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Ben

Sent to Pet Experts June 17 2006 at 3:56 PM
   

My dog, Ben has sever allergies to outdoors particular grass. He's gotten so bad that he has chew off the fur on his paws and he had crusty scabs on his neck and gorin area. Everytime I take him to the vet they give him steroids and a anitbiotic pill. He hates to take the antibiotic so much so he closes off his throat and the steriods are making him extremely fat. What else can I do?

 

Optional Information:
Age: 12; Male; Breed: Mini Long haired daushound

Already Tried:
antibiotics and steroids, alveeno bath to soothe and benedryl/p>

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $8
Answer
June 17 2006 at 5:15 PM (1 hour and 18 minutes and 42 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
There are alternatives to steroids. However, steroids are the quickest way to get your dog to stop itching. We use them at the lowest oral dose possible and use them as infrequently as possible to keep the dog comfortable. Benadryl has been proven to be of no value in chronic dog skin allergies.

Ask your vet about a new drug called ATOPICA. It has the same effect as steroids without all of the steroid side effects. Some dogs get some stomach irritation with ATOPICA, but is goes away.

Also you can use Omega3 faty acid dietary supplements to decrease the dog's skin sensitivity to allergens. It may take a month or two to see any effect from that.

Walking the dog on artifical turf, or on the sidewalk will keep him off of the grasses that he is allergic to. Washing him off several times a day with a wet washcloth can help remove the grass allergens.

You can also have the dog allergy tested so that a vaccine can be made up hat will immunize him against the allegens he is sensitive to. This may take a year of allergy shots and it really will help in the future, but not immediately.

Edited by dr4pets on June 17 2006 at 5:15 PM

Respond if you need more information or if my answer didn't exactly answer your question. If I have been helpful, please ACCEPT the answer and please LEAVE FEEDBACK!!

Dr. Louis Gotthelf
Animal Hospital of Montgomery
Pet Skin and Ear Clinic
dr4pets -- Veterinarian -- 100% Positive Feedback on 117 Pet Accepts
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Owns Animal Hospital of Montgomery in Alabama for 30 years
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