Joey has allergies.

[Janie Holland]

Joey has severe allergies.  We took him to Dr. Jean Greek in Santa Barbara.  She was recommended by our vet in town.  Joey was given allergy testing and showed severe allergies to grasses and trees.

 

I have to give him injections of antigen twice a week; plus he also takes a pill that is a combination antihistimine and steroid.  We have his liver enzymes checked periodically to make sure he is handling it.  He still scratches a little but not nearly like before.  It was horrible when it started.  He is now almost 2 1/2.  This began when he was 8 months old.

 

Has anyone else experienced this?  I called the breeder and asked if anyone had contacted her to let her know that there dog has allergies.  She said no.  I was the first. Hmmmmm.

 

Janie

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Janie, there are quite a few of us here whose dogs have been diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis, which is what Joey has, and are getting immunotherapy treatments under the care of a specialist, as Joey is. We have an Atopic Dermatitis Support Group here. Please join us. It is a private group, but just request membership and I'll approve it.

A.D. Support Group

Atopic Dermatitis is a genetic disease, so it's in your breeder's lines somewhere, probably on the retriever side. Many breeders will not admit that any of their puppies have this. Some really don't know, as it often doesn't show up until a dog is between 1 and 3 years old. Also, because doodles are bred at such a young age, sometimes the breeders don't know that a breeding dog is affected because he or she isn't old enough at the time they're bred for the disease to have shown up yet.

I know it can be very overhwelming, but we have a lot of help, experience, and support for you in the group, and it helps sometimes just to know you're not alone.

My Jack has been on immunotherapy treatment since January 2009, and he has been almost symptom free for most of that time. Hang in there!

[Janie Holland]

Karen and Jack,

 

I would really enjoy being a part of the Atopic Dermatitis Support Group.  Thank you so much for asking.  

 

Janie

[Janie Holland]

Karen and Jack,

 

How is your dog doing with the Atopic Dermatitis?  Joey is still on the antihistimine/prednisone.  We are eliminating the shots as they didn't seem to do anything.

I need to bathe him a couple times a week, and he takes his pill every day.  He is better.  I suppose it is just under control at this point.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hi Janie,

The immunotherapy shots can take up to 18 months to have an effect. I'm not sure when you started them, but I would stay with them for a while longer, because for us, it has really been worth it. Jack has been symptom free 10 months out of the year and has not needed steroids since January 2009. Ragweed season is just now kicking off, so he is starting to flare, but we have been able to manage it with weekly baths, brushing, vigilant cleaning, and limiting time outdoors. Last year we had to use a topical steroid on his feet, so the specialist has tweaked his antigen formula a little bit. I'm hoping this year's flare will be milder.

Did your specialist recommend discontinuing the antigens?

[Janie Holland]

Joey has been on the shots since April 2010.  Our last visit to see Dr. Greek is when she said to slowly wean him off of the shots.  She said we should have seen a bigger improvement with the itching by now if the shots were going to work.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Ah. I'm sorry you didn't have better results, but at least you're able to control the symptoms. I know the immunotherapy doesn't always work as well for some dogs, depending on what the allergens are.  I hope Joey continues to do well.

[Janie Holland]

I'm glad to hear that Jack is doing well.  It sure is hard to see these dogs go through this.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I've been getting immunotherapy since beginning of June last year. Everyone complained about tree pollen this spring but I was really good.

[Janie Holland]

So it seems to be working pretty well then?