Sorry this is so long but I wanted to share our experiences with you. I hope someone will find this useful…..

Hubby and I got our GSD in March of 2008, she was 2.5 yo then. She came to us with a chronic ear infection (her ears were black on the inside). Between ear drops, steroid shots, culture, oral antibiotics, it took 6 months for her ear infections to stop recurring. In the meantime, we also found out her paws were raw from her licking them.

In May 2008, our vet told us that we could try antihistamines or Atopica to help alleviate her symptoms. He said antihistamines could be hit and miss, Atopica had a higher success rate. So she started Atopica daily.

At the same time, our GP vet recommended allergy (blood work) testing. We did that and started her on allergy shots. We did it for 6+ months, I didn’t see any improvement.

In the summer of 2008, we switched her from Nutro Max to THK, then to raw. I started giving her Grizzly salmon oil (following instructions on the bottle).

Via my GP vet and leerburg, I also learned about environmental control. I started rinsing her paws out twice a day, washed her bedding every 1-2 days in hot water, wiping her down with a damp cloth twice a day, and bathed her 2-3 times a week with a soap-free shampoo.

With Atopica, her symptoms went back and forth, at best, they were 70% controlled. She was still licking her paws, no ear infection though. I tried tapering her Atopica to 2-3 capsules/week after the first six months, but she had a bad flare-up in January 2009 (her paws and whole belly/groin area broke out from playing in grass) so she was back on it daily.

From March 2008 to Jan 2009, she had 3 steroid injections due to bad flare-ups. When our GP vet said we could put her on monthly steroid shots, I knew I had to find other options.

Around February/March 2009, I significantly increased her Grizzly salmon oil. A couple of months later, I found out about derm vet from this forum. She had her first derm vet visit in May 2009. By then, her symptoms were a lot better, I think the fish oil was starting to really kick in. The derm vet did intradermal allergy testing and cytology (paws) on her. They tested her on 36 allergens, and she was allergic to 28 of them We went home with an antifungal shampoo for her paws, a 2-week course of ketoconazole (oral antifungal), and a supply of allergy shots.

We started her allergy shots and antifungal shampoo immediately. Her paws were a lot better within two weeks so we never started the ketoconazole. Her condition continued to improve over the next few months. She had a minor flare-up in her paws in October 2009, we called the derm vet. She suggested 50% vinegar/50% water spray twice a day, her paws cleared within a few days.

We followed up with her derm vet in December 2009, she was doing very well. Paws/ears/skin were all clear, she was not scratching herself or licking her paws. I was able to taper her Atopica down significantly. The derm vet told us to continue the shots and follow up in one year.

Her next follow-up was in December 2010, she was still symptom-free. No flare-up. She was on Atopica once/month since the beginning of 2010, her last pill was in October 2010. The derm vet talked to us about tapering her off of her allergy shots, I was too scared to change her regimen so we decided to keep her on them. The derm vet told us to follow up as needed.

We took our GSD back to the derm vet again in August 2012. She was still symptom-free. Her last Atopica was in October 2010. She had not been on any steroid since Jan. 2009. She was never on antihistamines. Our derm vet again suggested taking her off of allergy shots and we agreed. The derm vet was surprised that our GSD was doing so well At our first visit with her, she told us we could probably get to a point where she would only need Atopica 2-3 times/week (instead of daily). The derm vet released our GSD from her care and told us to return only if needed. She also told us that if needed, we could re-start her allergy shots at any time.

Fast forward to now, it had been a little over 3 months since her last allergy shot. I check her paws/skin daily, so far so good Nowadays, I still rinse her paws her twice a day, but I only change her bedding once every 4-5 days and bathe her once/month (before her monthly flea drop).

I also want to add that after I learned about vaccinosis from this site, I stopped vaccinating her in early 2009. The only vaccination she gets is 3-year Rabies.

Anyway, I just want to share her success story with everyone who is taking care of a dog with pollen-allergy. I wished I had found out about derm vet so much sooner, I would’ve saved A LOT of money, time, frustration, and my GSD would’ve suffered a lot less.

Hang in there and things will turn around! We’ve never had an “allergy dog” before and it was definitely a long road of trial and error for us. I am so grateful for this forum and for Connie’s expertise. Don’t give up and best of luck to all of you!

These are the success stories we love so much.

I know how much you put into this; you should feel proud. Your dog is so fortunate!

Just want to highlight something:

"I wished I had found out about derm vet so much sooner, I wouldve saved A LOT of money, time, frustration, and my GSD wouldve suffered a lot less. "

So much work. Your dog is very lucky.
Thank you for you story.
How do you rinse your dogs paws twice a day?

I can't answer for Melissa, but when my allergic dog is having his worst "outdoor allergens" seasons (early spring and mid-fall), he walks through a pan of clean water onto a clean towel every time he goes from outdoor grass, meadow, etc., into the house.

The water is tossed onto whatever needs watering and the towel is used several (four) times by folding and refolding it in a pre-set way so a clean "side" is up.

Then I blot his paws dry between the toes so no yeast-welcoming moisture is left.

This sounds way more complicated than it really is. It's so practiced, so routine, that it probably takes less than a minute every time.

If we have been in deep grass, his under carriage gets baby-wiped on the way in.

The trash where these baby-wipes go has a cover.

This of course is to keep the allergens (like pollen) from coming inside with him to be breathed by him off his fur, the carpet, and his bed, 24/7.

The alternative for my Leo would be many more baths (or rinses). If we've been outside all day in his bad season and it was windy or he was rolling around, he walks through the pan (before crossing the carpet) and then into the tub, where he stands to be rinsed.


There's more, but this is the main effort in his bad seasons.

How do you do it, Melissa?

I know some folks use the unscented baby wipes on the paws and between the toes, following by a quick blot with a small towel.

Sorry, got home late.

When weather is warm, I make my GSD stand on an elevated cement block (1.5 ft x 3 ft) in the backyard. It is about 1.5 ft high. I rinse all paws out with a water hose. I rinse the front, the back, and between toes as well. I then wipe her paws (and areas between toes) dry with a large towel, using a clean area every time.

Now, when it is cold, I use a plastic basin (15 inch diameter). I fill it with warm water, put it on the kitchen floor.

She puts her front two paws into it (water is about 4 inches high). I rub (gently) between her toes, bottom of paws, ankle area, and I make sure there is nothing stuck in her nails(not sure if that matters ). I then wipe her front paws, one at a time, with a small hand towel. She knows then to put her back paws into the basin so I just repeat the procedure, using a second hand towel to dry. The whole thing probably takes me about 5 minutes. She gets a treat at the end.

Like Connie says, this sounds a lot more complicated than it really is. I taught her to do all that via marker training.

My GSD has gotten used to it as her daily routine. Whenever we come home from a walk, a park, training, the first thing she does is either run to the backdoor (water hose in backyard) or to the kitchen where her basin is. If we come home and I don't clean her feet immediately, she gets very confused and would keep on trying to bring me to her basin/water hose

I do the paw-rinsing year round. I don't wipe her body down twice/day anymore, I think I stopped doing that in the early to middle part of 2012. Nowadays, I only wipe her down if it were windy outside or we were traveling in a new city.

I just wanted to add, the reason that I rub her paws when she steps into a basin is because I believe the mechanical rubbing helps to loosen up pollen and get it off of her hair/fur.

When I use a water hose, I believe the water pressure is sufficient to "push" the pollen off.

I got the idea because I work in eye care, and that's how different contact lens solutions remove deposits from contact lenses

I feel that I am very lucky to have found my GSD. We got her as a pet/companion but she brought us into the world of ringsports. We've since joined a dog club and are a lot more physically active because of her. Hubby and I also became a foster home for a GSD rescue because of her. She is worth every single bit of my effort

This is all all-around GREAT dog story, Melissa!

 Quote: Melissa Hau

I started giving her Grizzly salmon oil (following instructions on the bottle). .... Around February/March 2009, I significantly increased her Grizzly salmon oil. A couple of months later, I found out about derm vet from this forum. She had her first derm vet visit in May 2009. By then, her symptoms were a lot better, I think the fish oil was starting to really kick in.

BTW, research I've been doing for another thread has brought to my attention again some papers on EPA (in fish oil) and atopic dermatitis, including items like "About 15-20% of atopic dogs can be controlled with fatty acid therapy alone while a significant proportion of others have a reduction in pruritis that permits reduction of cortisone doses. Even dogs not obviously responding to fatty acid supplement alone can be treated with lower doses of prednisolone" from Bond R and Lloyd DH.: Combined treatment with concentrated essential fatty acids and prednisolone in the management of canine atopy. Vet Rec. 134:30-32 1994. (There is also mention made of visible results of the fish oil therapy often not being seen for 8 or even 12 weeks.)

All supports Melissa's fish oil experience (and timeline).