Allergies: How effective is washing paws in a basin each time your doodle comes in the house from the yard?

[Marianne Kay]

While there was snow on the ground for 6 weeks, Pierre, my 4 1/2 year old goldendoodle, had no problems with his paws turning red. His paw problem began when I had a larger area of the yard fenced for him, in the autumn. Due to health issues, I have been unable to walk him like I once did. The yard is grass with a chipped wooded area. Last fall the vet used antibiotics and prednisone, to help him heal, a few times. We also switched his food to Limited Diet Rabbit. I was using a wash cloth to rinse his paws. From your groups I have learned this issue can pop up at 4 years of age, and that diet may only be the problem, 10% of the time. Also I have been told to bathe him once a week. Has all the water rinsing help solve anyone's problem? The vet thinks he may have a grass allergy and I may want to make my fenced lawn, a totally wood chipped area.

What has worked for you? By the way I am slowly switching Pierre to a prescription duck diet ( He really likes this better than the rabbit!).  Poor Pierre! I just want him well.

[F, Calla & Luca]

OMD.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I honestly do not think there are too many things much for frustrating than an itchy dog.  It drives me crazy to see Lucy itchy.  It is such a frustrating process trying to treat it as well though because so many of the things used to treat them have other issues associated with them as well.  It sometimes seems like the worse of two evils.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The immunotherapy shots really are the lesser of the evils. No side effects to speak of, and the cost is manageable, especially once you get past the induction phase. I feel so lucky that they have worked so well for Jack.

The other advantage I find to using a good dermatology specialist is that they are more knowledgable about various treatment options than the GP vets. For example, once when JD had a flare that was limited to his paws, his derm vet gave us a topical steroid lotion and another topical to mix and apply to his paws rather than using oral steroids. I have not heard of any GP vet prescribing anything like that, it seems to always be oral meds. Same with various antihistamines, the specialists give you options that the GP vets say they've never heard of, lol. And I have yet to hear of any GP vet being familiar with using evening primrose oil. 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

If I could get her down to just the shots I would be a very happy camper.  It just seems that every time we try to ween down the atopica it starts up again.  I do like the specialist for her allergy issues, although I will have to say that our local vet does a really good job of trying to handle as many things as she can.  The big problem in our rural area is people are not willing to go to a specialist.  You just don't do that.  So Dr. Jenny tries her hardest to do everything that she can within her practice to help as many dogs as possible.  Most of the items that I get from our specialist I'm able to refill through her.  That way the insurance pays 100% instead of the specialist rate of 80%.  I even do that on her shots.  They order them for me.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sadly, so few vets are as knowledgeable as Dr. Jenny. You're lucky to have her.

I just find it so strange that people expect their general practice vets to be experts in every single type of disease or condition of every single body system, and every treatment option for all of them. That just isn't possible, and we don't expect it of any other medical professional. Nobody expects their pediatrician to operate on their child's knee, lol, or straighten their teeth, or even prescribe glasses for vision correction. And nobody thinks twice about taking their child to an orthopedic surgeon, or an orthodontist, or an ophthalmologist, or a dermatologist, for that matter. I'm guessing that's true even in rural areas. 

[Marianne Kay]

Hi Lucy! So glad you responded, too. Sorry to hear about AnnaBelle having this issue, too. I am limited in my ability to travel, so its good to know that some items may be available from a local vet. Its also good to know there is another option if other strategies do not work. I do not have pet insurance, and by now, its probably not possible. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Insurance would be possible, but it will not cover anything to do with the allergies. 

However, based on my own experience, I would advise you to get it anyway. After JD's Atopy was diagnosed, I foolishly thought there was no point getting insurance because his allergies wouldn;t be covered. How wrong I was. Several years later, he developed Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which is another immune-mediated disease similar to Crohn's disease in humans. (Is there a connection? Maybe.) The diagnostics alone for the IBD ran well over $4000 (the endoscopy alone was almost $3000.) A year later, he was diagnosed with a herniated lumbar disc; MRI cost almost $2000. How I wish I'd gotten the insurance. Treatment for both is ongoing and expensive. 

Regarding sources for meds and antigens, most prescriptions can be gotten at your local pharmacy, and it's usually much less expensive than getting them from the vet. I get just about all of JD's meds from CVS, including his prednisone. And the antigens for the immunotherapy can be sent to you. 

[Marianne Kay]

Oh my goodness! Poor Jackdoodle!!What is the name of your insurance? I am glad to find out I can still get pet insurance. My Samoyed was a walk in the park to care for, but she did not have the intelligence and affection of a doodle. Thank you for your advice about the medications and the antigens! That will be a big help! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't have insurance for Jack. Big mistake. :) 

[Marianne Kay]

Karen, I am so sorry that Jack had such bad allergies. It had to be awful to witness his struggles. I am so glad the shots have worked for him so he can be a happy doodle again.Thank you for letting me know about the Atopica as an option, too. I understand about the side effects of prednisone and a biologic, only too well. I found a dermatology specialist and her staff described the in-depth interview process, the scrapings of the skin areas, first to look for certain things. The staff member's own dog had allergy issues and she was able to give me a first-hand account of the process the doctor goes through. The question to be answered is when he can come in with regards to the medications he is on, and accurate test results. Thank you again for all your help.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm so glad you found a dermatology specialist. I love mine, she also has Atopic dogs, Labs, which are the number two breed affected, so she has first-hand experience in what we as owners go through with these guys. 

JD was tested in the winter when he had no symptoms and could be off all meds.  I did my first consultation with the dermatologist separately from the testing, that might be an option for you. 

I hope the dermatologist can help you with finding the right timing for the testing. Please keep us posted. 

[Marianne Kay]

 Yes!  She works out here one day a week for new patients and comes sometimes on another day. The first consultation is $208.00. For 1 1/2 hours she asks many questions about the dog's history and environment. The first thing she may do are scrapings and samplings of the paws and ears. Pierre has to be off prednisone for 2 weeks before the first appointment. I counted up his 1/2 pills and that takes me to May 15th. I am not happy that he will be on a 1/2 pill one day and one day off for that long. It means I have to wait until May 29th to see the allergist. I am going to leave a voice mail with the prescribing doctor to ask about this length of time. He has never been on prednisone that long and I am concerned about the effect it could have on him.