Dog has severe environmental allergies! How to improve? (pitbull, border collie, shepherd) - Dogs - - City-Data Forum

divagotstyle07 · 07-14-2018, 01:20 PM

My dog has developed some type of severe environmental allergy. Within 10 minutes of being outside, she develops hives.

I am figuring out how to improve this and seeing a specialist. She will be allergy tested (intradermal) in 2 weeks. And then most likely on immunotherapy after that.

I would love any tips to help her. She is my best friend and furbaby.

I switched her diet to pork and quinoa only per specialist recommendation for the following 8 weeks. Isolating her diet to make sure it's not food allergy related.

I am going to make her booties for walking outside. Her walks are limited to 2 potty walks a day for 10 minutes or less.

I give her a bath multiple times a week to wash off the allergens when the hives start coming up.

Shes on benadryl 2x a day leading up to just a few days before allergy test.

We live in southern California. I am open to moving anywhere on the planet (would prefer USA) to reduce her allergen exposure.

May take her for walks in stores to get exercise.

Have air purifiers in house and have closed all windows. Currently cooling house with window ac unit.

Wiping off paws and fur after walk.

Help! Has anyone had any success doing these things or other things that I havent done yet? The intradermal test should be good to see what it is she is allergic to but in the mean time I would just like to reduce her exposure as much as possible

I feel terrible for her!!!

Mom2Bulldogs · 07-14-2018, 01:26 PM

I'm sure your vet will talk to you about Cytopoint and Apoquel. Apoquel combined with switching to a kangaroo based food worked with my bulldog. Good luck!

Rowan123 · 07-16-2018, 03:34 PM

Apoquel has worked wonders for my dog.

JrzDefector · 07-16-2018, 04:36 PM

What kind of dog are we talking about here? I ask because I have noticed a trend with Labradors in certain climates.

divagotstyle07 · 07-16-2018, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JrzDefector

What kind of dog are we talking about here? I ask because I have noticed a trend with Labradors in certain climates.

She is a chow border collie chihuahua pitbull white swiss shepherd mix. I got her DNA tested.

I am seriously considering relocating to a different climate with her. Just not sure where would be less allergic than SoCal.

divagotstyle07 · 07-16-2018, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rowan123

Apoquel has worked wonders for my dog.

Thanks. She is getting allergy tested next week and then will likely get injections. I feel so terrible for her.

JrzDefector · 07-17-2018, 07:55 AM

How long has she been on the pork/quinoa diet? Has there been any improvement? My other suggestion there would be a duck/pea combo kibble, which solved my cat's skin allergies pretty rapidly. She was severely allergic to salmon - would develop festering sores on her paws from it. It was BAD. But the right food cleared it up entirely. I'd be very curious about the allergy results.

There's something in the grass at the training center where we go for flyball. Whatever it is makes my dog spontaneously start foaming at the mouth. Doesn't bother him except for the fact that he looks like he has rabies. I try to keep him away from the grass there. No one else has dealt with the issue.

loves2read · 07-21-2018, 01:06 PM

Our dog developed poultry allergy
Was difficult to diagnose
Finally just took her off all poultry ourselves
The dermatologist we took her to when our vet wasn't able to help basically said that allergy testing is hit or miss so I didn't see any reason to spend the $$ for something that might be less than effective

Apoquel has almost an immediate effect
She was on it until she was weaned off the effect of the poultry
I would get RX for it right away but it is a drug that for some dogs might have serious side effects
The testing for it really hasn't gone long term with many breeds of dogs so there is no clinical evidence to back up the stories that pet owners cite to say it is dangerous for issues like starting tumors

It could be something sprayed on the grass, a fertilizer, something airborn

divagotstyle07 · 07-23-2018, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JrzDefector

How long has she been on the pork/quinoa diet? Has there been any improvement? My other suggestion there would be a duck/pea combo kibble, which solved my cat's skin allergies pretty rapidly. She was severely allergic to salmon - would develop festering sores on her paws from it. It was BAD. But the right food cleared it up entirely. I'd be very curious about the allergy results.

There's something in the grass at the training center where we go for flyball. Whatever it is makes my dog spontaneously start foaming at the mouth. Doesn't bother him except for the fact that he looks like he has rabies. I try to keep him away from the grass there. No one else has dealt with the issue.

She was on pork and quinoa for just 9 days...and her allergies seemed to have gotten even WORSE!! I called the vet and they suggested Purina HA which is a soy protein hydrolized diet, straight kibble. I know my dog and I highly doubt she would eat that, and I have isolated her so much lately I feel that our nightly cuddles and her HOMECOOKED meals are the only things bringing her joy. She loved the freshly cooked dinner but would break out in hives.

So today I went to the market and got some duck. Been doing much research and I feel duck might be the best option at the moment. She is going to eat that with some butternut squash. It's slow cooking right now so hopefully it comes out okay for her breakfast tomorrow.

My apartment building directly under me had TONS of leaking from the pipes. Apparently they could feel the hot water leak because whole strips of their flooring was hot to the touch, and for the last 6-8 weeks my prop manager has been trying to fix the issues.

It just so happened that her allergies got significantly worse in the last 2 months so I wonder if it's related.

I was planning on moving out of OB this fall, so now I'm just thinking it might be time to start looking and get out of here faster.

Allergy test happening on Thursday so my fingers are crossed!!!!

luv4horses · 07-23-2018, 05:09 AM

Wow. That is crazy--have never heard of such awful allergies. Maybe she has become hypersensitized for some reason. I'm wondering if they do fecal pills or whatever they call them for dogs. Could it be her intestinal flora were destroyed by something? Farm dogs, like mine, would probably have sought out something in their environment to help cure their problem. They are always finding little bits of wild animal poop or horse manure to taste test.