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lozzibear
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04-04-2010, 02:04 PM
Originally Posted by madmare View Post
I think now I would stop lining your vets pocket and tell them you want a refferal to a specialist.
Yes its more expensive with them initially but they will get to the route of the problem much quicker and may even take one look and know whats going on.
Poor Jake and poor you with all this worry. I hope you get some answers soon.
Originally Posted by youngstevie View Post
She said what I was going to say

Good luck and hugs to Jake xxxxxxxxx
Thanks, I think i might have to ask to see a skin specialist. Im so desperate to find out what is causing it so I can sort it out. Will a specialist be able to tell more than an allergy test at the vets?
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Carole
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04-04-2010, 02:06 PM
Your vet will be able to take the blood for the allergy test which is then sent to a lab to be tested, then your vet will get the results. Is Jake insured?
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lozzibear
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04-04-2010, 02:20 PM
Originally Posted by montysmum View Post
I hope you dont mind me replying to this too - I dont know a lot about your history, but did have a dog that seemed to be allergic to almost everything, and had constant problems with ears, eyes, feet and skin generally. There were times when I really thought he was going to have to be put down because his skin was so sore he literally couldnt put any pressure on his paws at all because of all the cysts and abcesses on them.

Monty was on Piriton almost constantly - 6 a day (he was a Labrador sized mutt), which didnt stop the problem but did keep the irritation at a tolerable level for him, and I wa taking him to the vets daily for a long time to get a variety of injections, tablets, creams etc - all of which cost me a fortune of course.

Over the years I found a system that kept his problems to a minimum, and eventually I didnt have to take him to the vets because of his skin at all - it had practically cleared although never completely went.

I found that I had to keep changing his dog food every few months. I would change the diet, he would get less itchy, but then he would seem to build up intolerance to it over a few months and I would have to change it again.

The raw diet with mushed up veg he did well on for the longest and I made sure he did not get any extras or treats. I also added in some 'live' natural yoghurt

As for what triggered the problem - it was certainly worse in the Spring and Autumn, and I believe he was also allergic to cats (I had 3 at one stage) as his condition certainly improved as one by one the cats died and eventually I had none. He was also affected by wheat, any foods with soya, and when I tried to give him cod liver oil capsules that made things worse too.

As much as possible I tried to treat him with natural remedies. I gave him echinacea tablets to boost his immune system, vitamin C, stopped getting him vaccinated, used tea tree and natural anti flea remedies, nothing chemical at all.

As for his ears, I dont know if Montys problem is the same as your dogs, but he would get itchy muzzle and ears which he would scratch constantly, shaking his head and yelping when he scratched his ears too much. The inside of the ears would become red, hot and inflammed and get a stinky smell from them, and would show scratches where he had used his back leg too vigorously to scratch himself.

I found that if I used Johnson's Ear drops as soon as there was the slightest sign of redness or irritation it helped a lot, as did bathing the inside of his ears with a mix of yoghurt and aloe vera gel. Reading online I saw that a lot of people used diluted vinegar to bathe infected ears but I didnt as Montys ears used to be scratched and I thought the vinegar might sting.

I dont know which (or if any) of these measures had an effect, or if he would have outgrown the problem anyway, but eventually I didnt have to take him to the vets because of his skin at all, and the only medicine I ever used to give him was Piriton now and again if he started to get itchy. He stopped having to wear socks all the time, could walk fine (although I could never take him to the beach) and only now and again would he get an itchy ear.

Dont know if any of that helps but I hope you get something sorted for your doggie.
Thanks, that was interesting to read and it is good to hear how you managed his condition. I am hoping to use herbal remedies for jake, but im hoping he can be tested and that it is something we can just avoid. Do you think boosting his immune system naturally could help him?

The way you described montys ears is how jakes are too.

Originally Posted by cintvelt View Post
I'm all for doing an allergy check, and trying to find a remedy through food... and am amazed that your vets haven't come up with this yet!!! Steroids are great for relieving the pain and itchiness short term, but do nothing to solve the root of the problem! I'm pretty sure an allergy check is one of the first things a specialist would do.....
I agree, I think the vets are a joke tbh.
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lozzibear
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04-04-2010, 02:37 PM
Originally Posted by settagirl View Post
Aw Lauren, I am sure you know my Deacon is on immunotherapy to sort out his skin condition... I was fobbed off with the steroids and told it was a mite infestation (no matter my other dogs okay!) I demanded to see a skin specialist.. he ran skin and blood tests along with food trials and found he in only allergic to house dust mites...severely allergic!! Now he is in month 6 of the immunotherapy and he is mildly better, not much, but a little better is better than nowt!
I also used piriton, oatmeal baths to soothe the skin, a product called Dermacton (sp?), sudocrem, aloe vera, evening primrose oil etc... was told to bathe him in sea salt as it naturally cleanses the skin.. it did calm his skin down.
Is Jake allergic to any foods at all? Does he get upset bellies/jelly poo? Is the allergy all year round or certain time of year? Could it be something on his paw and when he scratches his face its left on the skin?
I would be seeing a specialist hun at least you will know
Oh that sounds like what has happened with jake! I was told it was a mite too, but the stronghold he was given did nothing so that was eliminated. What is immunotherapy?

Im not sure if he is allergic to any food. He never appears to have an upset tummy, no being sick, or being off or funny poos but he does often have wee nibbles at grass. I cant really notice a pattern with him coz it started in november so I dont think its due to grass or pollen etc but he is only 12 months so not sure if it started due to his age. It has been here since november and has only gone when he has been given treatment.

Originally Posted by settagirl View Post
Yes its good stuff isn't it? Not too much cos of the zinc, but it helps ease the skin...

Lauren does Jake get ear infections? Deacon gets alot of wax build up and it can go hand in hand with skin problems... so I was told.
He does get sore ears, the first vet told me it was an ear infection and twice gave me drops but the second vet told me to leave the drop so we could see if the steroids cleared it up, which they did.
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lozzibear
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04-04-2010, 02:48 PM
Originally Posted by Carole View Post
Your vet will be able to take the blood for the allergy test which is then sent to a lab to be tested, then your vet will get the results. Is Jake insured?
Thanks, I might just ask them to do an allergy test so I can avoid whatever causes it...

Thankfully he is insured so if he gets an allergy test I will claim.
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roo roo
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07-04-2010, 06:56 PM
i had a dog with a severe flea bite allergy.the only way to know for sure whats wrong is to do skin scrapings.i know people 'knock' steroids but my dog lived to over 16 and he had monthly steroid injections and when he started to scream at these my vet would give me tablets instead.and he was on them for many many years.i also gave him evening primrose oil on the recommendation of another vet and it worked wonders.if your dog is as uncomfortable as mine was then you just have to say to yourself whats worse?a shortened life but a comfortable one or a longer life lived in agony?no contest as far as im concerned,in the end when i lost him(had to have him pts)it was cos he was blind, deaf,incontinent and basically didnt have any quality of life any more so if it hadnt been for that hed still be here and hed still be on his steroids!by the way what breed is your dog?i know with some breeds like mine(he was a shiba inu)they have skin trouble because of the way the hair grows up and outwards rather than lying flat.some breeds like shibas,shar peis etc have this and although it might not be the start of the skin trouble is does exacerbate it
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lilypup
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07-04-2010, 08:04 PM
Oh I'm so sorry to hear Jake is having problems again. You've had some good advice on here so I hope you find a way to get him sorted soon. Hugs to you both. xxxxxx
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lozzibear
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07-04-2010, 10:45 PM
Originally Posted by roo roo View Post
i had a dog with a severe flea bite allergy.the only way to know for sure whats wrong is to do skin scrapings.i know people 'knock' steroids but my dog lived to over 16 and he had monthly steroid injections and when he started to scream at these my vet would give me tablets instead.and he was on them for many many years.i also gave him evening primrose oil on the recommendation of another vet and it worked wonders.if your dog is as uncomfortable as mine was then you just have to say to yourself whats worse?a shortened life but a comfortable one or a longer life lived in agony?no contest as far as im concerned,in the end when i lost him(had to have him pts)it was cos he was blind, deaf,incontinent and basically didnt have any quality of life any more so if it hadnt been for that hed still be here and hed still be on his steroids!by the way what breed is your dog?i know with some breeds like mine(he was a shiba inu)they have skin trouble because of the way the hair grows up and outwards rather than lying flat.some breeds like shibas,shar peis etc have this and although it might not be the start of the skin trouble is does exacerbate it
thanks, if he has to be on steroids for life then of course he will. i want him to be comfortable and free from pain so that is always my priority. i am just hoping it is a food allergy that we can just avoid.

Originally Posted by lilypup View Post
Oh I'm so sorry to hear Jake is having problems again. You've had some good advice on here so I hope you find a way to get him sorted soon. Hugs to you both. xxxxxx
thanks claire, we were at the vets today and he has been put on a special diet! its going to be a tough few months now coz he can only that food... no treats or yummy things...
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madmare
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08-04-2010, 06:12 AM
Originally Posted by lozzibear View Post
Thanks, I think i might have to ask to see a skin specialist. Im so desperate to find out what is causing it so I can sort it out. Will a specialist be able to tell more than an allergy test at the vets?
Yes they will and they will do more indepth allergy testing.
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Petticoat
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08-04-2010, 07:02 AM
Lauren, I know your vets are now putting Jake on a food trial, but I would still ask to see a specialist, as Jake is still so young, they may be able to help him.. really skin scrapes are good for certain things and to see if he has yeast cultures, but he should have blood tests done too, as they will see how his immune system is... that is how we found out Deacon has a severe allergy to house dust mites... (They used the blood to make a serum for his immunotherapy)
I glad Jake is insured, as Deacon changed companies before I saw the specialist and so far we have had to pay out in excess of £800... good job we love him!!
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