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Dog Hives
Hello,
I have a 4 year old English bulldog/beagle mix named Riley. We just moved down to FL from MI 6 months ago. She has never had any skin/allergy issues her whole life until about a 3-4 weeks ago. One day we noticed that she broke out in hives all over her back legs, sides, and back. None on the front of her chest or anywhere else. It started on her back legs than spread to the other areas. At first, I thought it may be her food as I made a switch when the food I originally had her on wasn't available where we moved to. Had her on Canidae then switched to Merrick Grain Free then to Ideal Balance grain free. I switched to Ideal Balance after the hives occurred when I saw fish oil on the Merrick ingredient list and she has had issues with fish oils before. Was giving her Benedryl to help keep the itching and irritation at bay. The hives are somewhat scabby and bloody. Took her to the vet after about a week of the hives persisting and was told by the vet that she believed hives were caused by a bee sting. Gave Ry a steroid shot and Temeril-P. The vet told me that hives should be almost if not completely gone by next day. The next day hives were about 80% gone so I followed up with Temeril-P for 5 days after the steroid shot as directed by the vet. After 5 days of the Temeril-P, hives were still present and some more appearing. I called the vet back and told her what was happening and she prescribed Prednisone, stating that the Temeril-P may not be strong enough. Gave her 5 days of Prednisone, which seemed to help. Went out of town and left Ry with friends for a week at our home and didnt instruct them to give her the meds while we were gone as she was doing better. Came back from being out of town and hives were back full blown with them now on her belly. Pimple looking bumps on belly. She also has hair missing on her back. Called vet again and they said they are not sure why hives keep coming back as they shouldnt be. Told me that they could do full blood work but that they expected it to come back fine. Also, mentioned Mast Cell Tumor but said they dont think thats what she has since her initial exam was good and she is not having any side effects of hives. She eats normally, is still active, bowel movements are fine, no vomiting, etc. Told the vet I wanted to find a cause to the hives and cure them rather than just suppress them with steroids. I dont want to keep my dog on steroids as it is not good long term. If this was a bee sting, these hives shouldnt persist in my opinion. Vet basically was of no help. Considering seeking another vet opinion but dont want to get the run around. I have been giving her coconut oil in her food for past couple weeks and just started giving her Yucca Plant extract as it has natural steroid effects and I am hoping it can take the place of Prednisone til these hives go away. I am not sure what to do at this point. The thought of a tumor scares me tremendously. Dont really have the $300 for bloodwork and re-check either. The hives just wont seem to go away. Any advice/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
I have a 4 year old English bulldog/beagle mix named Riley. We just moved down to FL from MI 6 months ago. She has never had any skin/allergy issues her whole life until about a 3-4 weeks ago. One day we noticed that she broke out in hives all over her back legs, sides, and back. None on the front of her chest or anywhere else. It started on her back legs than spread to the other areas. At first, I thought it may be her food as I made a switch when the food I originally had her on wasn't available where we moved to. Had her on Canidae then switched to Merrick Grain Free then to Ideal Balance grain free. I switched to Ideal Balance after the hives occurred when I saw fish oil on the Merrick ingredient list and she has had issues with fish oils before. Was giving her Benedryl to help keep the itching and irritation at bay. The hives are somewhat scabby and bloody. Took her to the vet after about a week of the hives persisting and was told by the vet that she believed hives were caused by a bee sting. Gave Ry a steroid shot and Temeril-P. The vet told me that hives should be almost if not completely gone by next day. The next day hives were about 80% gone so I followed up with Temeril-P for 5 days after the steroid shot as directed by the vet. After 5 days of the Temeril-P, hives were still present and some more appearing. I called the vet back and told her what was happening and she prescribed Prednisone, stating that the Temeril-P may not be strong enough. Gave her 5 days of Prednisone, which seemed to help. Went out of town and left Ry with friends for a week at our home and didnt instruct them to give her the meds while we were gone as she was doing better. Came back from being out of town and hives were back full blown with them now on her belly. Pimple looking bumps on belly. She also has hair missing on her back. Called vet again and they said they are not sure why hives keep coming back as they shouldnt be. Told me that they could do full blood work but that they expected it to come back fine. Also, mentioned Mast Cell Tumor but said they dont think thats what she has since her initial exam was good and she is not having any side effects of hives. She eats normally, is still active, bowel movements are fine, no vomiting, etc. Told the vet I wanted to find a cause to the hives and cure them rather than just suppress them with steroids. I dont want to keep my dog on steroids as it is not good long term. If this was a bee sting, these hives shouldnt persist in my opinion. Vet basically was of no help. Considering seeking another vet opinion but dont want to get the run around. I have been giving her coconut oil in her food for past couple weeks and just started giving her Yucca Plant extract as it has natural steroid effects and I am hoping it can take the place of Prednisone til these hives go away. I am not sure what to do at this point. The thought of a tumor scares me tremendously. Dont really have the $300 for bloodwork and re-check either. The hives just wont seem to go away. Any advice/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
Meant to add that Bulldogs can be notorious for having skin problems and I see yours is a mix. You might look up skin problems in Bulldogs with photos.
If blood work hasn't been done, ask that the thyroid be checked.
I would still try another protein source in the food such as fish but it takes a while to see any results.
If blood work hasn't been done, ask that the thyroid be checked.
I would still try another protein source in the food such as fish but it takes a while to see any results.
Like I said,skin issues can be so hard to deal with.
Glad you are seeking a second opinion, would be even better if there is a canine Dermatologist in the area. I would ask for a possible skin scraping or biopsy. There are also some specific tests they can do for allergies. I would be concerned about a secondary infection developing.
If you shampoo your carpets, add some apple cider vinegar to the solution. This will help remove a lot of residue and has some natural antibacterial qualities. You won't smell it when it dries.
She on any grass?
Hope you can find the cause. Please keep us updated.
Glad you are seeking a second opinion, would be even better if there is a canine Dermatologist in the area. I would ask for a possible skin scraping or biopsy. There are also some specific tests they can do for allergies. I would be concerned about a secondary infection developing.
If you shampoo your carpets, add some apple cider vinegar to the solution. This will help remove a lot of residue and has some natural antibacterial qualities. You won't smell it when it dries.
She on any grass?
Hope you can find the cause. Please keep us updated.
Thank you for responding. Nothing out of the ordinary as far as flea/tick prevention. We are in an apt in which pest control comes every month but Ry is always in a different area and they have been doing this since we have lived there and she has been ok. She likes to be outside and we are always out there with her. We have stopped the dog beach and dog park since hives started. I know FL is a lot different than MI so it could be the environment change. She now has some hair missing where some of the hives are/were and some are scabby or crusty. Def have spread. Her belly is worse. The only thing that sticks out in my mind is maybe a carpet freshener I used and vacuumed up about a week before hives started but I have used it before. I will prob shampoo my carpets to be sure that's not the culprit. She has an appt at another vet on Friday for a second opinion so I am hoping this time I will get more answers than the run around again! Thank you for commenting.
Well, from what I can see, looks like possibly hives. Yes, would think if it were a bee sting, would have been resolved by now.
What is standing out, to me, is this happened after you just moved there. Food changes have not seemed to help unless you maybe try a fish and sweet potato food, etc. maybe try another protein source.
Are you in a house or apartment? This could be caused by something in the new environment, even something being inhaled.
The other possibility is if the lawns, house, etc have been sprayed or treated with insecticides, etc. if you haven't, possibly the previous owners did. Any new bushes around she gets near or into? If you can identify them, look them up.
Have you used any new shampoos on her? Using any new topical or oral flea/tick or Heartworm meds? Taking her for walks anywhere new?
Skin issues can be sooooo hard to figure out but my first suspect would be something inhaled or she is in contact with.
In the mean time, if possible, I would bath her daily in cool water, no shampoo.
About all I can come up with.
Please keep us updated and good luck.
What is standing out, to me, is this happened after you just moved there. Food changes have not seemed to help unless you maybe try a fish and sweet potato food, etc. maybe try another protein source.
Are you in a house or apartment? This could be caused by something in the new environment, even something being inhaled.
The other possibility is if the lawns, house, etc have been sprayed or treated with insecticides, etc. if you haven't, possibly the previous owners did. Any new bushes around she gets near or into? If you can identify them, look them up.
Have you used any new shampoos on her? Using any new topical or oral flea/tick or Heartworm meds? Taking her for walks anywhere new?
Skin issues can be sooooo hard to figure out but my first suspect would be something inhaled or she is in contact with.
In the mean time, if possible, I would bath her daily in cool water, no shampoo.
About all I can come up with.
Please keep us updated and good luck.
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