Lori,

Great idea. Wish vet would have suggested that to begin with. But I could kick myself as I should have figured that out on my own. So I'll start working on that right away. Food is the key with him anyway. He will love the extra chicken.

Geri

 Quote: Geri Gill

Frazier is 3. He had his puppy shots and then all shots the vet recommends at 1 and 2 yrs of age.
If I'm reading the articale correctly, it sounds like he shouldn't need any more shots except for the rabes.
Am I correct on this?

Thanks Geri

This is what I was thinking .... that he had had all his shots and also boosters a couple of times.

You have to make up your own mind on whether to continue to do boosters. We can give you reading material, but not the decision.

 Quote: Lori Hall

... I definitely wouldn't sneak up on him. I wish your vet would have told you what mine did! It's awesome - from the very first shot, I started positive reward training. I would get out the serum and the needle, and when he'd wonder over to see what I was doing, I'd give him a treat and say good boy! Then I'd fill the needle and show it to him, and he'd get another treat just for looking at it! Then I'd pick up a handful of his skin where the shot would be given, and he'd get another treat. He loved getting the treats so much that he wasn't even paying attention to the shot part. Then I'd give the shot and he'd get several really good treats and a bunch of 'good jobs'! I only had to do that for several shots and ever since, as soon as he hears me getting the needle out of the box he comes running in for his shot all excited. He still gets a few good treats after the shot, but he doesn't need any of the ones before.

THIS is the way to do it. Sneaking up on him can only get worse, not to mention being a real bond-buster.

I have a detailed "procedures" post here that I could dig up, but really, Lori has nailed it. (The extra food, of course, is counted in his daily diet.)

Also, calm and upbeat is the way to go.

Also, the vet did give you only tiny little needle syringes, right? Mine are so small I swear Kasey can't feel anything. I just take a handful of skin on the back of the neck down toward the top of the shoulders - kind of halfway between the neck and shoulder blades. Then when you pull up on that skin it kind of forms a little V pocket in there, and that's where i stick the needle. He doesn't even seem to notice.

Vets must all do the serum differently - Kasey gets 1 cc every 2 weeks. Maybe your serum is more diluted than mine.

Well, just a little update.
Yes the vet gave us little needles. But I was kinda nervous about doing the shots and I'm sure he picked up on it. So anyway after I read the post on how to get them used to the shots, I followed the suggestions and it really is helping. One of the problems I have is trying to get some of the hair out of the way. He has so much of it. So I'm having my husband feed him treats while we get him ready to go.

So the itching is a little up this week. I would say he is around a 4,5 or 6 most of the week. But I gave him his biggest shot on Tue, 8 cc, and there seemed to be more itching after that. Maybe the shot. ?

Next Tue we go to 3.5 cc (once a week) on his last solution.

He is having a lot of the itching on the underneath area of his tail. This might be a silly thing to say, but I've always wondered if it had something to do with diet. ?

Thanks again, things are getting easier, little by little.
We have a pretty good routine now.

Geri

How does it look there (at the itchy under-tail)? Some kind of food sensitivity is possible, but irritation in that area would be a more likely event, IME, if it was food.

How are you seeing this? Is he biting at the area, or trying to reach it with claws, or is he scooting or couch-rubbing, etc.? Is he irritating it more, doing these things?

What does that area look like? Do you see bumps? Or maybe flakiness or peeling?

Do you have a topical spray yet? Does it help?


Yes, there can be more itching after a shot -- remember that the shot actually contains the dog's allergens. Is the itching at the site? Is it short-lived? (If it's a long-lasting reaction, then I would call to discuss a possible tweaking of the serum's strength ..... but my experience is that this isn't the most likely.) Track the length of time that you see additional itchiness.

About the hair: My first allergy-shot dog was part Brussels Griffon with very long and thick hair. I used hair clips to make a less-hairy area at shot time (the very simple spring-type .... not the barrette ones with a fastener).

Yes, once you are able to become methodical and get real derm-type help, things get easier, bit by bit. The terrible frustrating flailing around with a dog in misery 24-7 stops. You are really really helping your dog; all your work and effort and money --- they are making a huge change in your dog's life.

Kasey bites the underside of his tail A LOT! He always has. But I have found that using the Duoux pads (that's probably spelled wrong!) there, and then spraying it with a steroid spray or the Veterinarian's Best Hot Spot spray I mentioned in an above post, really helps.

Also, have you had his anal glands looked at? Allergy dogs often need to have the anal glands emptied more often than non-allergy dogs - the derma vet is not sure why that is, but she sees it a lot. I have learned to empty them myself so I can do it when needed.

As far as the fur and shot thing, Kasey obviously has a lot of hair! I don't pay any attention to it. I just lift that skin and put the needle in! The hair has never been an issue.

Connie,

His extra itching this week has let up. I'm guessing it was the shot. He's back to around a 4 or so on a scale of 10.

His under the tail area has always been an issue. He gets his glands emptied every month and sometimes more. The area looks ok. He just reaches around and does those little bitting things with his front teeth or licks. I use those pads on him on his tail and feet 3 times a week or if he is paying more attention to that area. I do have topical spray I could use too. Today I did not see him do it at all.

I'm going to give your idea of not paying attention to the hair when I give him a shot and see how we do. Good Idea.

Thanks Geri

Lori,

I'm glad we're not alone with the tail bitting issue. I will look into that hot spot spray. I have been using the pads 3 times a week.
Overall we are doing good. I start back to work tomorrow and I hope my hubby can keep up on things.
I also wanted to let you and Connie know that THK is working out well for him now. I'm adding sweet potatoe and chicken backs. He's waiting a little longer to go in the AM. Helps alot.

I'm also going to try not worrying about the hair when I give a shot. I'll see how it goes.

Believe me, I do know that this guy is worth all the effort.

Thanks
Geri

P

Well, Frazier itching has been going back and forth from a 4 to a 6 in my mind, but when I was wiping him down today I noticed the back crusty stuff under front leg. Also back spots starting around the private areas. Do you think this would be a time to start the steriols. ?
I have Betagen topical spray (Gentamicin Sulfate w/Betamethasone Valerate). Instructions say to use 2 x a day till healed. Is anyone familiar with this and would that be good to use or should I just go to the pill (steriol) like we had talked about.
I really did not think the itching was that bad that the black stuff would be coming back.
I'm also guessing (although) we are faithfully doing all the protocals we had talked about, that maybe a 2nd bath is in order every week.

Thanks Geri