Itchy Coat

[Bella & Emma]

My Mini Australian Labradoodle Emma cannot stop itching her body. I've read lots of posts on here about environmental allergies causing the itching. I've taken her to the vet but haven't had much luck with a diagnosis...we've been prescribed Panalog antibiotic creme for main itching areas and Simplicef antibiotic pills to stop infection but I don't want to continue giving her antibiotics. Benadryl does not work but I am going to start adding fish oil to her food to see if that helps. She eats Acana Pacifica (used to eat Orijen puppy). I just gave her a homemade oatmeal bath which didn't fix the problem. There is a lot of pollen where we live which is probably contributing to her itching. She is 15 months old so her adult hair is growing in. Could the puppy to adult coat change be the reason for this? Has anyone else had the same itchy situation and if so, does it go away after the adult coat grows in? Thanks for the advice! I just want Emma to feel better.

 

Thank you!

Bella

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The coat change is not causing the itching. Try wiping her down every time she comes in from outside, wipe off her feet and keep them dry, and brush her often. Wash her bedding, too. If it's a pollen allergy, she's bringing it in on her coat, so the more cleaning, vacuuming, etc you can do, the more it might help. Fish oil is a good idea, and Claritin or Zyrtec work better for some of our dogs than Benadryl. You can try cortisone sprays for temporary relief, too.

If this continues, you may want to ask your vet for a referral to a veterinary dermatology specialist.

[Bella & Emma]

Thanks Karen! Question- How many mg of fish oil do you recommend for a 22lb dog? Also, does the specific brand matter? I bought Origin 1200mg Natural Omega-3 Fish Oil softgels (for humans).

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't give fish oil myself, I use evening primrose oil capsules. Maybe some of the others who use fish oil could help with that. I know quite a few Food Group members use it.

[todd]

we use walitin (claritin) everyday for piper. we've also changed his food to blue eagle or something. it's a more natural food, but nothing extreme. prior to making these changes, he was licking is paws a lot and getting constant ear infections. he hasn't had any issues since we changed his food.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The food that Emma is getting is the highest quality grain-free food available today; it is not only "natural", but it's made by a small Canadian company that only uses regional ingredients from local suppliers. I don't know what food you were using before you switched to the one you're using now, but there is nothing Emma could be switched to that would be better for her than the one she's currently eating, in terms of ingredients and even things like storage mites, which can also cause allergic reactions.  The chances of this being caused by anything in the Acana food are very low. In fact, the chances of it being caused by food at all is 1 in 10.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Chloe had itchy skin until her food was changed. It's a great idea to wipe them down when they come in also-good luck to you.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned has periodic itchies also. We feed him a high quality grain-free food, use Evening Primrose and give a Claritin or Zyrtec as needed. Once or twice a year, Ned has to have a cortisone shot for the itchies just to calm the cycle down. 

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Unfortunately this is the season for allergies, and pollen, grass etc are the most likely culprits. Bathing too often with shampoo might also cause itchies (just water is fine)

[Christine & Camus]

Camus has developed allergies, most likely environmental. Very itchy skin and red eyes with constant discharge.  I give him hydroxyzine, 50 mg. 2 to 3 x daily, which has helped a lot with the itchy skin, but this week I had to start a 10-day course of cortizone eye drops.  I also give him a 1000 mg Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil cap daily.  His itching is now minimal, however when he does start itching I bathe him with bio-groom shampoo. 

[Tanya Sheldon]

Not sure I have an answer but you brought up an interesting point. My Shih Tzu at about the same age was uncontrollably itchy, the Neem Shampoo was the only thing that slightly helped. But now here is what is interesting she no longer itches. One of two possible solutions that happened simultaneously so not sure which took care of the problem. We got another dog and she has become the mother hen of my doodle, my daughters standard size doodle and my sons Golden Retriever. She may be too busy to itch or she grew out of it. She would scratch sores in her skin. It's been two years since we got the other dogs and no more itching.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri used to itch seasonally.  We wipe her paws off every time she comes inside and give one 500mg tablet of Evening Primrose Oil (epo) daily.  She has been virtally itch-free for over a year.  It helps a lot in our situation.