My dog's itchy allergies aren't improving. How can I help him?

There really isn't much else you can do at this point other than using topical steroids (like hydrocortisone spray) on the feet but if you are going to do allergy testing soon your vet may not want you to use it. Steroids can interfere with testing/results. I would suggest this Zymox 1% Hydrocortisone spray but ask your vet first if they are OK with you using it. This will reduce the redness, inflammation and itching. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-1529-zymox-spray.aspx ) You could also ask your vet about either changing the dose of the antihistamine or changing the type of antihistamine all together especially if she has been on the same one for a long time. They will build a tolerance. Also, some dogs, just like people, respond better to one medication vs another. Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

Poor Chat! What you're describing is very often a sign of environmental allergies, which is a common problem in dogs. It sounds like you're doing everything you can with over-the-counter remedies, so I would recommend a vet visit for an exam as the next step from here. If your veterinarian confirms that allergies are the problem, there are prescription medications that can be used to relieve the itching much more effectively. Allergy testing and immunotherapy is another options that your veterinarian can discuss with you, if you wish.

Poor Oakley! I would discuss steroid use in him with your vet. He may benefit from a shot such as Depo Medrol to help with the allergic reaction to the grass. I would also ask for a referral to a veterinarian dermatologist. As an expert in veterinary dermatology, they may have more treatments available to help Oakley with this problem.

There are many anti allergy medications which can help relieve symptoms if topical creams are not sufficient after 48-72hours. It is helpful to try to narrow down the type of allergy - food is best treated with a specialist diet, environmental allergies with prescription tablets/injections and flea allergies with meticulous parasite prevention. If symptoms are not resolving I recommend a recheck with your vet to fully investigate any additional compllications such as surface infections and to formulate a long term management plan. Allergies are rarely if ever cured but can be well managed with ongoing care

Hello, and thanks for your question about Mya. Allergies are very common in dogs, and they can be frustrating to control! I recommend asking your vet about Cytopoint, which is a monthly injection, and Apoquel, which is a daily pill. These are very effective non-steroid allergy medications that can either be given individually or (in more severe cases) together. For young dogs like Mya, I usually prefer the cytopoint injections, and then add Apoquel if necessary. If the a strict feeding trial with the Royal Canin Ultramino diet didn't help, then her allergies are less likely to be related to food, and are more likely environmental. Of course, also make sure she's kept current on a high quality flea/tick preventative, to make sure an external parasite can't be complicating things! And if a skin scrape has never been done, that may be advised as well - I've had skin mites get misdiagnosed as allergies before! If it comes to it, I've certainly had patients who did best on steroids - and that can be done pretty safely if you're weaning to the lowest effective every-other-day dose. Hopefully this helps! Of course, I'd defer on all points to a vet who has seen Mya in person!

These symptoms do sound likely that Nino has allergies. If it has been going on for weeks and is getting worse, he likely has seasonal/environmental allergies. Unfortunately over the counter allergy meds such as Benadryl don't work all that well, and he really needs something more effective to control his symptoms, which would need to come from a vet. The pimples you are seeing probably indicate a secondary skin infection which will need antibiotics to clear up. So, he will need a vet visit to improve. In the meantime you can keep those areas clean and dry; I recommend bathing him with a mild oatmeal based shampoo and drying him thoroughly. You can also wipe down his feet and muzzle with a damp cloth when he comes in for the night to get as much pollen, grass, and other allergens off him before he goes to bed. Hope this helps.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. Allergies are extremely difficult to manage especially with a dog that is not amenable to treatment. The strongest oral sedatives available can only be gotten from your veterinarian. They cannot be purchased over the counter without a prescription. The best over the counter medication I have seen work well is called Zylkene. It is not cheap but I think it is worth a try. He would need the large dog size and would get one per day. I would give one per day and use it everyday until the bottle runs out (30 days) and if it works, great, you can keep him on it. If it doesn't work, then you can stop. ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=115875 ) I would also recommend a leave-on mousse instead of a shampoo. These are medicated and work very well either in between baths or for dogs that are not amenable to bathing. I would use the "CALM" when he has no lesions on his skin. If he does have lesions on the skin (hot spots, etc) then I would use the S3 PYO until the lesions are healed and then go back to the CALM. You don't have to do his whole body - just the major affected areas. You need to make sure it gets on his skin and not just on the hair. You can use it every day if necessary - you will just need to see how he is doing which will dictate how often to apply it. ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=153532 ) ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=145608 ) Finally, I would recommend putting him on a fatty acid supplement if he is not already on one. This helps to maintain the integrity of the skin. I like this one: ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=118404 ) Honestly, the best option is to take him to your vet and discuss with them a medication called Apoquel. It works great at keeping allergies under control, it is an oral tablet so typically easy to give and it will keep him from scratching and itching and having all the allergy symptoms. This way he is comfortable and you don't have to force topical treatments on him. Hope this helps. Best wishes.