Allergy information...can someone take a look please?

[my2boyz]

This is my post from my other thread but it isn't getting any replies in the off topic section so I want to post it here. Can someone take a look and let me know if the 'plan' I have is what I need to do...please?

>>We've seen our vet (holistic/traditional medicine) several times and we've done allergy tests but she had a low positive test to:

English plantain
Goldenrod
Russian Thistle
Cottonwood
Cedar Mix (Red, Mt.)
Hickory
Mite Mix
T. putrescentiae (whatever that is...something on the indoor screening)
Lamb
Pork
Mixed Fish
Rice

She had a high positive to:

Cocklebur
Kochie (some kind of weed)
Oak
Milk

It just dawned on me too that the Cottonwood trees have been blooming over the last couple of weeks...

She's not allergic to the 'norms' like chicken, beef, corn wheat etc...

The only other thing I can think of is yeast. She has always had off and on ear infections and anal gland issues. If something, like starches in her food, turns to sugar in her system that will promote the growth of yeast and make her itchy...correct??

So, I think I have the food figured out...total home cooking or a combination of frozen and freeze dried raw.

Now, I probably need to have her checked for yeast in her system...how do I do that?

If that's an issue, have it treated and move on...

If that doesn't work then it's probably pretty safe to assume it's environmental and she needs to be on something...possibly the Atopica.

Any ideas or opinions? I could use it...I'm pretty worn out over this...<<

[107barney]

Posted on your other thread...been in your shoes, it sucks.

[Latte's Mom]

We have been gong through the same thing! I am awaiting results to the food allergy bloodwork (VARL). Latte is on prednisone, an antibiotic for a bacterial infection on her skin, and Zyrtec for general allergies. Yet, yesterday she was scooting and twirling-lots of anal issues-or vulvar issues-although, she has her anal sacs expressed every two weeks! I am thinking that there's something more seriously wrong with her "undercarriage". There seems to be no rhyme or reason for when she's uncomfortable in that area. We had tried Atopica years ago and that may our next step. I am on my third food elimination trial with kangaroo and oat. I am sure she has environmental allergies and I feel they have gotten worse over the years.
How old is your dog? Latte is 10 and worn out? YOU BET!! This is a good place to talk about your issues. I have yet to find an answer. The last year has been awful. I feel sorry for her-she is definitely not her old self.

[christie5683]

My 8 yr old Chacha has small white bumps from her neck to her rump on her back only. They apparently dry up and turn black after a while. The vet doesn't have a clue; tests are negative. I have her on a very expensive prescription diet after trying Blue Buffalo which caused a massive breakout all over her body. Scared me; she had to go on antibiotics. She still has the bumps. I have tried so many prescription and non prescription shampoos with no luck. I feel so bad for her scratching all the time. She is miserable. The vet suggested I give her benadryl but that only works for a short time. Any clues?

[Shelby&Seymour]

Originally Posted by christie5683

My 8 yr old Chacha has small white bumps from her neck to her rump on her back only. They apparently dry up and turn black after a while. The vet doesn't have a clue; tests are negative. I have her on a very expensive prescription diet after trying Blue Buffalo which caused a massive breakout all over her body. Scared me; she had to go on antibiotics. She still has the bumps. I have tried so many prescription and non prescription shampoos with no luck. I feel so bad for her scratching all the time. She is miserable. The vet suggested I give her benadryl but that only works for a short time. Any clues?

Could be a staph issue, Christie. If it continues, you may want to go back to your vet. We feed Fromm grain free foods.... with no allegy issues at all. The furkids love it.
May I also suggest an Oatmeal based shampoo and/or conditioner.... oatmeal soothes the skin.

[christie5683]

She was checked for that. Vet stated she had an allergy to the Blue Buffalo that I changed her to (it was incorporated with her other food). She broke out all over and scratched therefore developing a bacteria infection. Cleared after 2 rounds of antibiotics but still has the bumps. Will give the oatmeal a try and am searching for a hypoallergenic food...thanks!

[christie5683]

She was checked for that. Vet stated she had an allergy to the Blue Buffalo that I changed her to (it was incorporated with her other food). She broke out all over and scratched therefore developing a bacteria infection. Cleared after 2 rounds of antibiotics but still has the bumps. Will give the oatmeal a try and am searching for a hypoallergenic food...thanks!

[Latte's Mom]

Here is a shampoo that Lillimae recommended: It's at PetsMart. I haven't tried it yet-I got the Rx shampoo, but we need some more conditioner and I will be getting some soon: Vet's Remedy Anti-Bacterial & Anti-Fungal Shampoo & Conditioner for Dogs.
Latte is 10 and she was just tested for thyroid-it was low and if you haven't checked for that, it may be part of the issue. I haven't seen a big difference in her allergies with the thyroid supplement, but it does cause some blackened skin. The only thing that has worked for Latte is cortisone and we're going to be off that soon, too and try Atopica again. I've heard a lot of good results from that.
We're on a Rx food-thrid one-kangaroo and oat. No results yet-just a week or ten days into it. Remember-whatever food, shampoo you buy, you can return it with a receipt for a full refund if it's not working for you. That has made me feel better about the "food merry-go-round". Good luck! I have gotten a lot of support and help here.

[RileyDC]

Riley has environmental allergies and has got a couple of those round dry
spots that end up turning dark... I rub Nutiva organic coconut oil, which I
got at the GNC, on them and it seems to really help.

He just recently had a reaction to the grains in FROMM chicken a la veg
and pork & applesauce and an even worse reaction to Primal Lamb.
So I am sticking with grain free foods .... and away from Lamb....
I switched him back over to Acana/Pacifica and he has cleared up... I
was feeding Primal chicken a.m. and Acana p.m., this time last year
and he seemed to really thrive on it. I just started incorporating the
primal chicken again this weekend so I can be home to keep an eye on
him and see how he does. When he had a reaction to the Lamb he broke
out in ugly big red hives. He seems to be doing great, so far!!

I have grown up with dogs, all my life and I have Never had a dog that
had any allergies. It is definitely something new for me.

I hope you find relief for your furbabies....
I know how frustrating it can be.

[Lorraine]

I have recently rescued a dog back with similar issues. She was put on an antibiotic to clear the skin, clavaseptim. I was also given a shampoo by the Vet, Dermazol. I shampooed her daily for 3 days, then every other day for three times now once a week. Years ago I had a yorkie with a skin issue and at that time was given Malacetic shampoo same regime. It cleared up and never came back again.
With the little rescue I have she likely will be on this shampoo for life. I have her on Medi-Cal Hypoallergenic food. Protein source is duck. I can't remember if oatmeal is in it or not.
Oatmeal shampoos are often not the right one, they can make the skin condition worse especially an overgrowth of yeast or Seborrhoeic dermatitis condition.

[RileyDC]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

I have recently rescued a dog back with similar issues. She was put on an antibiotic to clear the skin, clavaseptim. I was also given a shampoo by the Vet, Dermazol. I shampooed her daily for 3 days, then every other day for three times now once a week. Years ago I had a yorkie with a skin issue and at that time was given Malacetic shampoo same regime. It cleared up and never came back again.
With the little rescue I have she likely will be on this shampoo for life. I have her on Medi-Cal Hypoallergenic food. Protein source is duck. I can't remember if oatmeal is in it or not.
Oatmeal shampoos are often not the right one, they can make the skin condition worse especially an overgrowth of yeast or Seborrhoeic dermatitis condition.

I have Also heard that about Oatmeal Shampoos!!

[christie5683]

It's not thyroid; she was checked for that as well. She is on a very expensive hydrolyzed digestible protein food now for months.....no better. I think maybe the grain and not the protein? Guess I can return that and try a grain free, organic?
I just did some research on the oatmeal shampoo and think maybe I won't try that. Have tried 3 Rx shampoos; no luck.
Anyone know anything Natura, Avoderm, or Innova?

[christie5683]

I'm thinking she may have Seborrhoeic dermatitis. The vet just stated clogged pores hence the expensive Rx shampoos.
We've been to 4 vets with this conditon

[RileyDC]

Have you thought about feeding premade frozen raw?
I had a neighbor that had a French Bulldog that had some Major
Skin Allergies, etc. He started feeding primal raw and it completely
cleared up and he hasn't had any skin issues since.....

I started feeding Riley the Primal frozen premade raw after his stint
with environmental allergies last May.... He started clearing up, completely.
The only reason I didn't feed it full-time was because I travel quite a bit and
wanted him to be able to eat kibble when traveling. So I do the raw a.m.
and grain free kibble p.m.
When I am home, though I will at times feed it morning and night....

[christie5683]

Latte's mom
I will try this shampoo you recommended.
Thanks ladies for all the help