STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

FashionPrincess · Hermes

Question about my dog, skin allergies

Sandy · Kate Spade

My dog's skin used to get really itchy, as well (so much that she scratched off all the hair on her back, toward her tail), and the Vet gave her a special shampoo... but that didn't work. My mom put calamine lotion on her skin a couple times a day, gradually decreasing the amount she used. That seemed to stop the itching, and her hair eventually grew back. I'm not sure if you're supposed to use calamine lotion on a dog, but it worked for her (it may be toxic if they eat it, I have no idea, but she had just had a surgery on her front paw and had that cone thing around her head to stop herself from licking... so it worked out perfectly for us). Sorry I don't have a better answer for you. BTW, your dog, her little buddy, and her bed are all adorable . I hope she feels better soon.

NCshopper · Hermes

Whenever my old dog got like that we'd get a cortisone cream from the vet, which usually worked pretty well. It stops the itch like a cortisone shot would, only it's not a shot!

Oooh! Now that I think about it, you can get an over the counter hydrocortisone cream. It's for people (I've used it for bug bites) and it works well on me. You probably wouldn't want your dog to lick it though, but there's probably not much of an attraction to it since it doesn't smell. It's only a few bucks at a drugstore or Target, and it could be worth a shot. If that doesn't work, a vet could probably prescribe a steriod cream that would stop the itch.

ETA: Your dog is adorable!

-- Edited by NCshopper at 15:39, 2005-09-24

kenzie · Chanel

I would recommend taking your puppy to the vet. My mom's dog gets bad allergies, too and she sometimes if it gets really bed, she gets shots or takes medication for it. She used to be so bad that she would lick her paws and they would be hairless for a few months. My mom also uses a special oatmeal based shampoo for dogs when she bathes her. HTH!!

Deuce · Dooney & Bourke

There are a few shampoos out there, but the vet usually has some good ones. My dog also had a spray to help her skin.

Just a thought. A lot of dogs have skin problems because of their food. Even if it is the same food as always switching to a higher grade can really help. Pro Plan is good, from experience.

Hope little beagle feels better soon.

FashionPrincess · Hermes

Thanks girls, I have some spray stuff to help with the itching, but won't it burn, her whole tummy is red and rubbed almost raw

Maybe we will make a trip to the vet on Monday...

Cortney1982 · Chanel

Poor thing! I get too emotional over helpless animals. Maybe if the spray doesn't seem like it stings I would use it. I also would wrap her belly up so she can't scratch it more and the area won't get infected.

halleybird · Hermes

Poor puppy!

I'd be really careful about using any topical human medicine on dogs. Sometimes they can have very strange reactions, because their pore system isn't like ours. Once, we used Neosporin + Pain on my puppy's leg after surgery, and it was really scary -- his entire leg swelled up like a balloon. I will never do that again. I do know that dogs can have Benadryl, but I can't even guess at the dosage.

I would call your vet and flat-out tell him that the shots aren't an option and you need something else. If he doesn't have any answers, I'd try a holistic vet in your area -- I'll bet they have some answers.

BTW, your dog is adorable. Is she a beagle?

kenzie · Chanel

Just also wanted to add that, as someone else mentioned, foods can affect dogs' allergies. My mom's dog eats really high quality, natural dog food b/c of her allergies (not the stuff you get a a supermarket).

Also, the medication that she takes on ocassion (not too frequently, only when her allergies are really, really bad) is prendizone (sp). Humans take this too. It's an anti-infammatory med. And as halleybird mentioned, dogs can take Benadryl. My mom's dog has. I can ask her what the dosage the vet recommended was.

I hope your puppy feels better!!

FashionPrincess · Hermes

Thanks again girls, I'm calling the vet tomorrow.

Halleybird, yes she is a beagle, her nose is constantly getting her into trouble

dot · Marc Jacobs

have you tried wet food? sometimes switching or adding wet food can really help with an animal's coat.