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halfbaked
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6937 total posts
Name:
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Atopic Dermatitis & Allergies- Any experiences? Update at the bottom!
So, my dog has atopic dermatitis. Irwin is a 6 year old collie/golden retriever mix. When he turned 3 or 4, he started to ear infections in the summer. The vet and I assumed this was because of the heat and his furriness coupled with seasonal allergies and his fear of having his ears cleaned. Since then, the infections have been getting worse and coming more frequently. We tried to keep up with cleaning his ears and spotting infections early, but this past summer was brutal for him. He had not one but two ear infections and was diagnosed with dermatitis by our vet. I read up about it and Irwin's symptom's match to to a t.
This is where Irwin is at right now:
(From PetMD)
In early canine atopy, itching is seasonal and the skin looks normal. Dogs scratch at the ears and undersides of the body. The itching is often accompanied by face-rubbing, sneezing, a runny nose (known as allergic rhinitis),watery eyes, and licking at the paws (which leaves characteristic brown stains on the feet). In many dogs the disease does not progress beyond this stage.
He is scratching and scratching and scratching like crazy. He has long fur so that was becoming matted, and then he'd chew on the mats which would stay damp and lead to hot spots which lead to more itching and just around and around we go. We've been giving him Benadryl (3 25MG tablets every 8-12 hours as needed) and it seems to help a little, but his allergies clearly aren't managed on this alone. His belly and ears and face still seemed to be itchy. So yesterday we had him shaved down (to get rid of the mats and the incessant shedding that goes along with the scratching) and he was given a medicated bath for the irritated skin on his belly. He looks absolutely ridiculous- I mean like a bobble head. His head is still huge and relatively fluffy and his tail is still fluffy but everything else is shaved short. But, I digress. It seemed to help a lot, especially this morning I checked his belly and it's back to it's normal pink color. However, his face still seems to be itchy. He constantly rubs his face on couch cushions and your legs and the wall and everything else he can get to. His eyes are still very watery as a result from all the scratching. The vet did ask us to come back again in 2 weeks so we will be there, but I just don't think the Benadryl is cutting it. The vet said to try him for 3 weeks on it and if he's still itchy to try a different brand. It's been 2 weeks, so I'm going to keep with it for another week or so, but I was wondering if you have any recommendations for different allergy medications? The vet also recommended switching to a grain free food even though it's not necessarily a food allergy. I've also read that fish oils with omega-3 fatty acids could help as a nutritional supplement, but I haven't discussed this with our vet.
Basically, has anyone gone through this? Has anyone had any miracle results? I just want him to be comfortable and happy. The vet made us feel like neglectful parents, but it really was so gradual.  I just don't want him to itch anymore, we'll do whatever it takes!
ETA: The one thing I have noticed the Benadryl has stopped is licking at his paws and legs. He has no more of those saliva stains on his paws at all, and that was before taking him in to be groomed.
Message edited 9/19/2013 6:48:33 PM.
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Posted 9/6/13 10:25 AM  |
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LoveDayLove
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 1250 total posts
Name:
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Re: Atopic Dermatitis & Allergies- Any experiences?
My puggle had this. He is allergic to whey and grains as well as environmental items. We found a dogfood at costco he liked and we freeze meat bones for him. He does not get table scraps. We gave him oatmeal baths which helped. We also give him Zyrtec. I also started fish oil too.
If you have any questions fm me.
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| Posted 9/6/13 10:32 AM |
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halfbaked
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6937 total posts
Name:
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Re: Atopic Dermatitis & Allergies- Any experiences?
Posted by LoveDayLove
My puggle had this. He is allergic to whey and grains as well as environmental items. We found a dogfood at costco he liked and we freeze meat bones for him. He does not get table scraps. We gave him oatmeal baths which helped. We also give him Zyrtec. I also started fish oil too.
If you have any questions fm me.
Thank you!! It's good to know that we're on the right track and that it can be managed. He's just so miserable right now!! If I see no improvement in Benadryl in a week, I'm going to try the Zyrtec! Thank you sooooo much!!! 
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| Posted 9/6/13 10:34 AM |
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LoveDayLove
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 1250 total posts
Name:
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Re: Atopic Dermatitis & Allergies- Any experiences?
We do Benadryl too. I was wrong. .it was Claritin. I bought the big bottle at costco. My vet also said human fish oil was fine too just not the entire pill. Good luck. My dog is so much happier now. Also, I do not vacuum with the dogs in the house. I find the dust upsets him. DH or I take him to the park when we vacuum.
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| Posted 9/6/13 10:39 AM |
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halfbaked
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6937 total posts
Name:
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Re: Atopic Dermatitis & Allergies- Any experiences?
Posted by LoveDayLove
We do Benadryl too. I was wrong. .it was Claritin. I bought the big bottle at costco. My vet also said human fish oil was fine too just not the entire pill. Good luck. My dog is so much happier now. Also, I do not vacuum with the dogs in the house. I find the dust upsets him. DH or I take him to the park when we vacuum.
This is great! Thank you! We have wood floors throughout so we sweep everyday but now I'm doing it twice a day just to keep him comfortable!
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| Posted 9/6/13 11:31 AM |
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Irishlass
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 2961 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Atopic Dermatitis & Allergies- Any experiences?
Thanks for sharing. I think that Trixie has this also. She is always itching. When she came to us she had horrible skin. She has cocker spaniel ears & has on going ear infections. I try to clean them but she hates having them cleaned.
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| Posted 9/7/13 9:49 AM |
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steph7308
Mommy of 2!!!
Member since 5/08 2083 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Atopic Dermatitis & Allergies- Any experiences?
I forgot if it was predizone or Cortisone shots but that helped my mom's dog.
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| Posted 9/8/13 12:50 AM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Atopic Dermatitis & Allergies- Any experiences?
Allie has this, we went grain/corn free and it greatly improved. We also add Salmon oil to her breakfast and her coat is nice and shiny and she rarely itches now (and when she does it's usually because she ate something wioth corn meal)
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| Posted 9/8/13 7:45 PM |
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halfbaked
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6937 total posts
Name:
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Re: Atopic Dermatitis & Allergies- Any experiences?
Posted by steph7308
I forgot if it was predizone or Cortisone shots but that helped my mom's dog.
Hmmm. I'll ask my vet about this. We started him on his new routines this weekend (fish oil, grain free food, wiping his paws when he comes in from outside, etc.). I also found a topical itching spray specifically for Dermatitis at a pet supply store, but boy does he HATE getting sprayed! 
Thanks for all your responses! I just hope he gets better soon, the only time he stops scratching is if I'm watching him or petting him. I had to have him sleep in our bed last night he was scratching at his face so badly!
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| Posted 9/9/13 9:43 AM |
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Faithx2
All good things in 2016!!
Member since 8/05 20181 total posts
Name:
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Re: Atopic Dermatitis & Allergies- Any experiences?
From the owner of an 11 year old American Bulldog that made my carpets bloody for years. Here's my advice. Wash everything in sensitive detergent, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon-take all meats and grains out of his diet, wash him down every week- 2 weeks with a tea tree oil based shampoo. ONLY give carrots and apples as snacks-no treats. They are filled with allergens.
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| Posted 9/14/13 3:52 AM |
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halfbaked
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6937 total posts
Name:
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Re: Atopic Dermatitis & Allergies- Any experiences?
Hey everyone!! Thank you for all your help and support. I'm seeing huge improvements overall, especially after switching to Claritin from Benadryl. We have done all grain free food, another oatmeal bath, wipe his paws when he comes in, stopped giving him treats and table scraps (which was the hardest part for me, I'm a sharer), clean his ears twice a week, and cleaning the house like crazy people. He itches sooo much less now and it seems it's all concentrated on his eyes now. There's a ring of irritated skin around his eyes, but at least he's not cutting himself til he bleeds. We have an appt with the vet this Sunday, but I was just wondering if there is anything I can do for his eyes now. When I got home, he had discharge coming from one eye, but it doesn't look infected. Actually aside from the rash it doesn't even look irritated (red, watery, droopy, etc.). Any and all advice is welcome. I am going to ask about cortisone shots and immunotherapy this weekend.
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| Posted 9/19/13 6:48 PM |
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