Well I thought he was better and scratching less but I just discovered a raw spot under his front leg, also he did not really want to eat much today . I'm starting to wonder if it is the food or if is the outside (grass etc)He has been off chicken and on hamburger for 5-6 days only change I did put some Grissley omega 3 oil on his food last nite and today. Oh btw I also put his monthly Frontline on him yesterday has anyone ever heard of that causing itching & scratching. I'm about to go nuts I can imagine what the poor dog is going through. Thanks Jack

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Well I thought he was better and scratching less but I just discovered a raw spot under his front leg, also he did not really want to eat much today . I'm starting to wonder if it is the food or if is the outside (grass etc)He has been off chicken and on hamburger for 5-6 days only change I did put some Grissley omega 3 oil on his food last nite and today. Oh btw I also put his monthly Frontline on him yesterday has anyone ever heard of that causing itching & scratching. I'm about to go nuts I can imagine what the poor dog is going through. Thanks Jack

I had to look up three or four threads to find the beginning of this..... sometimes if you stay with one thread on one topic like this, then the people who are looking at it will know what has already been said and what the story is.....just a suggestion! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Fleas are way more likely to cause an allergic reaction than Frontline is (at least, in my experience). But anyway, now we know he's probably not having an allergic reaction to fleas (since you mentioned regular flea med).

Next most common would be environmental, as you say.

Don't forget what Ed said early in one of the other threads about vaccinating an allergic dog.

So, IMHO, you could call the vet Monday and ask for an antihistamine for the dog while you are sorting out what the allergy is. The vet will tell you the amount (for his weight) to use of an OTC (probably) antihistamine, without knocking the dog out. This can give him a break, I think, and allow the hot spots to heal and that cycle to be broken somewhat.

Salmon oil (with Vitamin E, don't forget) is great. It will take a couple of weeks or longer before it affects his skin.

You can also keep unscented hypoallergenic baby wipes or something like that at the door and wipe off the dog's feet, ankles, belly, and armpits and groin area when he comes in from being on grassy areas, which are right at their allergic peak almost everywhere.

In other words, you can be covering all possible bases, while letting him have a break with some Benadryl-type med. (BTW, it's mouth-drying; you'll want to check his water bowl more often and also take him out to pee more often because he might drink extra to make up for the dry mouth.)

Then after several days of continuing with the elimination diet *and* keeping pollen, etc., off him, *and* salmon oil and Vitamin E, *and* maybe some Benadryl, you'll know more whether you need to think about more costly and/or side-effect-prone (skin tests, temporary Prednisone, etc.).

I know what you want is a break for him while you wait for things to take effect, right? The antihistamine is one way to go. (Dogs' histamine receptors are mainly in their skin, whereas we have sneezing, itchy eyes, etc.).

I hope this helps. It's all JMO.

Thanks for the suggestions, I have been giving him Benadryl off and on does it have any adverse side effects? Oh btw way one of his eyes has been watering also. Jack

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Thanks for the suggestions, I have been giving him Benadryl off and on does it have any adverse side effects? Oh btw way one of his eyes has been watering also. Jack

It has the same side effects as for humans. Does it work when you give it? Did you get the dosage right?

If an eye is watering too, then it really sounds a lot like inhalant/environmental to me.

I would double-check on the antihistamine dosage, telling the vet about the watery eye too, and I'd check his ears regularly because of the extremely common secondary ear infections.

When/if you end up with a vet visit, it will help if you have kept track of whether or not you gave Benadryl, and what dosage, and what the reaction was.

There is no quick fix to allergies. Prednisone is the magic bullet, which can definitely give your dog a break from the cycle (again, as you sort out what the allergens are), but it's your last resort, because of the long-term side effects. JMO. I have certainly used it when skin pruritis was bad and the dog was miserable, though, so you do have that to turn to if necessary.

Allergies are usually a balancing act.

http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/itch.html

This is all my opinion and experience only. Hang in there; I have yet to see an allergic dog who couldn't be helped and managed.

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Thanks for the suggestions, I have been giving him Benadryl off and on does it have any adverse side effects? Oh btw way one of his eyes has been watering also. Jack
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It has the same side effects as for humans.

According to the dermatologist that I bring my dog to Benadryl does not have the same effect on dogs that it does on humans. Apparently they are much less likely to have side effects like drowsiness. I have had one of my GSDs on 3 tablets of Benedryl every day for a few months now and haven't seen any change in him other than less itching. In addition, the dermatologist also said that allergies are much more likely to be from the environment than food. When we had the tests done on my dog that was the case. He is allergic to some plants, trees, molds and that type of thing. We are starting him on allergy shots in a few weeks and hopefully that will solve his problem.

Benadryl 1mg to 2mg per pound every 8 houra
http://www.wynsumgsd.com/meds.html

Hi Jack,

Out of my 5 dogs one has allergies, a rescue Lhasa. Frontline usually makes her itch for a few days when I first put it on her, I give Atarax or Benadryl til she gets past this. Flea stuff is a must where I live so we just have to work around it. She is allergic to fleas also!!!

Best of luck, it is an irritating itch for the dog and owner!

Debbie

Thanks for the reply, my wife has been saying all along that the Frontline could be adding to the problem. I also wonder if changing climates and enviroments could play a big part as this pup came from Kraftwerk out in Washington state and we live in central Fl. where everyone and everything is having a problem especially right now.I agree Frontline or some type flea control is a must.

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Thanks for the suggestions, I have been giving him Benadryl off and on does it have any adverse side effects? Oh btw way one of his eyes has been watering also. Jack
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It has the same side effects as for humans.

According to the dermatologist that I bring my dog to Benadryl does not have the same effect on dogs that it does on humans. Apparently they are much less likely to have side effects like drowsiness. In addition, the dermatologist also said that allergies are much more likely to be from the environment than food. When we had the tests done on my dog that was the case. He is allergic to some plants, trees, molds and that type of thing. We are starting him on allergy shots in a few weeks and hopefully that will solve his problem.

They are (IME) less likely to be as drowsy as humans on Benadryl, but I've had two dogs on Benadryl who were knocked out for a couple of hours with every dose. It was still worth it for the relief, IMO.

And your experience with it may be more likely than mine, so I'm glad you mention it.

Yes, you are 100% that food is not the most common canine allergy, or even the second most common. This original poster had a couple of other threads prior to this one, and I think it has been clear that number 1 is flea allergy, number 2 environmental, with food trailing behind (but that many dogs have a combination).

One of my own allergic dogs tested severly allergic to 30+ allergens, 2/3 of which were environmental, and 1/3 food items.

Since you mention shots, the original poster will want to know that this means desensitizing shots given on a gradually-declining schedule and made up by the testing lab of the allergens to which the dog has tested positive in skin (preferably) or blood tests. It's not a one-size-fits-all shot.

Good information, Jeanne. I believe that the original poster has not yet seen the vet with his dog or gotten a dermatologist referral. But you bring up a good point, which is that there are many more resources, and that a call to the vet is next. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

One caveat: the tests aren't perfect, but I've had them done on three dogs so far, and used the resulting desensitizing shots (after ruling out food allergies with an elimination diet, as discussed), and gotten a lot of benefit every time. Again, though, allergies are not cured. They are managed.

Something else to consider is seborrheic dermatitis. This could be due to excess fat in the diet, combined with not enough exercise...or individual metabolic issues...or both.