Itchy Dog

[Carolyn and Sadie]

Hi,

Sadie my 1 1/2 year old cockapoo  has been more itchy than usual lately and has had her first

inflammation in her inside ear flaps but her ear canals look fine. Her regular vet declares she might have seasonal allergies and the fall allergy season has just started here in Massachusetts. She did just

get a very short haircut with ear cleaning two weeks ago and I am hoping that is the culprit. I called to ask what shampoo they used and they were vague and would no tell me except to say they use different products(I am guessing something cheap). They also said they wipe the inside ear flaps with alcohol and water or clean the canals with a mild ear cleaner but can't remember which they did with her. In the future I think I will bring my own shampoo for them to use and tell them to leave her ears alone. She was matted because I bathed her when she was pretty long and her fur matted up badly.

I will never do that again. Just try to comb her on a regular basis to prevent matting. I do like this groomer a lot.

Don't know if it is seasonal allergies or just overzealous grooming but I suspect she has mild allergies as she has been mildly itchy in the past.

I am also going to switch her from Acana Prairie(chicken) to Acana Pacifica(salmon) because I started Prairie in June and she hasn't done well on it. Some diarrhea on and off. Of course during this time she chewed half a pencil and chewed and ingested some small twigs in the backyard. Diarrhea due to dietary indiscretion? And she does fine with cooked chicken so maybe there is something else in the Prairie formula that doesn't agree with her. I was trying to switch proteins to avoid allergies but maybe that was a mistake.  I will try a limited ingredient food next if diarrhea continues to be a problem. Just wondering after I switch her to the Pacifica and she is doing well would it be ok to add EPO 500mg once a day? Is EPO pretty benign if the dog has no history of seizure disorder?

Of course the vet recommended Benadryl twice a day and yes she is less itchy but sleeps day and night. What dosage of Zyrtec or Claritin can a 16 pound dog have?  

Sorry this is so long but it has been a long process.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You know, now that I think about it, I'm not even sure than you would get more allergens coming in on a longer coat than a shorter one. They'd be on the surface, and the surface area would be basically the same either way. 

[BG and Gavin]

So because they are inhalant, contact between skin and allergen is not a factor right? If it was, the longer thicker coat would insulate the skin in a sense.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No, contact with skin is not a factor. That's one of the hardest things for many people to understand. Many people think that the symptoms are caused by the dog walking on the grass, for example. I've had people ask me if it would help to tear out their lawns or cut down their trees. But unless everyone within a 300 or 400 mile radius does likewise, lol, the answer is no. The allergens are being inhaled when the dog breathes, and entering the blood stream. Pollen travels hundreds of miles on the air, you can't avoid it. 

[BG and Gavin]

 It is hard to understand, for example I am allergic to hay. I get a runny nose, sneeze, watery eyes etc. However if the hay touches my arms or legs my skin also reacts with redness, itchiness,  swelling etc.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think it's possible that you may have two different types of allergic reactions, one the typical IgE immune-mediated response which is the earmark of "true allergies", and then possibly a contact allergy to the oils in the hay. But I have not heard of or seen any reliable literature on the latter being the case with dogs. 

[Lynda Kamrath]

Keep records of dosages and what you are using.  It may be of help in the future.

Our little Jackapoo has problems with his ears and itchy skin.  We use Hydrocortisone Medicated Shampoo or PhytoVet Antiseptic Shampoo and that works for him.  We use Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced Salicylic Acid 0.25 for his ears.  He is happy and clean.  I think we get all of them from the vet or maybe from PetSmart.

Yes, it can be seasonal allergies, or maybe food allergies also.  Keep records and the results.

[Carolyn and Sadie]

Thanks for all of your responses. It has been so helpful I will keep records and results. It is so nice to have a place to turn for suggestions.

 

[Rebecca, Kandy & Murphy]

We had dogs with d frequent ear infections and itchy skin.  But daily Claratin (for one) and Benedryl (for the other) have curbed ear problems and itchy skin.  Not sure what Claratin dosage for a smaller dog would be -- we give 1 tablet each morning but Kandy is 65 lbs.  And our 55 lb. Murphy only gets 1 Benedryl, but it doesn't seem to have any impact on his energy level at all -- almost wish it would since he is our wild guy. 

Seems like changing food and changing grooming makes it hard to figure out if it is those things or allergies.  And seasonal allergies won't be impacted by food or grooming, so those wouldn't help.  Always easiest to change one thing at a time to see what impact they have. 

I know our groomer uses a wide variety of products depending on the dog and the condition of the coat on that particular day, and if I asked a couple of week's later she probably wouldn't remember, so I wouldn't automatically assume she didn't want to tell you.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack weighs 80 lbs, and the dose of Claritin prescribed by his dermatology specialist is three 10 mg tablets 1x per day. Jane's Murphy who weighs 60 lbs gets two 10 mg tablets. So your Kandy may need a bigger dose. 

[Rebecca, Kandy & Murphy]

Well, we've been doing this for more than a year now and it has solved the problem that we started with.  So if it works at the lower dose, I'm not sure what a higher one would achieve. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, if the dosage is giving her relief, it's enough. :)

[Carolyn and Sadie]

Do you give them year round?