Lab has bad allergy problem?

LBmare · 06-08-2007, 07:49 PM

And he has bad body odor too, yeck, gotta love labs!

Everybody meet Moses. Well, think about meeting Moses because I can't find any pictures.

He's 3-4 years old...a chocolate lab, and a big boned dog. He weighs 92 lbs. I know right away you think fat, but vet says his labs are big boned too...And actually most of the dogs in Moses's family(Bitch and stud are family owned)are rather big too.

He gets a cup of dry dog food AM and PM. It's not Iams, I can't remember what it is. We can't feed him Iams because it is corn based and corn affects his allergies really badly.

The vet gives him a shot once a year for the allergies and it really doesn't help. He is always gnawing at himself, and licking. It's not like the random chew/scratch at a flea itch, it's constant.

And fleas aren't an issue, the cats don't come near the house and we don't let him out by the barn, where the cats roam.

He doesn't get many treats, and he gets a pill of brewers yeast once a day.

We doctor him up with anti-itch spray when things get really bad(Or beyond annoying), he gets brushed about every other day.

Anything else we can do? Anyone else have a dog that has the same bad issues that shots don't help, and it is incessant?

OSUJillyBean · 06-08-2007, 10:11 PM

Not being fed corn-based food is usually a stomach allergy. The Humane Society puts their corn-hating dogs on lamb & rice kibble.

My lab (or lab mix? He's a shelter dog) has a thick grime on his coat. Some people say he smells but I can't personally smell it. When fed higher-quality dog foods, his coat seems to get a bit softer.

During the spring he gets Benadryl daily (vets orders - it's okay for a dog his size) to help with grass allergies. He's a lot like your lab - constantly chewing on himself & scratching. Benadryl helps but I think keeping the yard mown flat and low pollen/weeds/dust help him the most.

Do you guys treat the yard? My idiot mother once put "sevendust" (sp?) all over her backyard and let her collie run on it immediately. Dog went bald - looked mangy and gross. :P Fertilizers and other chemicals may be bothering your lab. Any chance he got into something like that??

draftrider227 · 06-08-2007, 10:35 PM

You didn't mention if it seems seasonal or not, but here are some suggestions:

Check him over throughly for fleas. Especially near the tail, belly, face, and ears. Also look for what appears like black pepper flakes on the skin. That is flea feces and is usually easier to spot than fast moving fleas. If you see ANYTHING suspicious, start treatment right away by using Frontline, Advantage or some other serious flea product on the dog. Fleas can be transmitted via grass, other pets, wild animals and even your clothes.

If no evidence of fleas is found, try regular baths (every 1-2 weeks) in an oatmeal shampoo or another type of soothing shampoo. Let the shampoo sit for 15-20 mins before rinsing to get the full effect.

You can try over the counter Benedryl or ask you vet to dispense an antihistimine for you to give. Something like Chlor-mal, Atarax, or other med can be helpful at controlling the itch. Steroids like injectable DEpo-medrol and oral steroids like Pred, Medrol, etc, are very effective with allergies, however great caution must be used when these drugs need to be given long term, as they can have very serious side effects.

If these previous ideas don't help the situation, then I would consider allergy testing or a diet change to rule out a food allergy. Now a days with all the lamb and rice foods on the market, those are no longer considered hypoallergenic. For a true test of food allergies you need to go with Duck and potato, or Kangaroo and rice, or some other exotic mix. These are readily available at pet stores and are usually fed for 60 days to determine the level of improvement. Of course, during this time there are no treats, cookies, etc, just the dog food.

Hope this helps the itchy dog

Sheila

Applejack · 06-08-2007, 10:47 PM

I give my dog a fish oil pill every day (2 a day if needed) and it really helps him. I've also started putting apple cider vinegar on the spots he's licking and it seems to sooth his skin.

My golden weighs 87 pounds. He's big boned too, well maybe a little fat, but I just say there's more to love!

sugarsgal · 06-09-2007, 12:39 AM

There is a new product out now with Hydrocortisone and it's a spray made for cats and dogs. You can get it at pet stores and it relieves allergy and itchy skin. I actually bought it for my horse.

Also tea tree oil mixed with water (or already made store product) will help heal and sooth his skin and an oatmeal with Aloe bath once a month. Just make sure the shampoo is perfume free and conditioned.

Fancy's Mom · 06-09-2007, 02:06 AM

Sounds like what is happened to my dog..
She is a 7 or 8 yr old Chocolate Lab.

http://forum.horsetopia.com/viewtopic.php?t=24133

http://forum.horsetopia.com/viewtopi...=asc&sta rt=0

NHIceGSD · 06-12-2007, 04:16 PM

I am the proud owner of the most allergic GSD ever ! It's been a nightmare.. we even went as far as taking him to Tufts for special allergy testing.
We figured out that between special food that we have to order on the internet, frozen herring,fish oil, baths every 3 days and keeping my house as spotless as possible seems to make his itchiness more bearable.
This time of the year... he still gets VERY itchy due to all of the pollen in the air... but we've been giving him a once a day Claritin with great results!
The food is the biggest thing for him.... someone accidently gave him Pedigree once and we thought that we were going to loose him. We have to be VERY careful... he can only have his special dog food and special treats... We actually work with a local buffalo farmer for left over buffalo scraps and bones,,,, that's pretty much his only treat ( as well as freeze dried ostrich and venison jerky)
It's not easy living with a dog with such severe allergies... but when he cuddles his 120 lbs up to me each night,,,, it's worth every penny!

GodsGifts · 06-13-2007, 10:12 AM

There are specail foods for dogs with allergies. You can buy them at Vet clinics. Depending on what your dog is allergic too you can find the best food for him/her. My sisters dog has skin allergies where he would scratch himslef raw and have to be on steroids. I put her dog on Medi-Cal Veggie food and told her he is in NO WAY to get ANY protein. He hasn't itched in over a year. Most dogs are allergic to the protein in the foods. There are also foods called Hills Prescription Z/D Low(silver) and Hills Prescription Z/D Ultra(gold) I've seen wonderful improvments from MANY dogs on these foods. Sometimes it's as simple as putting your dog on a high quality food. If you put your dog on any of these foods and it's not working...think...is your dogs getting any kind of protein such as raw hid bones, treats you buy at pet stores? ANYTHING with only a trace of protein can set it off. ALSO the great thing with the Hlls prescription diet is that it is 100% gauranteed! SO if you don't like it, or if your dog wont eat it you can return it for a full refund!!

I would seriously reccommend speaking to your Vet about these foods. Working in a Vet clinic setting myself I've seen with my own eyes that it works with 90% of our clients dogs who have allergies!

wildcat180 · 06-13-2007, 10:28 AM

The most common culprit in food allergies is corn or grains, though there are many dogs that have an allergy to chicken. While some dogs may be allergic to proteins in general, it is not common. (Unless those proteins are coming from wheat gluten or something, which goes back to the grain thing.)

Allergy testing is the best way to go and would save time in figuring out what's bothering your dog. Switching foods more than once in a short period of time can cause more harm than good. (It usually takes about 2 months or more before you'll know that your dog will have long term success on a food.) If you don't know what's causing the problem, it may not even be food to begin with. It could be something in the environment of the home, or it could be the pollen.

joschrock · 06-13-2007, 12:29 PM

He may have a yeast problem. Does he smell like Frito's corn chips? If so, it may be yeast. But it is true that corn/grains are a HUGE culprit for allergies in dogs and cats. These animals are not designed to ingest grains....they are carnivores.

06-08-2007, 07:49 PM
LBmare Yearling Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: In the past Posts: 509	Lab has bad allergy problem? And he has bad body odor too, yeck, gotta love labs! Everybody meet Moses. Well, think about meeting Moses because I can't find any pictures. He's 3-4 years old...a chocolate lab, and a big boned dog. He weighs 92 lbs. I know right away you think fat, but vet says his labs are big boned too...And actually most of the dogs in Moses's family(Bitch and stud are family owned)are rather big too. He gets a cup of dry dog food AM and PM. It's not Iams, I can't remember what it is. We can't feed him Iams because it is corn based and corn affects his allergies really badly. The vet gives him a shot once a year for the allergies and it really doesn't help. He is always gnawing at himself, and licking. It's not like the random chew/scratch at a flea itch, it's constant. And fleas aren't an issue, the cats don't come near the house and we don't let him out by the barn, where the cats roam. He doesn't get many treats, and he gets a pill of brewers yeast once a day. We doctor him up with anti-itch spray when things get really bad(Or beyond annoying), he gets brushed about every other day. Anything else we can do? Anyone else have a dog that has the same bad issues that shots don't help, and it is incessant?

06-08-2007, 10:11 PM
OSUJillyBean Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,440	Not being fed corn-based food is usually a stomach allergy. The Humane Society puts their corn-hating dogs on lamb & rice kibble. My lab (or lab mix? He's a shelter dog) has a thick grime on his coat. Some people say he smells but I can't personally smell it. When fed higher-quality dog foods, his coat seems to get a bit softer. During the spring he gets Benadryl daily (vets orders - it's okay for a dog his size) to help with grass allergies. He's a lot like your lab - constantly chewing on himself & scratching. Benadryl helps but I think keeping the yard mown flat and low pollen/weeds/dust help him the most. Do you guys treat the yard? My idiot mother once put "sevendust" (sp?) all over her backyard and let her collie run on it immediately. Dog went bald - looked mangy and gross. :P Fertilizers and other chemicals may be bothering your lab. Any chance he got into something like that?? __________________ "And speaking of Italy and sports cars that I stole there, you still owe me a yellow Porsche." — Alice Cullen

06-08-2007, 10:35 PM
draftrider227 Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 210	You didn't mention if it seems seasonal or not, but here are some suggestions: Check him over throughly for fleas. Especially near the tail, belly, face, and ears. Also look for what appears like black pepper flakes on the skin. That is flea feces and is usually easier to spot than fast moving fleas. If you see ANYTHING suspicious, start treatment right away by using Frontline, Advantage or some other serious flea product on the dog. Fleas can be transmitted via grass, other pets, wild animals and even your clothes. If no evidence of fleas is found, try regular baths (every 1-2 weeks) in an oatmeal shampoo or another type of soothing shampoo. Let the shampoo sit for 15-20 mins before rinsing to get the full effect. You can try over the counter Benedryl or ask you vet to dispense an antihistimine for you to give. Something like Chlor-mal, Atarax, or other med can be helpful at controlling the itch. Steroids like injectable DEpo-medrol and oral steroids like Pred, Medrol, etc, are very effective with allergies, however great caution must be used when these drugs need to be given long term, as they can have very serious side effects. If these previous ideas don't help the situation, then I would consider allergy testing or a diet change to rule out a food allergy. Now a days with all the lamb and rice foods on the market, those are no longer considered hypoallergenic. For a true test of food allergies you need to go with Duck and potato, or Kangaroo and rice, or some other exotic mix. These are readily available at pet stores and are usually fed for 60 days to determine the level of improvement. Of course, during this time there are no treats, cookies, etc, just the dog food. Hope this helps the itchy dog Sheila

06-08-2007, 10:47 PM
Applejack Coming two Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,612	I give my dog a fish oil pill every day (2 a day if needed) and it really helps him. I've also started putting apple cider vinegar on the spots he's licking and it seems to sooth his skin. My golden weighs 87 pounds. He's big boned too, well maybe a little fat, but I just say there's more to love! __________________ The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

06-09-2007, 12:39 AM
sugarsgal Started Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,750	There is a new product out now with Hydrocortisone and it's a spray made for cats and dogs. You can get it at pet stores and it relieves allergy and itchy skin. I actually bought it for my horse. Also tea tree oil mixed with water (or already made store product) will help heal and sooth his skin and an oatmeal with Aloe bath once a month. Just make sure the shampoo is perfume free and conditioned. __________________ There is no such thing as an Ignorant horse, there are only Ignorant people!

06-09-2007, 02:06 AM
Fancy's Mom Coming two Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 1,885	Sounds like what is happened to my dog.. She is a 7 or 8 yr old Chocolate Lab. http://forum.horsetopia.com/viewtopic.php?t=24133 http://forum.horsetopia.com/viewtopi...=asc&sta rt=0 __________________ My horse is a reflection of me, wanna know me, talk to my horse!

06-12-2007, 04:16 PM
NHIceGSD Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 819	I am the proud owner of the most allergic GSD ever ! It's been a nightmare.. we even went as far as taking him to Tufts for special allergy testing. We figured out that between special food that we have to order on the internet, frozen herring,fish oil, baths every 3 days and keeping my house as spotless as possible seems to make his itchiness more bearable. This time of the year... he still gets VERY itchy due to all of the pollen in the air... but we've been giving him a once a day Claritin with great results! The food is the biggest thing for him.... someone accidently gave him Pedigree once and we thought that we were going to loose him. We have to be VERY careful... he can only have his special dog food and special treats... We actually work with a local buffalo farmer for left over buffalo scraps and bones,,,, that's pretty much his only treat ( as well as freeze dried ostrich and venison jerky) It's not easy living with a dog with such severe allergies... but when he cuddles his 120 lbs up to me each night,,,, it's worth every penny! __________________ Be Something You Love and Understand~ Lynard Skynard

06-13-2007, 10:12 AM
GodsGifts Weanling Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cornwall, Ontario Posts: 418	There are specail foods for dogs with allergies. You can buy them at Vet clinics. Depending on what your dog is allergic too you can find the best food for him/her. My sisters dog has skin allergies where he would scratch himslef raw and have to be on steroids. I put her dog on Medi-Cal Veggie food and told her he is in NO WAY to get ANY protein. He hasn't itched in over a year. Most dogs are allergic to the protein in the foods. There are also foods called Hills Prescription Z/D Low(silver) and Hills Prescription Z/D Ultra(gold) I've seen wonderful improvments from MANY dogs on these foods. Sometimes it's as simple as putting your dog on a high quality food. If you put your dog on any of these foods and it's not working...think...is your dogs getting any kind of protein such as raw hid bones, treats you buy at pet stores? ANYTHING with only a trace of protein can set it off. ALSO the great thing with the Hlls prescription diet is that it is 100% gauranteed! SO if you don't like it, or if your dog wont eat it you can return it for a full refund!! I would seriously reccommend speaking to your Vet about these foods. Working in a Vet clinic setting myself I've seen with my own eyes that it works with 90% of our clients dogs who have allergies! __________________ Animals Are Family We Choose For Ourselves

06-13-2007, 10:28 AM
wildcat180 Seasoned Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,131	The most common culprit in food allergies is corn or grains, though there are many dogs that have an allergy to chicken. While some dogs may be allergic to proteins in general, it is not common. (Unless those proteins are coming from wheat gluten or something, which goes back to the grain thing.) Allergy testing is the best way to go and would save time in figuring out what's bothering your dog. Switching foods more than once in a short period of time can cause more harm than good. (It usually takes about 2 months or more before you'll know that your dog will have long term success on a food.) If you don't know what's causing the problem, it may not even be food to begin with. It could be something in the environment of the home, or it could be the pollen. __________________ www.getyourhorse.com www.forum.getyourhorse.com

06-13-2007, 12:29 PM
joschrock Weanling Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bradley, Illinois Posts: 223	He may have a yeast problem. Does he smell like Frito's corn chips? If so, it may be yeast. But it is true that corn/grains are a HUGE culprit for allergies in dogs and cats. These animals are not designed to ingest grains....they are carnivores. __________________ "In Deep Water? Turn to the One who Walked on It"