Anyone’s doodle dealing with seasonal allergies?

[Christine]

Hi,

Nala will be 4 this August, and up until now I didn’t have any issues with her and the outdoors.  But she has developed seasonal allergies. Which is so sad, because she is itching like crazy and so uncomfortable.

I did bathe her with a special shampoo, and have just started an anti itch spray.  She is starting to loose hair on her paws from biting.  

I called the vet and they did recommend Benadryl, but I refused that.  So then they recommended Allegra.  1/4 of a 60 mg tablet, every 12 hours.  She is about 21 pounds.  

I gave the tablet last night, still itching away.

Anyone have any experience with this?  My kids have seasonal allergies, and the Allegra works wonders for them.   I was hoping it would have helped Nala, but from reading online, I’m thinking that dosage may be a little low?

Any help is appreciated,

Christine & Poor Miss Nala :(

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Haley started having seasonal allergies last year (at 9 years old).  His vet said he could take generic Claritin.  It takes a  week or two to get up to full effect.  He still does a little scratching and licking but not frantic. And, he's not obsessed like before.  This year I  gave it to him at the first sign of discomfort.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There are quite a few of us here whose doodles have Atopic Dermatitis, which is the correct name for seasonal allergies, also sometimes called environmental or inhalant allergies. Jackdoodle had a very severe case. Labradors are the second most commonly affected breed, and Goldens are also over represented. In fact we have a group here for owners of dogs who have been diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis, or Atopy. It is genetic and incurable but it can be managed, and it does typically show up between 2 and 4 years old.  Here is some good information, which includes a list of things you can do to keep them comfortable:
https://doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/some-basic-facts-about?groupU...

From the link:

For temporary relief of inhalant allergies, here are some things that you can do:

Give Omega 3 fatty acid supplements. You want the Omega 3 fatty acids DHA & EPA, which are only found in fish. You can also give GLA in the form of evening primrose oil supplements. In both cases, use human softgel supplements. 

If you feed dry dog food, check the Omega 6:3 ratio. You want a ratio of 5:1 or less, the lower the better, and the Omega 3 content should come from fish.

Give antihistamines. Different antihistamines are more effective for different dogs. Typically, you want second generation antihistamines that do not cause drowsiness, like Claritin, Zyrtec, Atarax, etc. rather than Benadryl.

Use OTC anti-itch sprays on the affected areas. These are available at most pet supply stores.

Wipe the dog down every time he comes in from outside, paying particular attention to the feet. Brush the dog daily.

Keep the indoor areas where the dog spends the most time as clean and dust free as possible. Wash bedding weekly, wash food & water bowls daily. Vacuum as often as possible.

Keep dry foods in air-tight storage containers and don't buy more than you can use in a month unless you can freeze it. Discard the bags the food came in and use ziplock freezer bags. 

If the feet are affected, you can soak them in tepid water with epsom salts. Be sure to dry thoroughly afterwards.

Bathe the dog often, weekly if possible, with a shampoo formulated for allergic dogs. (I like Douxo Calm). Do NOT use leave-in conditioners or other grooming products. Use a cool dryer setting or air-dry. 

As much as I hate doing it, keeping windows closed really helps with pollen allergies. Run the A/C in warm weather especially, the allergy symptoms are exacerbated by humidity. Use a furnace filter with a high allergen rating and change it monthly. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Murphy has Spring seasonal allergies.  Because it only lasts a few months we did not go the allergy testing route.  We knew it was some sort of pollen/ allergen that's only around in Spring/early Summer.  This year we tried Cytopoint, and it took away the itching in one day and it has been effective for the past two months...still no sign of itching.  It's relatively new, and the vet gives one shot which lasts 60 to 90 days.  Prior to this we used Apoquel, but my Vet felt Cytopoint was a better alternative for Murphy.

[Christine]

Hi,

Thanks so much for the response!  I am new to all this and learning a lot Frost this board.  My girl seems a bit better today.  Maybe the allegra is kicking in?
Fingers crossed....

Christine

[Stacy]

I'm just curious (or nosy) about your objection to Benedryl. I've never had great success with it for atopy in dogs, but I keep it around for my own occasional use and a possible allergic reaction to something. 

In the human medical world we use it for everything. Headache, stomach ache, rash, allergic reaction... it's very multipurpose. Other than drowsiness as a side effect I have always found it a pretty useful drug myself.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

JD's allergist also objected to giving Benadryl for Atopy. Besides being less effective, why make a dog (or a person) drowsy just to treat itching, if there are other much better options? 

It's interesting...my dad was an MD and we were never given Benadryl. Even back in the 60s, we got things like Chlor-Trimeton if we needed an antihistamine. When I started participating in online forums, I was mystified at how many people suggested using Benadryl for all sorts of things. It was really unfamiliar to me. 

[Stacy]

There is really no excuse for giving benedryl to people for atopy in this day and age, when we have so many better options. Not that it doesn't have a place in medicine. It's the main ingredient in the migraine cocktail, though I've never gotten a really good explanation why. Honestly I think it's because it does make them sleep and then they feel better when they wake up, but I don't have clinical evidence. And it does work faster than the newer meds, so there are cases where it's warranted in allergic reactions. But I don't understand why people still rely on it so much as a sleep aid. It makes me sleep forever, but I wake up with the worst hangover. There are better options for that too. 

I grew up in a very non-medical family. I would bet money that my mom has never even heard of chlor-trimeton. She still thinks ibuprofen is new and foreign. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Those diphenhydramine sleep aids make me feel hung over, too. 

I've actually developed Atopy in my old age, and I take hydroxyzine hcl for it. It does make you very sleepy, but it doesn't have that hangover effect. I think it's interesting that it's also still an Rx drug when so few antihistamines are. 

[Stacy]

I agree, I don't know why it's still prescription. It's a great drug. We used it frequently in the burn unit. Healing burns are one of the itchiest things there are. It's enough to drive a person mad. 

Dimenhydrinate - plain old Dramamine is my sleep aid of choice. It works faster than benedryl and I don't wake up with the hangover. But I don't think it will do much for your allergy symptoms. ;)

[Christine]

Hi Stacy,

I actually always have Benadryl in the house because my kids have food alleriges, and if they had ever had an allergic reaction to food I would use Benadryl hands down.

That being said, I hate what it does to them.  They become so drowsy, and lethargic...and not themselves.  I would never use it for seasonal allergies.  It’s like they are drugged up.  It has the same effect on me.  It is just awful.  

There is something called ZZZquil out on the market.  It is Benadryl!   Being marketed as a non addictive sleep aid. That is total bs.  It is addictive.  There are also studies out there linking the over use of Benadryl to dementia.

I have used it at times for severe colds, and for the allergic reactions my kids may have had through the years.  But I would not feel comfortable giving it to them for an allergy season or any extended period of time. Therefore Miss Nala won’t get it either :)

Just my opinion and don’t mean to say someone who does is wrong.  I am just uncomfortable with it.  I don’t want my kids to be miserable from seasonal allergies, but I want them to be kids who want to get up and play and be themselves.  We have had great success with Allegra, and Miss Nala is doing well with it too!  

I haven’t heard Benadryl used for stomach aches though?  

Chris & Nala :)

[Stacy]

I totally respect that. I was just curious. All of the "PM" drugs have benedryl as the PM component to them. I totally agree that there should be a better choice to them. 

And yes, they do sometimes use benedryl in chronic abdominal pain - and we give Zantac as part of the cocktail in allergic reactions. It seems so strange. But they are both histamine blockers. H1 and H2. I'm not a doctor, don't ask me to explain it. I just know what drugs I see us give. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

The good thing about benadryl is it's quite safe since it's been around so long and widely used and its effects well known.  It's the only antihistamine my OB said was for sure safe during pregnancy so I used it for my ragweed allergies and a head cold a few times, not for more than a few days though.