I think I am going to Lose my Mind

[cheryl & oliver]

Well Mr. Oliver started going after his tail yesterday, and scratching all over his body...I was kind of freaking out, as we just went thru the nightmare with his foot several mos. ago, So this am, I had him at the vet at 8:30 am, to check it out. Seems he had chewed himself raw under his tail, all red and angry looking.Turns out it is a hot spot on both sides of the tail underneath near the base of the tail. Since we are going away one week from today, and my boys are staying with my cousin and her dog, I was freaking out. He gave him a shot, a steroid to stop the itching, and a cream to put on the area...Have u ever tried to hold a 70 lb dog still to apply cream in a delicate area???...This is not easy to say the least. They told me he would be drinking a lot and peeing alot. Well he really isn't drinking more then normal. and he is very mopey. He is supposed to be going to the groomer tomorrow for a soothing oatmeal bath and just a trim. His hair is not long, but from his scratching he has made mats in different places. He is sleeping alot today and I am hoping it is just from the shot. Why do these things happen at the worst times? Not that there is ever a good time for this stuff, but he was doing so good. I have a feeling I might have caused this, I used something on my carpeting to remove the doggy smell, and I bet that started this.Ya know the stuff you spronkle on the casrpet and vacuum up, I did it on Fri, and this started on Sun, Sry this is so long, just needed to vent, and oh O don't know I am just so frustrated, and oh to add insult to injury, he is wearing that awful collar again, ugh, what a bad Mommy I am,,,if I did this to him....

[cheryl & oliver]

Thanks Julie, I sure hope so...

[cheryl & oliver]

Thanks, Jane, and no he doesn't know what caused it, he thinks it is just the typical allergies that are so common in Goldens. It could be a food allergy, but I doubt it, he has been fine with his food, Who knows, I just want him to get better and be my old loveable Ollie again, He looks at me with such sad eyes, it kills me..Hopefully tomorrow will be better...

[BG and Gavin]

Don't know if dogs react anything like humans, but I am terribly allergic to carpet fresh. Oh I can still remember the smell. Hopefully the meds help Oliver and he is back on his paws in not time. Good you caught it early.

[cheryl & oliver]

I think that if we can be allergic they can too...Thanks for the kind words...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Human reactions to inorganic chemicals are usually chemical sensitivities and not true allergies. There is also contact dermatitis, which can be caused by inorganic substances. But a histamine response that causes itching, especially generalized itching such as you describe, is usually caused by organic substances that contain proteins.

[Holly St Pierre]

Gunner is on Taste of the Wild-wetland formula too. Very ironic, however my vet doesn't think his hot spots are from the food & he has no signs of allergies. It is so hard to pin point why they are getting the hot spots, I just wish I could figure out what causes them

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You evidently have one of the few vets who knows that statistically, food allergies are the rarest type of allergy in dogs. Be glad. Many of us finally consulted specialists for our dogs' allergies and skin issues after wasting a lot of time and money, and putting our dogs through unnecessary changes, following our vets' well-meant but misguided ideas about food allergies.