allergies
Submitted by Bludos Mom on June 22, 2011 - 2:13pmHi everyone! I am new to the site and hope to get some information for my beloved Bludo- he is 18 months old and suffers from allergies. what he is allergic to is the million dollar question. My vet has not been helpful at all- just prescribing anti-histamines to quell the symptoms, but nothing to actually stop the problem. (as a matter of fact if anyone knows of a bulldog specialist on Long Island (NY) i would appreciate any recommendations) It started with him incessantly licking his front paws, to being so itchy he would rub the fur right off his forehead. now i have noticed patterned hair loss on his sides and back legs... can anyone with similar problems offer any suggestions/remedies??? i cant stand the thought of my Bludo suffering...
blood test
they can draw his blood to send out and figure out everything he is allergic to. I'm shocked they haven't done that if he's as bad as you describe. My boy has allergies and while we haven't done the test - I have figured out most of it by elimination. Grain Free dogfood seems to be the key for us. I also switched to all natural cleaning agents (mop floor with white vinegar/water) etc, I mop the floors twice a week to keep the dust down. Use Arm and Hammer Detergent (reaction to Tide) I have a hepa filter in the living room where we spend most of our time. I also wipe down his feet after he goes out (believe he has a grass allergy) Just a few thoughts. Hope you can figure it out.
allergies
thanks for the advice, i never even thought about cleaning products! i'll switch to all natural for the future- do you have a particular brand you prefer for the grain free food??
We use
Taste of the Wild but there are so many choices. You will have to see what works best for Bludo. TOTW will send samples.........
http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/
Id say whatever brand is easiest for you to get in your area. They have a few protein sources, not sure which is best for Bludo.
What are you feeding him?
nm
Lynn King CPDT-KA
food
Lynn, i have been feeding him blue buffalo brand salmon and sweet potato kibble and blue buffalo wet food- his absolute favorite is the backyard bbq flavor (which i am sure has a whole mess of things in it that he could be allergic to) I have an appointment with the vet today- i am going to ask them if i should just prepare all of his meals from scratch myself so i know exactly what is in them....
Blue Buffalo has a grain free variety you could try.
I fed it for a while but my senior girl didn't do well on it. You can also try Taste Of The Wild, they are grain free. Watch the Protein in some of the varieties, you want to stay near 25%. My girls and boy are all doing GREAT on it:-) I feed the lamb variety.
Amy and Sophia
allergies
thanks for the advice! i will check out the grain free variety- fingers are crossed!
Blue Buffalo is a great food
but it may not be the best for Bludo. There are several grain free foods available, you may want to look into them.
Also, food may not be the problem, laundry soap, shampoo, cleaners, yard chemicals/sprays can cause the same reactions. Try changing products to any dye free/fragrance free soaps/shampoos. Vinegar for cleaning floors works great. If you have carpet, don't use any of the "freshener" powders.
He may also have a yeast infection, has he been tested?
Lynn King CPDT-KA
allergies
thanks Lynn, we actually just went to the vet again last night where he had a skin scraping. it was negative for yeast and mites so they did a blood test to eliminate the possibilty of a thyroid condition which they told me could have the same effects as allergies (hair lost, skin blackening etc.) the results will take about 4 days to get back- i just hope i can get some kind of definitive answer about the problem..Bludo is not a fussy dog and never shows any discomfort even when he's hurt himself so i hate to think that he is suffering in silence so to speak...
when you wash the floors and clean with vinegar, do you cut it with water and if so, what approximate proportion of vinegar to water? thanks for your help by the way!
Cleaning
the mixture of vinegar depends on how strong you want it. I would mix 1 cup per gallon of water. Be prepared to have your home smell like salad. But its harmless and does clean well. Check out Simple Green, I think thats all natural. But with any cleaner, rinsing is always a good idea. I have a dog here that licks the floor, so I have to rinse with water if I use any commercial floor cleaners.
Thyroid test is a good idea. Even if the test is borderline, ask the vet to prescribe meds. I've had dog with borderline results and when given low dosage meds, the results were remarkable.
It can be exasperating finding out what is going on with these guys, unfortunately, most of it is trial and error.
Good luck
Lynn King CPDT-KA
where are u on long island?.
where are u on long island?. were in northport, there is a bully specialist in massapequa on merrick road, I dont have my planner on me, but when i get home, if u want the name id be more then happy to send it along to you.....
We just recently found out that we have mold in our apartment and our vet thinks thats what Dozer's issues are related to.. He has the same thing, we have a rug in our living room, he will face plant the rug and literally drag his face across it until theres no hair and hes bleeding :(.. We plan on taking the rug up and obviously taking care of the mold issue.... he does also have an issue with wet grass/tree's ETC.... theres a residue that comes off the plants when there wet, and when he comes in contact with it he gets itchy and scratches until the day is long lol... i wipe him down, but its a catch 22, Cause if i rub him down his skin gets raw from all the wet rubbing lol...... so i use baby wipes and a cloth to clean him up.. were on a natural cleaner kick as well.. and we feed his natural balance- the bison and sweet potatoe formula and he loooooooves it..
Good luck with your little guy :)
Nicole, Dozer and baby harley <3
other things
Great advise on the house cleaning products. Be sure the laundry products you use are allergy free too. I use the Arm & Hammer Free and Clear and double rinse with no softener in the washer or dryer because I'm very sensitive myself. A whole house filter system like Quadraire, Breeze or Lightening might help, especially if you have a mold problem at your place. Be sure any shampoos used on him are very mild too, liquid Castile soap is great. Beware of topical/oral flea and tick products, they can be tough on a dog with allergies.
Is there a Veterinary School in your area, they often have a full compliment of services. Ohio State is within 1-1/2 hour drive for me and they and the Columbus, OH Med-Vet have a full department devoted to treating allergies. They can do a test where they shave the dog's belly and test by needle prick for around 200 possible allergens to see exactly what your dog reacts to.
allergies
Hi! we are right in hicksville- massapequa is practically next door! i would really appreciate if you could send the info, that would be great!! i am going to start with the natural cleaners- that makes so much sense since his little feet are probably soaking up everything on the floors- i think the grass may be a culprit as well because i notice that he tends to start the licking of his paws after he's been outside...
thank you so much for your help- im so glad there is a specialist so close by!
absolutely...its massapequa
absolutely...
its massapequa pet vet- 5404 merrick road, 11758.. phone is 797-8387
dr ned horowitz
Dr stephanie ulrich,,,
I dont go to them, my brother in law best friend is a vet and im happy with him.. but it seems your little friend needs some extra care!. my breeder recommended him to us when we still lived in massapequa, but then we moved.. so good luck!.let me kno how it works out! good luck <3
Nicole, Dozer and baby harley <3
seasonal
Patch had blood test dine almost a year ago. Ge has seasinal allergues. We have to guve him allergy shoots twicw a week. You might want ti look into doing an allergy test.
seasonal
Patch had blood test dine almost a year ago. Ge has seasinal allergues. We have to guve him allergy shoots twicw a week. You might want ti look into doing an allergy test.