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Are the allergies the underlying cause? If so, why is that? What's the best way to prevent an endless cycle of these infections? I just got her digestive system back on track from the last round of antibiotics.
Of course there's always the possibility that she could be allergic to multiple things, but based on the fact that she gets really red eyes after being outside, I think it's environmental rather than her food. If that's the case, I don't see how we can possibly figure out what it is; we have a very large yard that's mostly covered in natural vegetation. Even what grass there is is just what's grown there...it's not like a seeded lawn.Allergies can be the root of a lot of skin, ear, and GI problems, and can be from food or environmental sources. If you can figure out what she's allergic to, it would help a lot.
We've been giving benadryl for the itching, which seemed pretty minimal until this recurrence of the staph infection. I'm really trying to figure out the best way to boost her immune system. Have you ever heard of Vit C giving a dog the runs?You can have allergy tests run to see exactly what she is allergic to. Then they will make up a serum for her and give injections to desensitize her. I'm doing this for Onyx right now, so far-haven't seen results but it may take a year to get her system to "ignore" what she is allergic to.
Vitamin C is a natural anti-histamine, so I would supplement with that and maybe give benedryl for the itching.
You know what I have a really bad feeling about is the sword ferns. You should see the spores fly up off those things when Shasta runs through them. We have hundreds in our yard.Vitamin C can give the dogs the runs, so introducing it slowly upping the dosage over a week or two is best. I doubled Karlo's amount when he was going thru pano, and it looked like cement coming out.
I had the Heska test run and they did test for many grasses, molds etc.
I use human grade 500mg. Start with that and slowly up the dosage to 2000mg(split between meals) daily over a week or two...so eventually the dosage is 1000mg am and pm. If the dog is over a year EsterC is easier on the gut(it contains more calcium than regular C so not appropriate for young pups) Dosage would be the same for the EsterC.On the vitamin C, can I use what I have on hand here for us? Does the dosage depend upon weight?
Thanks, I think I have 1000 mg tablets so I can just break them in half for starters. She's only 46 pounds right now, would I still work up to 2000 mg?I use human grade 500mg. Start with that and slowly up the dosage to 2000mg(split between meals) daily over a week or two...so eventually the dosage is 1000mg am and pm. If the dog is over a year EsterC is easier on the gut(it contains more calcium than regular C so not appropriate for young pups) Dosage would be the same for the EsterC.
Thanks, Jane, I appreciate all the info.At her age/size I would only 1000mg for a couple of months til she gets a bit bigger, starting at 500mg for a week or so and then 1/2 pill am & 1/2 pm
Thanks, unbelievably, she seems to feel better already. Her poor li'l tummy is still all bumpy, but not so much scratching this evening. And she's finally getting some good sleep.So hope she gets better soon! You both could use a break