Dog Skin problem. Possible grass allergy
Discussion
Has anyone experience of dealing with skin allergies in Terriers. My two Cairn lads seem to be troubled by a recurring skin allergy. It looks likely that it's a grass allergy as they suffer with it mainly in the summer months when the grass is actively growing.
Vets have diagnosed pyoderma and have previously given injections and expensive body wash which helped but didn't cure anything.
They get spotty skin which then erupts into scabby areas. The skin is left discoloured for a while then goes back to normal. No significant coughing or wretching and otherwise healthy and eating normally. Bathing them helps the scabby bits but doesn't cure the initial spots.
I feel so sorry for them but really don't know what else to try for relief. Have heard about Evening Primrose Oil helping but haven't got any as yet. They get sardines a couple of times a week but that really hasn't done much to help.
Any Ideas?
Vets have diagnosed pyoderma and have previously given injections and expensive body wash which helped but didn't cure anything.
They get spotty skin which then erupts into scabby areas. The skin is left discoloured for a while then goes back to normal. No significant coughing or wretching and otherwise healthy and eating normally. Bathing them helps the scabby bits but doesn't cure the initial spots.
I feel so sorry for them but really don't know what else to try for relief. Have heard about Evening Primrose Oil helping but haven't got any as yet. They get sardines a couple of times a week but that really hasn't done much to help.
Any Ideas?
Could be reaction to thistles, nettles or grass at this time of year as the growth is longer and more likely to irritate dogs lower to the ground.
My dog used to come it in similar to your boys and my vet gave us Malaceb Shampoo which worked a treat.
Maybe a second opinion with a different vet?
My dog used to come it in similar to your boys and my vet gave us Malaceb Shampoo which worked a treat.
Maybe a second opinion with a different vet?
Are the dogs related? Makes allergy a lot more likely if they are, possibly less likely if not.
Sounds like you are dealing with a seasonal allergy, there's really two ways of trying to manage it, medication or desensitisation.
Medication would be anti-histamines and/or steroids, anti-histamines don't have side effects but don't always work, steroids nearly always work but can with short-term and long-term side effects. Both are relatively inexpensive. You can try homeopathic and nutraceutical type treatments, they may work they may not, they're unlikely to do any harm.
Desensitisation involves determining what the dogs are reacting to by blood tests looking for antibodies or injecting small amounts of allergens into the skin to see what causes a reaction, then once you know what the dogs are reacting to giving them very small amounts of the allergen and gradually building up the dose to try and get the immune system used to the allergen. This is expensive and doesn't always work.
Sounds like you are dealing with a seasonal allergy, there's really two ways of trying to manage it, medication or desensitisation.
Medication would be anti-histamines and/or steroids, anti-histamines don't have side effects but don't always work, steroids nearly always work but can with short-term and long-term side effects. Both are relatively inexpensive. You can try homeopathic and nutraceutical type treatments, they may work they may not, they're unlikely to do any harm.
Desensitisation involves determining what the dogs are reacting to by blood tests looking for antibodies or injecting small amounts of allergens into the skin to see what causes a reaction, then once you know what the dogs are reacting to giving them very small amounts of the allergen and gradually building up the dose to try and get the immune system used to the allergen. This is expensive and doesn't always work.
Thanks for the replies. Yes they are brothers so I think allergy is likely. Only started in last couple of years when we moved to a house with a large grass garden.
Got some Piriton from the vet previously and have now got some Evening Primrose Oil caps so will try them both for a few weeks. Bathing as I think they need it with Coal Tar dog shampoo and also medical handwash stuff which is recommended by the vets also.
Hate to see them so itchy though. I will try and get some local honey as that is supposed to help desensitise allergies to pollen.
Got some Piriton from the vet previously and have now got some Evening Primrose Oil caps so will try them both for a few weeks. Bathing as I think they need it with Coal Tar dog shampoo and also medical handwash stuff which is recommended by the vets also.
Hate to see them so itchy though. I will try and get some local honey as that is supposed to help desensitise allergies to pollen.
Yes. our beagle suffers with awful grass and pollen contact allergy.
He has the usual red patches on skin, (legs and chest mostly). Uncomfortable and constant chewing.
Started with piriton and steroids. Later we moved on to skin scrapes and samples to see the cause. The results showed extreme reactions to grass and tree pollen. To give an idea of the level of allergy, the vet said Parts Per Million of over 200 were high, he had a reaction level over 2000 PPM. So they suggested a course of allergen treatment.
After the initial dosing period of increasing the amount injected. We have had 6 clear months before the pollen season started again this year. As a result we backed off the Steroids this season to see if allergen treatment worked. Unfortunately that didn't touch it so he was red raw within weeks of April. and he infected himself in the process while trying to lick and bite his legs.
We also tried Unpasturised Apple Cider Vinegar in his food, as this is supposed to help. ( For us it turned out to be an old wives tale which resulted in him not trusting anything in his bowl).
Masaleb shampoo was used to try and get the infected itching under control. But it was not enough, his infection had got to deep into the skin. so a course of antibiotics.
This prompted a course of a much more serious drug called atopica which is supposed to be kinder on their liver and kidneys, as a lifetime of steroids was the only other option.
Meanwhile his irritated skin formed tumors which have been cut out under general anaesthetic and following analysis found to be an extreme form of dermatitis from the constant licking and nibbling.
Its horrid and he is rarely comfortable in the peak pollen months. So i feel for you and your dogs.
Thank god for petplan. As so far we are in to 4 or 5k.
He has the usual red patches on skin, (legs and chest mostly). Uncomfortable and constant chewing.
Started with piriton and steroids. Later we moved on to skin scrapes and samples to see the cause. The results showed extreme reactions to grass and tree pollen. To give an idea of the level of allergy, the vet said Parts Per Million of over 200 were high, he had a reaction level over 2000 PPM. So they suggested a course of allergen treatment.
After the initial dosing period of increasing the amount injected. We have had 6 clear months before the pollen season started again this year. As a result we backed off the Steroids this season to see if allergen treatment worked. Unfortunately that didn't touch it so he was red raw within weeks of April. and he infected himself in the process while trying to lick and bite his legs.
We also tried Unpasturised Apple Cider Vinegar in his food, as this is supposed to help. ( For us it turned out to be an old wives tale which resulted in him not trusting anything in his bowl).
Masaleb shampoo was used to try and get the infected itching under control. But it was not enough, his infection had got to deep into the skin. so a course of antibiotics.
This prompted a course of a much more serious drug called atopica which is supposed to be kinder on their liver and kidneys, as a lifetime of steroids was the only other option.
Meanwhile his irritated skin formed tumors which have been cut out under general anaesthetic and following analysis found to be an extreme form of dermatitis from the constant licking and nibbling.
Its horrid and he is rarely comfortable in the peak pollen months. So i feel for you and your dogs.
Thank god for petplan. As so far we are in to 4 or 5k.
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