Ella is itching!
Submitted by EllaB on December 19, 2014 - 5:47pmi have a 4 month old puppy, Ella. When I brought her home, she was eating science diet. I slowly hanged her over to purina ONE, but she started really having bad gas, so a bulldog breeder suggested IAMS. She was on that, and still had itching. She went In For her last set of shots and the next few days she was miserable itching, and developed a hot spot. Vet put her on one antihistamine, the another (Chlorpheniramine. 4 mg
Cyproheptadine 4 mg). And Iams KO (kangaroo). Nothing has really stopped the itching. I shaved the area around the hot spot and treated it with a silvedene cream and it's better....but the itching never seems to stop!It's not a constant itch, but several times a day, she just itch itch itch! Help, I don't want my baby to be miserable!__________________
--Linda
Put her on an adult, grain free feed.
But not IAMS or Science Diet. Try Natural Balance, Taste of the Wild, or Blue Buffalo grain free. She is most likely allergic to something in her feed. Switch her over a couple of days, don't worry about drawing it out for very long.
You can give one teaspoon of plain, fat free yogurt in each meal to help with the gas.
Try regular gold Listerine on the hot spot. Clean the hot spot with warm water, dry, then dab on the Listerine. It should heal up the hot spot pretty quickly. You have switched her food a lot for such a youngster, so when you do this next switch to grain free, let it be for at least 6-8 weeks. You should see results by then, but it could be longer. Make sure you are using mild laundry detergent to wash her bedding, and that she is flea free. Both of those things could also add to her itching problems.
Please keep us posted on her progress. So many times we get a new person on and we answer questions and try to help, only to never hear from them again! I'd like to know how your pup is, and maybe someday get to see pics!
Amy and Sophia
Food.....
Hi Amy and Sophie!
Thank you for the response! I just ordered taste of the wild, but I got the puppy food, salmon. Why do you suggest the adult food? I had been told about the yogurt, and will def give that to her too. I sure didn't set out to change her food this many times, but it kinda snowballed! I feel like I caused her problems by switching from the science diet....I had no idea this would happen! I feel awful! I read so much stuff, it's hard to know what's right. I had a bulldog breeder tell me to give her Iams, the vet wanted her on the kangaroo, neither has been a good match. The new food will be here tomorrow. Unfortunately the vet put her on a low dose prednisone for just a few day because he was afraid her hot spots would get I infected....good to know about the listerine No fleas and I am using a hypoallergenic detergent for her bedding. We had a wool rug in our living room, the vet suggested I take that up and I did. Was really hoping that might be the problem. I wish I had checked back here before I ordered the food, but maybe this will be ok? I couldn't get a picture to post
--Linda
Potato
i read somewhere that potato and soy were both bad. The soy for the itching and not sure about the potato.....is there any concern about potato because it is in the taste of the wild food. I'm sorry for all the questions!
--Linda
(No subject)
--Linda
Oh good grief!!! What a totally darling baby!!!
Most puppy foods are very rich, and Bulldogs digestive systems don't need any more rich anything! The protein may be higher in the puppy food, also. Not sure, but I have seen that in with puppy food.
Use the plain, fat free yogurt for the transition, then just keep on giving it daily after that. You have to give the new food at least 6 weeks to help your puppy clear of the allergens from the old food.
And...keep posting pics of that adorable baby!!! Post some on the main forum, I know everyone would love to see that baby!
Amy and Sophia
Spoiled
Thank you for responding. I'm so worried about her, the itching is just awful. No hot spots at this time and I'm just hoping this new food helps!
i did get the puppy food this time, because I didn't see your post until after I had ordered it. Now that she's on this, should I stick to it or when I need more, order the adult? I have the yogurt.
shes spoiled and we love her to pieces! I have so many pictures of her, and some pretty funny videos!
so glad I found this site. I'm going to just cross my fingers that this itching stops!
Linda and Ella
--Linda