Multiple Issues this Summer: Allergies?

[Nicole and Teddy]

Hi all! I've been following all the posts about allergies this summer with intense interest. This has been a really challenging summer for Teddy and I'm hoping for some advice on next steps. It seemed to start in May after a week long beach trip in Florida. Teddy ended up with hot spots, yeast between the toes, etc. The vet put him on a course of metronidazole as one of the spots was infected. Since then it's just been downhill. We live in South Carolina and Teddy has battled itching, licking, hot spots for the whole summer. I've tried fish oil, Benadryl, and vet prescribed Hydroxizine. In addition he's had one bacterial ear infection - for which the vet prescribed another course of metronidazole. Amazingly during the antibiotic rounds he hasn't really suffered from stomach issues. I've sporadically supplemented with Klaire probiotic powder. Teddy eats a homemade diet of mostly beef, rice, beans, veggies, and multiple vitamin supplements. Through all of the posts on here, I am fairly certain this isn't a food allergy issue because he's had good luck with this diet until this summer (he's 4 years old). However, about a week ago he did have a bout with diarrhea - for which, you guessed it, the vet prescribed another round of metronidazole. I only gave him 2 days worth of pills and took him off of it. This past week, he's vomited 3 times - mostly undigested food about 10 hours after eating.Normal energy level, eating, playful, drinking water, no diarrhea with the vomiting. And finally, he has anal gland issues. I don't know how it happened but, thinking I was helping, we began getting them expressed when he was a puppy and he's been pretty regularly getting them expressed once a month. Well, last month when he went in to get expressed, they ended up inflamed and on the verge of infection - for which, the vet prescribed metronidazole! He's had a normal expression between that bout and this week- 2 weeks later...and now he's back to incessant licking in that area - which tells me they are bothering him again. I just don't know what to do - i don't want to have them expressed because i know that can (and probably has) lead to all sorts of issues but we're headed into the weekend and I'm at a loss. I don't want him to be uncomfortable and I'm kind of losing confidence in my vet because her answer seems to be antibiotics for everything. However, I did call her for a referral to a dermatologist and am waiting to hear back. I also am speaking with a more holistic vet who agrees it may all be a case of allergies, but she's already mentioned starting with the M word for his anal gland issues. I've heard how expensive allergy testing can be so am also looking into this product: https://market.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/products/pet-wellness-pet-...

If anyone has any advice/experience, I sure would appreciate it. Thank you!

Nicole

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Vomiting undigested food is one of the main symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This is how it started with Jackdoodle. And there were no behavioral changes. 
When food just sits in the stomach for hours without being digested, something is wrong. There can be a foreign body in the digestive tract without there being a blockage. Or there can be an inflammation in the GI tract. I would definitely talk to the vet about this, and sooner rather than later. 

[Nicole and Teddy]

Oh dear - well, I made him a new batch of bland food. This morning no issues. I will see how he does Monday and Tuesday and potentially schedule an appointment for Wednesday. With the combination of itching/infections, is it possible he's developed a food allergy to beef?? I so wish they could talk!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Not a food allergy (to beef or any other food), but most dogs who have allergies have over-active, sometimes hyperactive, immune systems, and for that reason, it is not uncommon for them to have more than one immune-mediated disease. I'd say at least half of the dogs in my IBD Dogs support group also had allergies. 

[Nicole and Teddy]

Teddy’s stomach issues have continued. He’s thrown up once and had several very loose (watery) stools since Sunday. I’ve got him on a chicken and rice diet for now and he has an appointment at the vet this afternoon. Mind you, this is the vet that likes tp prescribe antibiotics with no evidence of an infection. She says it helps “calm the system”. If we weren’t moving in the spring I would definitely change vets. What types of questions do I need to ask her this afternoon or are there certain tests I should make sure they do? Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would ask for an Xray or ultrasound if they do those. Blood work isn't going to show anything unless they do a GI panel, which has to be sent out and takes about a week for results. You could ask about that if the Xray shows nothing. Specify GI panel. 
I would refuse metronidazole. Simply say that you are not comfortable with it. Ask them about Tylan, it will do more good and has no side effects. I also think he needs a good probiotic. 

[Nicole and Teddy]

OK, they actually called this morning and asked me to drop him off so they could do testing throughout the day. They will do an xray and bloodwork- I asked them about the GI panel too. I will keep you posted. Thanks for all your help. Maybe I should just go ahead and order the probiotic. You recommend Proviable from Chewy, right?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

For now, yes. There is a human probiotic that is better in cases of serious digestive disease, but let's not go there yet. The Proviable should be fine. 

[Nicole and Teddy]

Is this one okay? https://www.amazon.com/Nutramax-Proviable-Supplement-Medium-Large/d...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Proviable KP is the heavy-duty version; it's a paste. It's fine, but you could start with Proviable DC, which is a powder that can be sprinkled on the food. 
https://www.amazon.com/Proviable-DC-Cats-Dogs-Capsules/dp/B001O3UE9...

[Dolly Dykhouse]

We have experienced this with Henry a couple (maybe 3) times in the last 6 months; 8hours plus after eating he vomits half of his meal and it is undigested kibble. Behavior up to the episode is completely normal and he eats his next meal and there is no incident and no decrease in his appetite. It happened last week and it was on the day we increased his serum. I am praying that it s related to his bodies response to the increase in serum and not the beginnings of IBD, all other biological functions are normal, firm stools are consistent. 

[DonMarie and Picco]

I'm not sure if this is still an issue.......

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005461/en/Nutramax-L...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I thoughht about that. It is important to be sure of the company you are buying the product from, especially when using amazon.