Allergies and Hot Spots

1712 Views 14 Replies 7 Participants Last post by LisaT, May 9, 2008

Foster's Mom

Discussion Starter · May 6, 2008

Greetings All,
I thought I would post this to you, the readers with GS, to see if anyone has gone through this and can provide me with some insight.
My 5yr old GS, Foster, has over the last year and a half developed allergies. His favorite place to lick and chew is his right hip usually until it becomes a hairless bloody patch. I have taken him to the Vet for this so many times but the Vet claims it's hotspots/allergies and gives him antibotics & ointment, which makes the problem go away-Temp, but it always comes back. We have changed his food, his bedding, his shampoo's, everything we can think of. I feel the problem is in the yard with the grass. He loves to go out after the spinklers have come on and gone off, and roll around in the wet grass.
I have been giving him benedryl every 4 to 6 hours but it knocks him out. I don't like taking pills myself so I hate giving them to him. He's always so sleepy and that's no way for a dog to live. Just recently I starting giving him 2 teaspoons a day of coconut oil. My sister in law suggested it...working on her dog with the itchies. Foster's vet suggested Hill's Science Diet Ultra Z/d formula dog food. We are about to start our 3rd bad of food. I don't feel it's a food allergy.
Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
Desperate in Southern California!

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mspiker03

· #2 · May 6, 2008

Have you taken your dog to the vet to get an allergy test? Are you sure it is environmental or food related? If you feel it is might be food related, I would try a home cooked or raw food elimination diet. I also live in So Cal and my male has allergies (environmental and probably some food ones), so I feel your pain. We've been able to control the itchies through diet for the most part. I was at least able to take him off antihistimes after doing an elimination diet. We also did an allergy test on environmental allergens.

Good luck!

Foster's Mom

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 6, 2008

My Vet said he was going to rule out a food allergy hince the HSD Ultra Z/d food. I called Foster's Vet today to let him know that we are about to start his 3rd bag of this high priced food and he now has 3 hot spots as of this morning. I'm waiting for all call back tomorrow. I feel his allergies are stemmed from the Grass. One of the receptionists fom the vet's office asked if we have Bermuda Grass? She said that could be it....Now why didn't the vet ask that question?
I was just hoping that someone on here has gone through this same thing with their best friend and found out that Grass was the cause.....

Vinnie

· #4 · May 6, 2008

I think I would just have an allergy test done. This should tell you right off the bat what Foster is allergic to be it food/fleas/grass/etc. Then you aren't wasting anymore money on expensive foods or guessing games.

A few months back one of the members was telling me that the allergy testing they do now a days is as simple as drawing some blood. Seems a lot easier than going trough a few months of trial-and-error feeding.

GSDgirlAL

· #5 · May 6, 2008

I agree I too would have the allergy test done, at least your money would be going to something that might give you some answers instead of buying that expensive food that definitely doesn't seem to be helping.

Ava and Cooper both have food allergies and the Vet did a blood test. It did take about a week to get the results back but it was worth it - although I was SHOCKED with the results.

I know it's stressful and you hate seeing Foster like this, but just be patient and keep trying to rule things out and you will figure out what is causing him to be like this.

Have you thought about getting a second opinion from another Vet?

LJsMom

· #6 · May 6, 2008

I think you should have the allergy testing done. Your dog could be allergic to the Z/D. Soy makes LJ itch like crazy.

mspiker03

· #7 · May 6, 2008

My old vet also felt that we could rule out food allergies because of the time of year my male came in with problems. When I mentioned doing a food trial, he wanted to put me on the expensive vet diet, but I declined. So, we did the allergy tests (we did the VARL blood allergy test) for environmental allergens(yup...there were a bunch of positives) and at the same time we started a raw food elimination diet (no treats, no goodies...nothing but one protein source). 3 weeks later, I was able to take him off antihistimes. I guess my point is...just because the vet "feels" like they are only environmental, doesn't mean that your dog does not have any food allergies as well. Like LJ's Mom said, your pup could be allergic to any of the ingredients in z/d.

Foster's Mom

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 6, 2008

I really appreciate your help and suggestions. I'm going to wait until I speak with the Vet again tomorrow...it he doesn't offer the allergy test I will request it be done. If he doesn't agree...I think I will be looking for another Vet for a second opinion.
It seems odd to me that he could develope a food allergy after 3 years on the same food that his breeder recommended.
It just sucks because I know he's miserable and I can't fix it.
Thanks for listening......

LJsMom

· #9 · May 6, 2008

Originally Posted By: Foster's MomIt seems odd to me that he could develope a food allergy after 3 years on the same food that his breeder recommended.

After LJ's allergy testing my vet told me that just because she isn't allergic to a certain food today, she could be tomorrow.

LisaT

· #10 · May 7, 2008

It's time for the annual hot spot. My Max has one now. I'm actually wondering if it doesn't coincide with the time of year when I start applying Frontline.

Actually, for Max, the the chiropractor and acupuncture treatments work best for him. For him, it's a nerve thing, which I don't understand, but I do see the skin flinching around the area, and it travels along the nerves.

I do give scullcap in the a.m. and black cohosh in the p.m., and that with the chiro/acup, will make it go away. Otherwise, he just goes nuts.

As for the allergies, I agree with everything the folks above said. However, I would add that treating allergies is not just about taking the offending stuff out, but targeting nutrients that most allergic folks need (misc supplements).

Foster's Mom

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 7, 2008

I woke up this morning to another bloody patch missing from the same side as the other's I reported.
I find something very interesting...Foster has the beginnings of hip dysplasia in his right hip...which is "always" the side with the hot spots. Could he be having pain in his hip and the licking/chewing is how he thinks he can ease the pain?
There isn't a spot on him that you can touch without him starting to scratch.

LJsMom

· #12 · May 7, 2008

Originally Posted By: LisaTAs for the allergies, I agree with everything the folks above said. However, I would add that treating allergies is not just about taking the offending stuff out, but targeting nutrients that most allergic folks need (misc supplements).

Lisa, can you give some suggestions for supplements?

natalie559

· #13 · May 8, 2008

Bermuda grass is one of Penny's allergy triggers- but all dogs are different.

I had a blood allergy test done to find out what Penny was allergic to environmentally. Allergy testing for food triggers is not very reliable. The best thing to do for a suspected food allergy is an elimination diet.

After we found out what her allergies were I decided to start her on immunization shots and they have made a big difference. She still itches, but her skin and coat are MUCH improved.

She still gets hotspots occasionally and I use gold bond medicated powder to dry them up. When she gets itchy all over bathing really helps, as often as once a week. I have her on a high dose of salmon oil for its anti inflammatory properties.

Do you use flea prevention? I didn't used to because I could never find a flea on Penny and didn't want to put needless chemicals on her. But her vet and the allergy tests showed that she was flea sensitive so even one flea bite can send her into rage. I use advantix now on her once a much and this has helped a lot too.

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LisaT

· #14 · May 9, 2008

Originally Posted By: Foster's MomI woke up this morning to another bloody patch missing from the same side as the other's I reported.
I find something very interesting...Foster has the beginnings of hip dysplasia in his right hip...which is "always" the side with the hot spots. Could he be having pain in his hip and the licking/chewing is how he thinks he can ease the pain?
There isn't a spot on him that you can touch without him starting to scratch.

I think all these things are related.

I would take this dog to acupuncture.

LisaT

· #15 · May 9, 2008

Originally Posted By: LJsMom

Originally Posted By: LisaTAs for the allergies, I agree with everything the folks above said. However, I would add that treating allergies is not just about taking the offending stuff out, but targeting nutrients that most allergic folks need (misc supplements).

Click to expand...

Lisa, can you give some suggestions for supplements?

It's tough to find the right mix for each individual, but I've seen folks get their dogs off of steroids with just a multivitamin and fresh ground flaxseed (actually, Missing Link was used). Ironic, since a number of dogs can be allergic to flax or ML!! That combination works really well though.

What I have my dog on for allergies would include a multivitamin, B-50 complex, vitamin C, bioflavanoids, fresh ground flax, and somewhere in there needs to be enough zinc - even adding extra several times a week would help.

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