FOR KIRK2- ALLERGIES IN A DOG

[JanisM13]

Since you understand homeopathy..I have a 10-1/2 year old Yorkie,5 pounds,neutered male.
For the past year he has been on Dexamethasone-1/4 of a 5 mg tablet for itching,Harley is
allergic to pollen and grass,4 weeks ago when he had an increse in itching, vet increased
his dose to 1/2 pill every other day.First 2 pills( every other day was ok) then we saw him
have what I called a "massive reaction".( although our vet says not possible)
First Harley became a "velcro dog" threw up twice over 5 hours,runny stools once,NOT a
normal thing for him,temperment is loving but not demanding attention,refused dinner @
6:30pm,normal temp.by 11:30 he was shaking,temp was normal,I called ER vet,$300 to
just see him.My vet opened at 7:00 am since fee was before testing, I sat up with him all
night,gave him water(syringe) every 3 hours,Pedilyte every 4 hours round the clock,also
gave a strip of NutriCal every 5 hours,since he was not drinking or eathing,had thrown up,
loose stools to replace electrolites,breathing became more shallow,vet Saturday not worried
said was fine,sometimes his body "feels very hot" to touch but normal temperature.
CBC Saturday am showed Harley was in kidney failure( had CBC 4 months prior,NO issues
I told vet I thought he had a reaction to increase meds,( nope) ALSO by 3rd dose increased
meds he was itching like a mad man,constant,unstopping. Took him home started to wean
him off Dexamethasone.I continued water,Pedilyte and NutriCal for the nest 3 days,added
strained baby chicken and baby rice,diluted with water,through syringe,also bananas,sweet
potatoes with syringe. NO meds for 4 days,almost no itching through this time( though he was
sick in all fairness) Harley ate shredded boiled chicken and rice on the morning of the 4th day.
Next CBC 3 weeks later showed NORMAL all across the charts on everything,( did get smiles
and side glances from reg vet when I said how I had fed,watered him for 3 days BUT he did
NOT dehydrate and he ate on his own)
Sorry this so long.
Up to date,Harley is on food no grain,wheat,soy,mixed with yogurt at night and daytime food
he has warmed home cooked veggies and beef( soup mixture)on kibble in morning,he is NOT
itching as much,night sleeps through night,daytime he itches for 10 minutes,not long,resting
and in familyroom at night,no itching...maybe 4 hours of him crazy itching total through whole
day...he has no teeth so can not break the skin or rip out hair.
I bathe him every 3 days,oatmean shampoo,before this use natural coconut oil on his skin,leave
10 minutes,then shampoo,( also give smidge of natural coconut oil in food with fish oil and also
flaxseed oil for skin) when damp I comb out what looks like dark scabs off his skin(never any
open oozing sores) but he has scabs??( from steroids,he's been on them for 2 years,first Pred
then Dexamethasone-30 times stronger than Preds) Had I known side effects or what this would
do to him,what I know now,I'd never used this..vet said ONLY answer for allergies in dogs so to
help him,tried..nothing seemed to help over time...then they just increase in meds.
Harley does not drink a lot or pee a lot so prayimg his Thyroid or adrenal glads not dammaged so
much they can't turn around..he was just starting to get thinning hair by his hips on his back,NO
pot belly...so hope he will heal, not go into Cushings???!
I HAVE TIRED so many online "this will help" for allergies,changed foods,nothing has helped him,
NO holistic vets here,I have looked on line for answers...can not find anything for allergies.
My vet IS NOT happy,he wanted to put him onto something else( steroids) when I said I just wanted
his body to heal,if he is coming off one very strong steroid,going to something else,how do we know
IF there are side effects,WHICH ONE is causing problems if Dex is not out of system...also I refused
to put him on any more...vet just looked at me and walked out of the room.( I have gone to this man
for over 20 years...)
Our pollen here is sooo bad,sometimes it falls on deck,railings and outside furniture in a thick yellow
coating,grass we have in the backyard...he uses to potty..is 100% housebroke will not use potty pad
even in deep snow or pouring rain,Harley goes outside. I do wipe him down all over when he comes
inside,ears,rear,belly,feet pads,legs and back with a coolish wash rag( not warm or hot water) but
not ice cold...tepid.
IS THERE ANYTHING OUT THERE to help dogs with allergies...I can find no answers to help him,I
almost feel he just has to deal with this because I do not want him back on steroids...as I said, I am
SORRY THIS IS SO LONG but thought you needed a bit of history...thanks.
Jan

[ginger899]

Dear Jan, I cannot add any better than Kerk2 has already suggested.
But your posts moved my heart. That dog of yours is SO LUCKY to have you fighting his corner! Bless you.

[kerk2]

Just noticed, the above post should say 'with MILK or calcium', not 'with mild or calcium'.  

[JanisM13]

AGAIN...MUCH THANKS! going into town today so will
get some things at the health food store while in there.
Jan

[kerk2]

Oops, forgot. As for the bee pollen, just get it at a health food store in capsules. Naturally it is a powder. If I recall, it is sometimes used for allergies, but you may want to research it a bit. Again, it might help, and sure can't hurt.

[kerk2]

Yes stomach acid can destroy some of it, but higher doses with mild or calcium will help it get through. One of my dogs developed a condition of vomiting and diarrhea which was the most God awful smelling stuff I have ever experienced. Vet prescribed him a dual medication that would help him keep his food down plus part sulfa drug that would kill the infection in his intestines. He also mentioned that I might try some yogurt. I said sure, I've been using acidophulis for years, and always have it.

I didn't even give him one of the meds, I just started dosing him heavy with the acidophulis. Problem solved, no medication needed.

I don't think the boric acid is for soothing the skin as much as it is for killing whatever causes the irritation. But then, eliminating the cause is always preferred over eliminating the 'symptom'.

The term 'acidophulis' usually refers to a variety of bacteria. You will notice that the low dose capsules may only contain one particular strain, while the higher doses are made up of 3 or 4 different strains. I like to refer to them as the 'good soldiers' that YOU can supply to help overwhelm the 'bad soldiers'. And always remember, anti biotics kill the good and the bad.

Just research it some. May be best to get high dose capsules and open them and take out what you want, then just slide the capsule back together. Don't worry about giving too much. They are pricey, but cheap compared to the vet and meds.

Keep us posted.

[JanisM13]

OKIE DOKIE..after writing you about the probiotic I just
saw your post to 1battymom re:projectile vomiting in a
boxer...Kerk2 said"It can't hurt, and might help, but I if
you aren't now, you might try some 'acidophulis' (aka
'pro biotics'),in case it is an intestinal virus or bacteria.
Were he mine,I would give a 25 billion bacteria count
twice a day. More effective if capsule contents are
mixed with a little room temp milk. Milk helps protect
it from stomach acid on it's way to the intestines.
I only buy it from somewhere that keeps it 'refrigerated',
not off an open shelf. You should also store it in the
fridge."
Got it...thanks,since Harley is 5 pounds I may reduce
the amount a tad for his size difference of a Boxer,
maybe to 10,000 twice a day?
Jan

[JanisM13]

WOOPS... I forgot to ask if you could suggest a
"probiotic" that might work, when I asked my vet
about using this on Harley he said with the acid
in a dog's stomach it would never have time to
be benificial so was a "waste of money and time"
suggestions? Thanks
Jan

[JanisM13]

Thank you so much for your suggestions to help Harley
I will try the bee pollen do you feel I could do this with
local,natural not pasturized honey,we do have a local
bee keeper in our area? (never thought of this,HUGE
thank you!)
I will also go check on boric acid to use as a rinse on
his skin,I did try vinegar( with the mother) diluted down
with water,1/4 cup to one gal.water but may need to
delute down further (?) as he itched like mad with that.
(boric acid may be more soothing)
Will also increase the coconut oil in his food a bit at a
time to avoid loose stools,he too will lick it off a spoon
but I should have not used a teasp. as he got loose poo
when I first gave it to him months ago..
I have noticed 5 weeks after weaning him off Dexameth-
asone,his "dark brown/black scabs" on his back have
now turned to WHITE flakes,( bath yesterday then I'd
combed him with a flea comb) is this weird or what?!
I feel the medication is leaving his body,JMO?
Again, thanks Kerk2 for your information and ideas.
Jan

[kerk2]

Also, you might increase that 'smidge' of coconut oil. I had a 50 pounder that I would give a tablespoon a day. He would eat it plain out of his bowl.

Don't get discouraged, there is no silver bullet for anything, all you can do is try, and there are so many variables. They don't call it 'practicing' medicine for no reason.

[kerk2]

Good for you....although he still has issues, it sounds like a victory to me. If it were me, I might try working a little 'bee pollen' into his diet gradually, as well as some 'acidophilus' (pro biotics).

I like your attitude. The unhappy vet reminds me of an unhappy pediatrician I had years ago when I told him I was not giving my son the medications he had prescribed, and was getting positive results from a diet change. (It was the beginning of my homeopath studies).

Looking back when I was an ignorant victim of a doctor, he had diagnosed my son with asthma. He did not have asthma, and had I listened to him, my son could have been on medication for years. Turns out, through research and diet experiment, I discovered my son had clogged up kidneys that needed to be flushed. This eliminated the coughing spells, and he was able to go off of the diet. Within one year the symptoms never returned.

I don't know what else to add to your story. I believe you know as much, or perhaps more, than I. The important thing is you are eliminating the drugs. You cannot work miracles, you can only help him overcome the problem himself as best he can without drug side effects.....and we know how one drug can lead to the need for another, and another ......

I would suggest that you may want to research the homeopathic uses of 'boric acid'. It may help as a topical application.

I also find that the term 'allergy' is so often used for the scapegoat. I have to believe that so called 'allergies' can also be overcome by 'the body' if allowed.

I moved to a new area 12 years ago. I appeared to be having a reaction to something that would give me lumps. I might wake up with a swollen lip, or a bump on my forehead. My guess is that it was Oak pollen. I lived with it, did not medicate, apparently the body solved the problem and it has not reoccurred for 10 years.

Thanks for the post, I learned from it. Keep it up and good luck.