Antihistamine + Prednisone and Benadryl

[Jerry_NJ]

Wilson, my Westie seems in good health at the moment - and the troublesome paw licking discussed in a thread a few weeks back is a thing of the past and his feet look "wonderful".  

Over the past month he was on prescription medications including Otomax (ears), Ketoconazole 50 mg, and Temiril-P, all in tablet form and Cephalexin, a capsule.  The Temiril (at more than $1 per pill) provided the medications in the subject line, less the Benadryl.

Clearly one or more of the above cleared up the paw licking problem - and maybe the itch problem in general, but I also will guess the combination of meds teamed to accomplish the improvement.

I had prior to the vet visit above been given Wilson one half Benedryl 25 mg Antihistamine morning and evening, in the hope it would clear up the paw problem.  A couple weeks of this did not produce any improvement.  I then checked and saw recommendations to use 1 - 2 mg per pound. As Wilson is j20+ pounds my does level was low.  I have decided to continue giving him Benadryl but now one 25 mg capsule morning and night.  Hope it keeps his paws and general itch problems under control.  I assume Benadryl does not contain Prednisone, and wonder if that was a key ingredient to his recovery.

I didn't check the "web" for prices on the prescription Temril, but assume it remains expensive.

[Jerry_NJ]

The battle to be won with/for Wilson, is what is he allergic to, and keeping me from giving him "stuff" to eat because I have always done that with dogs and he/they love it (have fun).

Right now I am wrestling with the "No grain" issue.  That is one aspect of his Kibble, main food, but given many recommend rice in a dog's diet, that can't be with "no grain", same goes for corn.  I have used both to get him to eat a pill, including the subject prescription.

It is hard for me to make him eat nothing but his Fish and Sweet Potato kibble.  He will eat this kibble, but he will complain, and loudly, when he wants something else to eat.  This particular do is not easy to "brush off", or to brush, for that matter.  I wonder if brushing sometimes hurts because of some Yeast problems in his skin.  On Yeast, he has been declaired Yeast-free many times, but that is when he has just come off of a complex set of prescriptions (three or four of them) being administered.  

I am hopeful that the simple benadryl will help some, and I will continue to limit his diet to avoid anything he might be allergic to.  Of course, getting to take the benadryl is a problem if I am feeding him only kibble.  I have found he will eat a capsule if is wetted with a teaspoon of cream corn. This has enough stickiness that it will keep the pill suspended when he licks up a bit.  But corn is a grain.  Yes, I've tried tuna in water and he rejects that.

I wonder if the complexity and expense of taking care of this dog is what caused him to end up a rescue dog.

We have a contract with the rescue person that says she will take him back without any questions (no refund of course), and specifically asks that she be given a chance to take him back if/when the time to end his life comes.  We do not have any plans to send him back, he is part of our family.  He is more complex and expensive than I expected, but still he is a loved family member.

Wilson is what brought me to his Community, and I have learned a lot here and feel like I am among friends, people who love and respect pets (dogs in my case - though in a life-time that  involved raising two human children we have experienced many varieties of pets).  

[ladypaz2000]

I give my dogs their medication in a tsp of Pedigree canned food (shoot it off the spoon into their mouths) or pill pockets...which they love.

[BluCrystal]

Good greif, Jerry, what are we going to do with you and your dog? :-)  Benadryl does not contain prednisone.  And I am willing to be that it was the pred that helped your dog the most: it is known in vet-circles as a 'miracle drug' because it can be used to heal alot of things.  I just googled temeril-p and here is what I found:

Composition
Each tablet contains trimeprazine tartrate (USP) 10-[3-(Dimethylamino)-2-methylpropyl] phenothiazine tartrate (2:1) equivalent to trimeprazine, 5 mg, and prednisolone, 2 mg.
Action
The exclusive Temaril-P formula combines the antipruritic and antitussive action of trimeprazine with the anti-inflammatory action of prednisolone. A therapeutic effect is attained by administering the tablets twice daily.
Recommendations For Use
1. Antipruritic: Temaril-P is recommended for the relief of itching regardless of cause. Its usefulness has been demonstrated for the relief of itching and the reduction of inflammation commonly associated with most skin disorders of dogs such as the eczema caused by internal disorders, otitis, and dermatitis (allergic, parasitic, pustular, and nonspecific). It often relieves pruritis which does not respond to other therapy. With any pruritus treatment, the cause should be determined and corrected; otherwise, signs are likely to recur following discontinuance of therapy.

2. Antitussive: Temaril-P has been found to be effective therapy and adjunctive therapy in various cough conditions of dogs. Therefore, in addition to its antipruritic action, Temaril-P is recommended for the treatment of “kennel cough” or tracheobronchitis, bronchitis including all allergic bronchitis and infections and coughs of nonspecific origin. (Coughs due to cardiac insufficiencies would not be expected to respond to Temaril-P therapy.) As with any antitussive treatment, the etiology of the cough should be determined and eliminated if possible. Otherwise, symptoms are likely to recur following discontinuance of therapy.

i don't know how helpful this is.  But maybe there is a bit of light here for you.  Blessings - Blu

[Jerry_NJ]

Thanks, that helps and I am no longer giving Wilson the Temaril.  I'd like to limit use of steroids anyway, guess my concern reflects the fact it needs to be prescription only.  Still, my vet was willing to renew the prescription, when I looked at $27 for 20 pills (that's what I paid for the round he has already gone through, and he looks just fine now) I will see how Bendadryl works - I have one friend who stopped paw licking in a Terrier he has.

I started last night with a full capsule of 25 mg last night and this morning and plan to give it to him again at bedtime.

[Misfits4Me]

Hi Jerry......YES, it's the Pred. that made the difference.....However, it's NOT a cure! It basically masks the problem......NO, Benerdyl does not have the pred (Steroid)....It's only an Antihistamine....Steroids are prescription only!

If you are No longer giving the Temaril P, then you CAN UP your dose of Benedryl.....But if you ARE giving the TP, then you shouldn't up the dose of Benedryl...Here's why: The Temaril P IS an Antihistamine plus steroid......You may be close to overdosing on the antihistamine (With the benedryl) which WILL cause dehydration......

If you are only using the Benedryl, then you can up your dose......Hope this helps, Karla