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This forum is for dog lovers seeking everyday advice and suggestions on health-related issues. Remember, however, that advice on a public forum simply can't be a substitute for proper medical attention. Only your vet can say assuredly what is best for your dog. Don't furget to check out Dogster's Dog Care Guide Book for information about caring for the health of your dog!
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Theodore - aka "Teddy"
Eat. Play. Lick.
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 | | Barked: Mon Nov 9, '09 5:18pm PST | |  | |  | | As some of you may know, Teddy has had sensitive skin since I got him. It seems like contact with anything (leaves, grass, laying in the dirt, even his own harness) make him break out in a rash. His chest and neck break out in rashes at least once a month. The vet has had me give him benadryl for the itching in the past, but I wonder if there is another home remedy to help his skin. He has white fur, and it is pretty thin, so I wonder if it's just getting too much contact with possible allergens. It doesn't usually seem to bother him, but every once in a while you can tell he itches, and it can't be good to have a blotchy chest... |  |  | |  |
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Max
Somewhere there- is something I- can eat.. |
 | | Barked: Mon Nov 9, '09 10:47pm PST | | | | | | Have you done allergy tests? They can figure out what the dog is allergic to specifically. It may be better for you (since they seem to be environmental) to create an area for him to be outside that won't aggravate him, either with gravel or woodchips or something that won't aggravate him. There are some pretty soft "pea gravels" that are gentle on feet and shouldn't be bad to lay on. My pups certainly don't have a problem laying on the gravel in my backyard or on the patio (I live in the desert, so that's really about all we have). | | | | |
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H&E A- Pair-A-Dox
Double- Trouble/Double- Love
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| | Barked: Mon Nov 9, '09 11:45pm PST | | | | | | Hi  Teddy.  Our favorite Doxie pal. Mom's first Dachshund was allergic to grass and would break out in hives. It is not fun. Since it also does it where his harness rubs, do you think it could be his food? We eat home cooked and there are some pups in that thread who switched to it because of skin allergies. You might wander down to that thread and talk with them too.
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Ciel
1057103 |
| | Barked: Tue Nov 10, '09 3:16pm PST | | | | | | Try feeding a raw diet. It may seem pricey but you will save loads in vet bills. Raw is what dogs' bodies evolved to eat, so it is much less taxing on their systems.
Raw strengthens the immune system and gives the dog more resilience when it comes to dealing with any allergens, environmental or food related.
Food allergies disappear (except in extreme cases of very specific allergies) because the food is not processed.
Do some research on Primal, Nature's Logic, Stella and Chewy's, Bravo and Nature's Variety. I switch between all of these for my dog.
Or hop on over to the Raw Feeding Forum and ask them for a little advice. They are very helpful over there.
To save a little money and still go raw, you could do a dehydrated raw food like Honest Kitchen or Sojos, that you just add water to and serve.
For an added defense against allergies, try Homeopet's Skin and Itch Relief or Skin and Seborrhea. They trigger the body's natural healing response, so its not the same as drugging them. And they work really well. Homeopet
Like someone else said, adding Omega 3s to the diet can help as well because they moisturize the body from the inside out. You can use salmon or flax oil supplements, Missing Link or Halo Dreamcoat. Just make sure you use them in conjunction with a natural, whole food diet.Edited by author Tue Nov 10, '09 3:19pm PST
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Theodore - aka "Teddy"
Eat. Play. Lick.
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| | Barked: Tue Nov 10, '09 4:14pm PST | | | | | | Teddy is already on a grain-free food that is supposed to be good for allergies. It's the only food we've found that doesn't upset his sensitive tummy.
As much as I think raw would be good for several reasons, it just isn't feasible right now because of the price. I am a graduate student for another year, but perhaps once I actually start having an actual income (BOL) I will go to raw... | | | | |
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Kolbe
Where can I run- today? |
| | Barked: Tue Nov 10, '09 4:26pm PST | | | | | | Kolbe has bad seasonal/environmental allergies herself. I used to dope her up with Benadryl but I knew I was just covering symptoms and not actually doing anything to fix the problem. I played around with a million different kibbles forever until I said forget it and switched to raw... the better overall immune system that a more appropriate diet provided her with really helped cut down her skin's reactions to grass (she used to spend the entire spring/summer with beet red paws and stomach... not very becoming on a white dog). I know a lot of times people think a diet change is only necessary with food allergies but as I found out, I don't think it's always the case. I spend about $40 - $50/month on raw personally but I know it can be more cost prohibitive if you have to rely solely on places like grocery stores.
She still has sensitive skin but it's not anywhere near what it used to be and stays nice and non-red throughout spring/summer.  Some other things that helped in the past were washing her bedding in dye and perfume-free detergent, adding raw organic apple cider vinegar to her drinking water, spraying her with a diluted apple cider vinegar/water solution once a day, and bathing her with shampoo with oatmeal or tea tree oil in it (right now we use TropiClean with tea tree oil). Hope you can find something to help Teddy! | | | | |
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Theodore - aka "Teddy"
Eat. Play. Lick.
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| | Barked: Tue Nov 10, '09 4:31pm PST | | | | | | Yeah, I live in a city where the closest grocery store is a Trader Joes. I looked today, and they have whole chickens, but that is it. There is not a butcher anywhere close by, so I don't know how I would even get the raw diet, that is, if I could afford it. | | | | |
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Kolbe
Where can I run- today? |
| | Barked: Tue Nov 10, '09 4:40pm PST | | | | | | You're in DC, right? There are raw co-ops near you.... when/if the time comes just hit up the raw forum, we will get you covered. Not pushing, just as an FYI to keep in the back of your mind. | | | | |
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Theodore - aka "Teddy"
Eat. Play. Lick.
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| | Barked: Tue Nov 10, '09 4:43pm PST | | | | | | Yeah, I am in DC. I don't have a car though so it complicates things. I would be interested in learning more about the co-ops though...
I have been interested in raw, but it scares me a bit because it sounds like it requires planning/organizing/effort and my life is so hectic sometimes that I am not sure I would have time or energy to do it right. | | | | |
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