Need advise my vet isn't helping!

Good shepard · 12-19-2012, 06:23 PM

My 3 yr old male shepherd is itching and biting. It isn't fleas he is frontlined monthly and I wash him monthly. Today I got home and he bit himself till he bled. The vet gave him some prednezone and when i was done giving him the meds it came back ....allergies.?? I'm open for suggestions

Jax08 · 12-19-2012, 06:26 PM

Has the vet done a skin scraping? When did it start? Where do you live at? Are pollens still out? What is he eating?

GusGus · 12-19-2012, 06:28 PM

It sounds like allergies to me, but I'm no expert. Try finding a really nice allergy shampoo. (Not one from Walmart or other super centers, but something from a pet supply retailer) and try bathing once a week with it?

My fiances sister had a dog that did that basically. She has lots of missing hair in some areas and some scabs. Allergy meds also helped her.

Maybe someone will have some more expertise in this area.

Also, what food are you feeding? Maybe someone will have advice on that as well.

msvette2u · 12-19-2012, 06:34 PM

How old and what are you feeding him?

Heh, just noticed he's 3. So that leaves food (for starters) what diet is he on?

frillint1 · 12-19-2012, 09:29 PM

Have you changed foods recently?

FlyAway · 12-20-2012, 07:59 AM

It could be flea bite allergies, too. Frontline isn't perfect.

My dog had flea bit allergies when he was a puppy and bit off most of his hair near his back end. Fortunately, it was only that one season and never returned.

MY current dog has environmental allergies and it manifests as itchy eyes, and he is constantly rubbing his eyes on rugs and furniture and rubbing his fur off. Also a lot of feet licking

Another thing to consider. Is his skin flaky? Do you see dandruff in his fur? Maybe all those baths are causing the problem. Bathe less, and use a mild oatmeal shampoo.

If it is allergies the Prednisone will work. But it's not good to constantly give him Prenisone. You can get a topical steriod spray that works if the hair is sparse enough. I used it on my dog's feet because he had licked half the hair off. It worked in 2 or 3 days and that was fixed.

FlyAway · 12-20-2012, 10:36 AM

I want to add, my dog is on a prescription allergy medicine. The generic name starts with an "oxy-something". Sorry I don't remember, I'll have to look at the bottle when I get home. It's not very expensive, and he has been on it most of the year. Definitely stay away from the prednisone in the future. It works short term, but is not a long term solution.

For now you can start giving your dog Benadryl and see how it works. Make sure you get PLAIN Benadryl with no additional medicines. Here is the dosage. Well, 2 different ways. I just use the second method.

Benadryl Dosage for Dogs:

The right dosage of this medication is usually determined in two different ways as indicated below:

1. It is administered by giving 1 milligram for every pound of a dog’s weight after every 8 hours or three times per day. A good example would be, a dog weighing 40lb should take 40mg of Benadryl three times within a single day.

2. Dogs are grouped according to three different weight classes with the dosage varying between these weight categories. What remains constant is the fact that the medication is taken three times a day regardless of the weight of the dog. The following are the categories:

- Dogs weighing 30 pounds and below – 10mg
- Between 30 and 50 pounds – 25mg
- 50 pounds and above – 50mg

12-19-2012, 06:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Good shepard New Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 1	Need advise my vet isn't helping! My 3 yr old male shepherd is itching and biting. It isn't fleas he is frontlined monthly and I wash him monthly. Today I got home and he bit himself till he bled. The vet gave him some prednezone and when i was done giving him the meds it came back ....allergies.?? I'm open for suggestions

12-19-2012, 06:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 19,243	Has the vet done a skin scraping? When did it start? Where do you live at? Are pollens still out? What is he eating? __________________ Michelle _________________________________________ Jax Von Monkeybutt, CGC Queen Banshee Boo Sierra the Undecided Cracker, The Great Shedder Rich N Handsome, "Red"

12-19-2012, 09:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
frillint1 Master Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 715	Have you changed foods recently? __________________ I love my two boys Smokey and Chief. Smokey is that one of a kind dog. I also really love my 4 precious guinea pigs.

12-20-2012, 07:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
FlyAway Master Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: The Cold Midwest Posts: 613	It could be flea bite allergies, too. Frontline isn't perfect. My dog had flea bit allergies when he was a puppy and bit off most of his hair near his back end. Fortunately, it was only that one season and never returned. MY current dog has environmental allergies and it manifests as itchy eyes, and he is constantly rubbing his eyes on rugs and furniture and rubbing his fur off. Also a lot of feet licking Another thing to consider. Is his skin flaky? Do you see dandruff in his fur? Maybe all those baths are causing the problem. Bathe less, and use a mild oatmeal shampoo. If it is allergies the Prednisone will work. But it's not good to constantly give him Prenisone. You can get a topical steriod spray that works if the hair is sparse enough. I used it on my dog's feet because he had licked half the hair off. It worked in 2 or 3 days and that was fixed. __________________ "And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up." Last edited by FlyAway; 12-20-2012 at 08:02 AM.

12-20-2012, 10:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
FlyAway Master Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: The Cold Midwest Posts: 613	I want to add, my dog is on a prescription allergy medicine. The generic name starts with an "oxy-something". Sorry I don't remember, I'll have to look at the bottle when I get home. It's not very expensive, and he has been on it most of the year. Definitely stay away from the prednisone in the future. It works short term, but is not a long term solution. For now you can start giving your dog Benadryl and see how it works. Make sure you get PLAIN Benadryl with no additional medicines. Here is the dosage. Well, 2 different ways. I just use the second method. Benadryl Dosage for Dogs: The right dosage of this medication is usually determined in two different ways as indicated below: 1. It is administered by giving 1 milligram for every pound of a dog’s weight after every 8 hours or three times per day. A good example would be, a dog weighing 40lb should take 40mg of Benadryl three times within a single day. 2. Dogs are grouped according to three different weight classes with the dosage varying between these weight categories. What remains constant is the fact that the medication is taken three times a day regardless of the weight of the dog. The following are the categories: - Dogs weighing 30 pounds and below – 10mg - Between 30 and 50 pounds – 25mg - 50 pounds and above – 50mg __________________ "And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up."

12-19-2012, 06:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
GusGus Master Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Clarksburg, West Virginia Posts: 746	It sounds like allergies to me, but I'm no expert. Try finding a really nice allergy shampoo. (Not one from Walmart or other super centers, but something from a pet supply retailer) and try bathing once a week with it? My fiances sister had a dog that did that basically. She has lots of missing hair in some areas and some scabs. Allergy meds also helped her. Maybe someone will have some more expertise in this area. Also, what food are you feeding? Maybe someone will have advice on that as well.

12-19-2012, 06:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
msvette2u Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 11,005	How old and what are you feeding him? Heh, just noticed he's 3. So that leaves food (for starters) what diet is he on?

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