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Well here it is, mid-summer and once again my poor doggy (short-haired Whippet/Jack Russell blend) has his summer grass allergy in full bloom.
And once again I'm bathing him and spraying him with the stuff I got from my vet, which don't work all that well--he's still scratching, licking and biting until his skin (mostly on his belly and inside hind legs) is red and raw.
Anyone else going through this? Any suggestions? We live in North Carolina and this allergy seems pretty common here with the dogs in the summer.
Shadow suffers every summer. I probably have $1,000 worth of shampoos & sprays that my vet was sure would help her.
This summer has been worse than any other. My vet put her on a low dose steroid and in under 4 hours she had relief. Some dogs respond to anti-histamines and that is usually the first choice. Shadow tried 2 different kinds with no response. Prednisone works for her.
If this is a seasonal problem then your vet should recommend trying some oral antihistamines. Shampoos and sprays are not going to me a sufficient solution. As in people, each medication will not solve the problem for each dog (just look at the number of antihistamines at the drug store). If you try one or more antihistamines without solving the problem then I would ask your vet about a low dose of steroids (prednisone) which will certainly work but can have some significant side effects (discuss with your vet). Your dog should not have to go through each summer in misery so please discuss this with your vet at your annual check-up.
I was going to say antihistamines also....Macie has been a bit itchy this summer and that's what our vet recommended to start with.....OTC antihistamines....
Mid Atlantic east coast. You've had grass for a while now. About six months.
We are gonna try a few drops of tea tree oil mixed with a couple tablespoons of shampoo. I only mention this because the majority of the responses suggest going the prescription drug route; which I disagree with as a first choice. But mostly for your pet.
It's all natural: basically, a blend of canola, lavendar, eucalyptus and teatree. I love the smell but my dog hates it, especially the taste. It makes her stop licking, promotes hair growth and clears up just about any rash.
Besides Benadryl, you can also give Claritin or Zyrtec (with you vet's approval and dosage amounts). My vet also suggested that when we bathe her to use an oatmeal shampoo, let it soak on her for a few minutes and to not use any conditioner. The residue left by conditioner can attract the allergens and they "stick" to her coat.....
Well here it is, mid-summer and once again my poor doggy (short-haired Whippet/Jack Russell blend) has his summer grass allergy in full bloom.
And once again I'm bathing him and spraying him with the stuff I got from my vet, which don't work all that well--he's still scratching, licking and biting until his skin (mostly on his belly and inside hind legs) is red and raw.
Anyone else going through this? Any suggestions? We live in North Carolina and this allergy seems pretty common here with the dogs in the summer.
You definitely do not want raw spots.
Now you have the perfect environment for ringworm fungus. Not a joke.
Thanks for the suggestions...my dog weighs about 32 pounds..just gave him a Bendryl with his food..we'll see if it helps...he's sleeping now...he's an older guy, around 13 so I'm nervous about giving him anything too harsh..he tends to be sensitive to prescriptions--as many Whippets are...
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