Thanks for the support, Natalya. It is comforting.

And, no, I'm not going to borrow trouble for tomorrow. It may never happen.

I feel good and bad about this. I was worrying that I had not taken good care of her or that I was not doing something I should do. The vet said it was probably something in the air.

I read another recent thread here about somebody's dog's allergies and they were checking on pollen.com. So I checked for our area and they are moderately high for cedar and juniper, both of which are abundant here.

If that's what it is, I don't know what to do other than keep her inside, but she loves playing outside.

Here's a bump.

Don't you guys forget to give me opinions and advice on this allergy thing.

For now, she has had a bath, clavamox and benadryl since back from the vet.

I don't really see any changes, yet. She is itchy, but when I re-direct her she stops scratching.

Here's another bump.

Don't you guys forget about me.

Thanks.

When Nico is having allergy attacks she sometimes gets a rinse down every evening with just lukewarm water.

I have also used dissolved colloidal oats in the water and I just keep pouring them over her for as long as she will stand there and be good. Then I rinse really well.

Bump.

What? No replies? Is it because I'm fat?

Update. She is definitely less itchy. Probably because of the cortisone shot. But definitely less itchy.

I have gone back and read everything that comes up under 'allergies' for the past twelve months. Quite a bit of reading.

I am going to start rinsing her everyday and bathing once a week.

I have been sick myself this week so I haven't gone out again to buy the oatmeal shampoo or aveeno, but I have researched colloidal oatmeal and I have old fashioned oats and a mortar & pestle so I am going to try to make my own.

Any suggestions and/or advice much appreciated.

Thanks.

I'll be back.

Meanwhile, here is a recap (because people are looking at this, I know, seeing three pages, and not knowing what the diagnosis was on the end of page 2.... ):

 Quote: Nora Ferrell

Update. ... Allergies, so you don't have to read the entire post. Mine tend to be long. ... He gave her a shot of cortizone and put her on clavamox for three weeks. He said to bathe her in oatmeal shampoo and keto.....zole something. He said he thought it was environmental and never once mentioned her food. ..... He said I had done right with bathing her often and agreed that she had probably gotten a scratching syndrome behavior from the flea problem last year, but also reminded me that it only takes one flea to start an allergy itch if the dog is allergic. ...... He said this summer I may even need to bathe her twice a week if she was still itchy. ..... He said it was probably environment due to the time of year (we live in the sinus belt). ...... He said to watch her and if she continues to be itching and lose hair we should start allergy testing and desensitization. .... He also said to give her benadryl twice daily to help with the itching. .... I told him my reluctance with the cortizone shot, and he said he thought it was necessary to calm the skin down and keep her away from it for a few days.... any suggestions or advice, please let me know.

For now, she has had a bath, clavamox and benadryl since back from the vet. .... Update. She is definitely less itchy. Probably because of the cortisone shot. But definitely less itchy. .... I have gone back and read everything that comes up under 'allergies' for the past twelve months. Quite a bit of reading. .... I am going to start rinsing her everyday and bathing once a week.

Is she losing sleep from scratching? Did the vet discuss other antihistamines (trialing hydroxyzine and chlorpheniramine)? How much and how long does the Benadryl help? Remind me of how much fish oil she gets per day?

Have you been able to launder her bedding and mats, etc., and vacuum (and then toss the vacuum bag)? If not, then she will need another bath (at least a rinse) after that.

P.S. Remind me about the Ketoconazole. Did he mention yeast?

Thanks, Connie.

1) So far as the Ketoconazole, I specifically asked about shampooing her in a medicated shampoo. I asked him about the one that starts with M_____ that I read that you and someone else use and also about Ketoconazole because I have a free supply of the Keto....

Previous to the vet, I had Internet searched these shampoos. He said, yes that would be good but he did not specifically mention yeast. I commented to him that I did NOT notice her licking/scratching her paws/ears and I even went on so far as to (embarrassingly) say I had sniffed for a Frito smell on her feet (I had read that here last year).

2) He said the pattern of hair loss and scratching was typical of allergy/flea allergy and that she had a skin infection. But not specifically yeast.

He also mentioned the red spots on her belly which I did/do not see (old age eyes?).

She is very hair/furry but the place that he shaved, I can see the skin better and it is broken out but it looks skin color to me except for the round spot of the scraping.

3) I have not laundered her bedding (good idea, thanks) but I will tomorrow and until then I have replaced her "bedding". Most of the time she sleeps on a hassock beside my bed, so I always put a small blanket or towel on it for her. I will vacuum the entire hassock tomorrow.

I have hardwood floors, but I use a Swiffer on them. Should I also vacuum them?

4) I only gave her the Benadryl once yesterday. It didn't seem to do much, but by the time it wore off, the cortisone must have taken effect because she is noticeably less scratchy/itchy. She seems MUCH better. So, I haven't given her anymore Benadryl. I had tried this medicine this past winter and it would only last as long as she was drowsy from it and I didn't like that side affect.

5) He did not mention hydroxyzine or chlorpheniramine.

I asked should I bring her back and he said only if this prescribed medicine treatment didn't help, then we would look at allergy testing.

Sorry this is so long. I numbered it hoping to make it easier to decipher.

I do vacuum our hardwood floors, ours has a little hepa filter in it.

The other thing that can help is getting one of those filters for your heating/ac system that are for allergies, they seem to help both dogs and people here.

The other thing I do is rinse everything Nico sleeps on with Vinegar in a downy ball to help remove soap residue and I dry it without any fabric softener.
Actually I do that to our towels, sheets and my undergarments, it makes a big difference in skin irritation.

Thanks, Jennifer.

I don't have the hepa thing, but I do have one of those expensive vacs that doesn't release the air back into the house. It's not Rainbow but something like that. (Waterless?)

I will also look for the allergy filter.

I don't use any fabric softener or sheets due to my own allergies. Do you mean to put the vinegar directly into the washer? If so, is there a certain type of vinegar? Cider, white, rice, etc.


Thanks.