Daniel, I must've gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. The side against the wall.

There are many things you can try first. As Randy asked, what have you tried?

Rinsing the dog combined with laundering his bed or blanket and thorough vacuuming? Paw-washing after trips on fields/grasses? Fish oil and E? Probiotics? Trials of antihistamines like hydroxyzine and chlorpheniramine?

e.t.a. How does the tip of his tail look?

When you clean his ears, do you see debris or inflammation before you do it? Did you ever?

Edited by Connie Sutherland (01/08/2010 12:23 PM)
Edit reason: eta

Before the allergy started he had ear infection which was taken care by the vet but I still clean his ears every weekend no debris or inflamation. He gets his salmon oil (grizzly). Yes he sleeps in the kennel at night which is next to the heater. I just noticed he does not scratch or bite himself when outside the house as soon as he gets in after his walk or play he starts all over. I vaccum the room daily now almost a week now. We put K9 Advantix on him on 1st of this month and showered him on 3rd with an oatmeal based shampoo.Did I mess up giving him the bath. His tail is fine no loss of hair. We tried hydroxyzine but did not continue. I still have 40 tablets left over.

He sleeps next to the heater and he gets his grizzly salmon oil in his diet.

 Quote: Daniel Mathai

... I just noticed he does not scratch or bite himself when outside the house as soon as he gets in after his walk or play he starts all over. I vaccum the room daily now almost a week now. We put K9 Advantix on him on 1st of this month and showered him on 3rd with an oatmeal based shampoo.Did I mess up giving him the bath. His tail is fine no loss of hair. We tried hydroxyzine but did not continue. I still have 40 tablets left over.

No, you didn't mess up. You use a dog shampoo? You don't want to use a people shampoo.

Many dogs will ignore the itch when they are diverted by outdoor sights and activity (although it could be something in the house, of course).

When you tried Hydroxyzine, did it help at all? How long did you try it?

What else have you tried from that brief list above?

We tried Hydroxyzine for a week. My vet gave it to me for a month. I was not comfortable giving it to him for a month. Now I think I should have tried for a month.

 Quote: Daniel Mathai

We tried Hydroxyzine for a week. My vet gave it to me for a month. I was not comfortable giving it to him for a month. Now I think I should have tried for a month.

First thing I'd do is start a written log. Just a simple piece of paper or notebook.


I'd check very carefully for fleas by combing him over a white sheet. Flea dirt looks like pepper but will turn dark red when you put a drop of water on it.

I would rinse the dog well (paws too, in the tub) and launder his blanket or bed (so as to at least start with less outdoor plant matter being breathed in 24/7). (From earlier:Rinsing the dog combined with laundering his bed or blanket and thorough vacuuming? Paw-washing after trips on fields/grasses?)

I would note the time(s) of day every day when he is worse (because some pollen activity is highest at dawn and dusk, and for other outdoor environmental reasons). I'd briefly note the weather and whether he had been outside when he was very itchy.

I would try the Hydroxyzine for two weeks minimum, logging the results every day.

I would give a gram of fish oil per ten pounds of dog. How much does the dog weigh (for the fish oil and E)?

I would add good probiotics to his diet (such as unsweetened unflavored yogurt or kefir with live cultures).



All of this (1) might well help you track done at least one allergen (if it's allergies) and (2) will help a derm vet if you end up needing one.

Good luck, and post back!

Just thought I would add to Connie's great suggestions.

Been dealing with my itchy dog for the last 1.5 years, her symptoms are now 95% controlled. A lot of work, but she is well worth all the effort.

She has already had the intradermal skin testing at the derm vet, and is on allergy shots. The derm vet gave me a list of stuff she is allergic to.

I do look at pollen.com almost on a daily basis, I know her symptoms worsen when the ragweed and cedar counts are high in the area, so I am especially careful during those days. In addition to rinsing her paws after each walk, I would wipe her down with a damp cloth after she is outside, and bathe her more frequently (with a soap-free shampoo, so she doesn't develop dry skin).

For her 60 lb weight, I give her 8 to 10 pumps of Grizzly salmon oil, which is 2 to 3 times the recommended maintenance amount. That has worked out really well for her.