Allergies

[alschwahn]

Hi everyone!

So I am taking Aspen to the vet and will ask them about it there but I think he is suffering from very bad seasonal allergies or a yeast infection at the moment. I just wanted to see if anyone else might have an thoughts.

After we take him out for his bathroom breaks, he comes inside and chews and licks his paws like no other. We have been trying to wash them off after his bathroom breaks, but he still seems miserable. I have heard that allergies are very bad this year, and I would believe it because mine are horrendous too. I checked his paws and they have a reddish-rust hue to them, which makes me think it might be a yeast infection if it isn't allergies, or both? I also noticed he had some little bumps on his head, and when I looked more closely, I noticed that he has dandruff and reddish, scaly skin that he itches at near his ear.

He has been spending a lot of time outside with us, and now I am realizing that maybe we should be limiting his outdoor time because his skin doesn't seem to be doing too well with all the grass, pollen, weeds, etc. I have ordered him some allergy & immunity supplements from Chewy to see if it might help, this is the brand: PetHonesty Allergy Relief Snacks Immunity Strength & Digestive Health Soft Chews Dog Supplement, 90 count - Chewy.com. I tried out Cetirizine for his allergies (an OTC antihistamine, I take it daily) but it didn't seem to help him much.

I have read that some people do apple cider vinegar soaks/rinses for itchy paws and yeast infections, but that sounds like it might be too rough on his skin? Can anyone give me any advice on that one?

Like I said, he will be going to the vet and I will see what they say there. I am just worried they will recommend Apoquel for his allergies and I really don't want to put him on that, as it made my MIL's choccy have bloody diarrhea and vomiting. I would like to try some other remedies before putting him on anything prescription.

 

[Oberon]

Poor boy. The reddish tinge is from the saliva staining his fur. Not yeast or something growing. Try to avoid wetting his feet as that will make his skin more porous and more readily affected by allergens. Don’t put acidic things like vinegar on his feet or anywhere. That won’t help and it might irritate his skin more.

You’re doing the best thing by taking him to the vet. The vet may want you to try something like a steroid, if you don’t want to use Apoquel. Be open to trying medication like those two options. I’m sure you’re acutely aware of how miserable it is to be itchy and chewing all the time and so giving him relief from that is the priority.

We don’t use Apoquel but we do use steroids and it makes Obi’s spring and summer itch so much more manageable and comfortable. We use steroids as you can just give them occasionally which is what Obi needs. They are extremely effective for Obi at a pretty low, as needed dose.

 

[Oberon]

With the antihistamines....that’s really a trial and error situation. Some kinds will help some dogs and not others. Cetirizine does help Obi, luckily. We do find that we have to give this daily in the spring and summer, two tablets a day. Something else might help Aspen. There are other options that the vet can advise on.

 

[alschwahn]

Thanks for the advice @Oberon! I feel so bad for him and I am hoping that a visit to the vet along with moving soon will help alleviate his itching. He and I never had allergies this bad at our old house, so I'm hoping it's an allergen at this house we are temporarily living at that's bothering us, and once we move, it will clear up. I am glad that you found something that works for Obi, I wish the Cetirizine had worked for Aspen

 

[M.F.]

If it is a contact allergy on his paws, then the logical thing is to wash the allergens off his paws. You can shampoo his paws when he comes in and dry them well. Think of yourself—if you have an itchy scalp, a good shampoo gives great relief.

Steroids can have serious side effects when taken chronically. No doubt they are an important, life-saving medicine. But make sure you’re addressing the cause of the itch first.

 

[M.F.]

Also, you might find a topical antihistamine cream will give relief. Rub it on his paws before a walk so it has time to sink in. He might otherwise try to lick it off.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Brogan used to always get bad news grass allergies this time of year. Never happened in California where grass season is the winter, not summer, but here in Germany it came around like clockwork. For us, nothing really helped except getting him to the vet as soon as the first signs showed. Then he'd usually get an injection and tablets and a cream to put on the affected areas.

Knock on wood, Carbon hasn't gotten grass allergies yet, but for other itchies, it is worse if he's not on his daily dose of salmon oil. That stuff makes all itches better. Omega 3 or other oils don't cut it. That won't stop your allergies, but may help how Aspen is feeling while the medicines do their thing.

 

[Oberon]

Fingers crossed that things improve for Aspen once you move. It’s a realistic hope. Obi’s is definitely locality related. When we go to Sydney, Melbourne or the coast it disappears.

 

[Ashley]

Quinn has pretty bad allergies spring through first frost. I bathe her after walks in really grassy places or if she's itching a lot with a soothing oatmeal wash but really her only relief is from Apoquel. I've gotten to a point with food trial and error that this year she gets one pill every other day or every 3 days. She's on a sensitive skin and stomach diet and I supplement with omega oils. You can also speak to your vet about cytopoint which is a shot that works similarly to apoquel, but price is by weight so may end up being more expensive.

 

[alschwahn]

Thanks for the input @Ashley! My SIL told me that it works well for her lab and he's about the same size as Aspen, I think she said about $150 or so for a shot that lasts three months. She says its worth it for the relief he gets so we may try that if it is an option for us.