now? She had nothing to say of course, and I found another vet which was a friend of the family. When she was younger she ate turkey with vitamins. Then the royal canin which she was allergic too, then some prescription food I am not sure the brand because I no longer have it. Now she eats Natural Choice Dog Dry Adult Herring Meal, Rice & Potato Formula

PLEASE CHECK THE PM we just sent you one.

Robertn · 12-19-2008, 11:05 PM

The vet food was IVD hypoallergenic DUCK flavor. The other food was Innova EVO chicken flavor. The only thing about trying new dog food is she has to be on it for 12 week to see if the food is the source. I dont want her to suffer for another 3 months, I rather the allergy test tell me it is a food allergy and we can help her faster

PANAMA69 · 12-19-2008, 11:18 PM

I think the test is a good idea, that way you know for sure, Natural balance make small bites duck and potatoes maybe try that and NO other treats, lots of dogs are allergies toward chicken, sorry about you furbaby such a cutie pie

PrincessDiana · 12-20-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertn

The vet food was IVD hypoallergenic DUCK flavor. The other food was Innova EVO chicken flavor. The only thing about trying new dog food is she has to be on it for 12 week to see if the food is the source. I dont want her to suffer for another 3 months, I rather the allergy test tell me it is a food allergy and we can help her faster

Well then it sounds like you have your answer!

Ellie May · 12-20-2008, 07:49 AM

If you really think it's a food allergy, testing can be a waste of money in some cases. The only 100% way to know if it is a food allergy is to do an elimination diet. The vet that is saying keep her on the new food for 10-12 weeks is absolutely correct. She can have steroids if that is what makes her feel better.

Since yu've tried so many foods for long periods of time, I would if it is a food allergy at all. Lots of Yorkies are allergic to Royal Canin by the way.

Natural Balance works so well for some allergies. I guess I'd go wtih that for 8-12 weks and see if she feels better and add steroids to the mix if she needs them. They have duck and sweet potato and fish and potato. California Natural has a few that might work also. Prescription diets for allergies have a good principle behind them (hydrolyzed protein) but that doesn't work for all dogs. Something like Orijen might help also.

I personally would wait as long as possible to do food allergy testing since it is controversial and you may get false positives and false negatives. I think environmental allergy testing is more reliable. I guess if you have to go this way though if nothing is working, then I would.

Was the infection yeast?
Maybe she has a systemic yeast infection and everything is just pushing her over the top? Has that been talked about?

amandawash · 12-20-2008, 07:56 AM

Are you talking blood test or scratch test? Many times, the blood tests can give you false results, although they can be a good resource to work from. It sounds like this has been going on since she was fairly young, which makes me question food allergies as it usually takes a while to develop an allergy to a certain ingredient. I may suspect environmental allergies, which can be tested for as well, but unfortunately you usually cannot change their environment and therefore must be treated by medication.

I really think you are giving your vet a hard time. It takes approximately three months of a new diet to determine whether or not the dog exhibits sensitivity to the new ingredients. These reactions DO NOT go away overnight after changing foods. It can take the body and the immune responses months to level out, so don't expect changes overnight.

12-19-2008, 10:38 PM	#1
Robertn Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 50	Serios Health Concern Hello Everyone! I have not been on in ages, but decided to ask everyone their opinion on troubles I am having with my yorkie lexie. She is one year old and having terrible allergy problems. When we first got her she broke out with rashes we stopped giving her Royal Canin and the rashes went away. She had no issues for a while. Now for the past few months she is consistently itching, scratching her ears, and biting her paws. We went to 4 vets, and each had their own opinions. The first said she had no fleas, we gave her front line and we saw the actual fleas running from her body. Then our doctor put her on a hypoallergenic dog food diet for an estimated 6 weeks, and it did not help. We switched now to Natures Best herring flavor kibble, because this is a flavor she has not eaten before. Now daily she scratches and bites, her body is covered in rashes and wounds she created by biting so hard. We have probably spent $500 or so, but no results. Also we bath her in special shampoo the vet gave, we tried dawn, we tried strict diets nothing is working. The doctor gave her medicine(small dose steroids) and she stopped itching. As soon as we stopped the medicine she continued itching. Now she is only taking a multi vitamin the doctor gave. The doctor recommends doing a allergy test which is $300, and which I wish I did in the beginning Should I do this test and find what the problem is? Maybe it is something in the environment or she is just an allergy dog. Your advice and insights are greatly appreciated. I apologize for the long post, but this is still a condensed version of what I could have written.

12-19-2008, 10:45 PM	#3
PrincessDiana I ♥ Franklin & Maggie Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,068	Can you list all of the foods (brands and flavors) she has been on? We might be able to see more. Sometimes grains cause dogs to be itchy, things like that. Honestly, getting the allergy test is probably the best idea but I can completely understand why you don't want to spend that much money. In the end it's up to you. You might be able to figure it out on your own but then again you may never figure it out, spending lots and lots more money. __________________ Diana , Mommy to Franklin, Maggie, Oliver, and Millie - RIP Piper

12-19-2008, 11:18 PM	#7
PANAMA69 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: ~~YorkieWorld~~ Posts: 8,428	I think the test is a good idea, that way you know for sure, Natural balance make small bites duck and potatoes maybe try that and NO other treats, lots of dogs are allergies toward chicken, sorry about you furbaby such a cutie pie __________________

12-20-2008, 07:49 AM	#9
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	If you really think it's a food allergy, testing can be a waste of money in some cases. The only 100% way to know if it is a food allergy is to do an elimination diet. The vet that is saying keep her on the new food for 10-12 weeks is absolutely correct. She can have steroids if that is what makes her feel better. Since yu've tried so many foods for long periods of time, I would if it is a food allergy at all. Lots of Yorkies are allergic to Royal Canin by the way. Natural Balance works so well for some allergies. I guess I'd go wtih that for 8-12 weks and see if she feels better and add steroids to the mix if she needs them. They have duck and sweet potato and fish and potato. California Natural has a few that might work also. Prescription diets for allergies have a good principle behind them (hydrolyzed protein) but that doesn't work for all dogs. Something like Orijen might help also. I personally would wait as long as possible to do food allergy testing since it is controversial and you may get false positives and false negatives. I think environmental allergy testing is more reliable. I guess if you have to go this way though if nothing is working, then I would. Was the infection yeast? Maybe she has a systemic yeast infection and everything is just pushing her over the top? Has that been talked about? __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

12-20-2008, 07:56 AM	#10
amandawash Lovin' my R & R Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Middleton, Idaho Posts: 2,152	Are you talking blood test or scratch test? Many times, the blood tests can give you false results, although they can be a good resource to work from. It sounds like this has been going on since she was fairly young, which makes me question food allergies as it usually takes a while to develop an allergy to a certain ingredient. I may suspect environmental allergies, which can be tested for as well, but unfortunately you usually cannot change their environment and therefore must be treated by medication. I really think you are giving your vet a hard time. It takes approximately three months of a new diet to determine whether or not the dog exhibits sensitivity to the new ingredients. These reactions DO NOT go away overnight after changing foods. It can take the body and the immune responses months to level out, so don't expect changes overnight. __________________ Amanda 's Ranger & Ryder

12-19-2008, 10:41 PM	#2
Robertn Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 50	Also I forgot to add. She kept scratching her ears and we found she had an ear infection which has now been treated. I feel these VETS dont know anything and continue wasting my money....

12-19-2008, 10:48 PM	#4
Robertn Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 50	I dont mind spending the money , because I dont want her to suffer. The VET said keep her on the allergy food for 10 weeks, but i asked her If you were not feeling well would you want it treated right away or 10 weeks from now? She had nothing to say of course, and I found another vet which was a friend of the family. When she was younger she ate turkey with vitamins. Then the royal canin which she was allergic too, then some prescription food I am not sure the brand because I no longer have it. Now she eats Natural Choice Dog Dry Adult Herring Meal, Rice & Potato Formula

12-19-2008, 11:05 PM	#6
Robertn Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 50	The vet food was IVD hypoallergenic DUCK flavor. The other food was Innova EVO chicken flavor. The only thing about trying new dog food is she has to be on it for 12 week to see if the food is the source. I dont want her to suffer for another 3 months, I rather the allergy test tell me it is a food allergy and we can help her faster