Help

Hiya everyone

Can anyone help me - My staffy Jessie is allergic to something and i dont know what she keeps scratching and making herself sore - WHEN the vets dis test she came back not allergic to anthing but something must be causing her to be itchy

Its so frustrating she is on Salmon and Potatoe wafcol and 4 piriton tablets and 2 steriod tablets every other day they keep it moderate but not completly under control - I am getting so frustrated now as hate seeing her in pain or sore as it must drive her mad - I change her bed once a week

HELP HELP HELP - When its her body I have cream and steriod cream

Oh dear that's not good.

I assume before doing allergy tests the vet did the normal check of its not mites by trying treatment for them first.

With that food to be honest its possible its still an allergy but highly doubt it.

Is the skin flaky or anything?

Does she only scratch whats already been scratched because its scabby and ichy?

Does she normally scratch when unattended? (Likely to be separation anxiety)

If the steroids and periton have had no effect I would put money down its not an allergy.

Whats the vet said for next plan of action then if its not allergy?

As John says, you have her on a hypoallergenic food, so it may not be a food allergy.

It could be strong cleaners etc around the home?

Steroids dampen down the immune system to make reactions less reactive, however some 'allergies' or skin issues and itchness are caused by a poor immune system.
I would be adding salmon oils to her food daily and things like vitamin E and starflower oil. These should help her skin.
Other than that a good diet will boost her immune system so u can hopefully cut down on the piriton and maby stop the steroids (under vet control ofc)

X

Hiya,

Yes the vet did all the checks for mites and fleas etc b4 the tests were done.

Walfcol Salmon and potatoes is ahypo allergenfood - She is allergic to rice, corn, wheat and soy and also birds feathers so i have cut alot of this out (obv cant contrl the birds feathers)

I can go to work and she is fine and when i come home her ears, eyes and mouth are really sore where she has scratched.

I was wondering if she could b allergic to cleaning products or Rawhide chewss.

SHe has only been on steriods for about 4 weeks she had them solid for a week and then went down to every other day for a week and then cut down to every third day and it flared up again. She is know on every other day until monday when she sees the vet again.....

She also had a patch of fur fall out and a red sore there the vet has tested for ringworm - I think she possibley has eczema

Defiantly avoid the rawhide chews if you think this is an allergy problem.

Avoid giving any food except the hypoallergenic food she is on, if you want treats look for something that's pure fish like the treats from fish 4 dogs, plenty of other companies make 100% salmon/fish treats.

Then you know she is only ever getting salmon and potato plus other ingredients in the Walfcol. As mentioned getting some salmon oil to supplement her diet maybe a good idea can work wonders for some skin conditions.

Avoid using cleaning chemicals on her or her bedding.

I would even avoid things like shake and vac if you use it, try and keep anything like that down to an absolute minimum.

With allergies it is very frustrating as its process of elimination game, remove everything from her diet and lifestyle then gradually pick one thing at a time to try and if it has a negative effect you know to avoid.

Thank you for yoour help... She loves rawhide chews so i have still been giving them to her but I think it could possibly be this... Her bedding is washed on a hot wash with fairy non bio.

I used to use shake and vac do you think that could of caused this flare up, havent used it in a few weeks tbh.

Ive had to use carpet cleaner coz she has had a few accidents since being on the steriods.

Ideas on what i could give her to chew instead of rawhide - Ive brought a nylabone to try her with but dont thinks he will be instresed

Thank you

There is Stag bars which are a good alternative, though not sure this will be any better in terms of allergies.

Raw Meaty bones of course another alternative, again depending what the allergy is this may be no better.

These fish skin treats are good for cleaning teeth and make a good replacement though unfortunately they get through them quite quick so wont keep her quite for so long.

http://www.fish4dogs.com/Categories/Dog-Shop/treats.aspx

Thank you

Any ideas on how to get shake and vac our of the carpet incase its taht

Give the carpets a good vacuum every day if you can. See if you can hire a steam cleaner and go over your carpets with that. They work with just plain water. Maybe find out if you have a friend who you could go half costs with and get one for a couple of hours.

My male staffy has skin issues, we bought a vax steamer (£99) we mostly have wood flooring but I can use it on the big rugs we have, and on the upstairs carpets after hoovering x

You say "you can go to work and she is fine" how long are you out for , is it possible she could be stressed from separation anxiety

IT sounds like either seperation anxiety or an allergy from something inside. Stag bars and kongs are great chews. I would switch to either veggies or a hypoallergentic treat as well. Steam clean the carpets if you can and wash the bed and anything else she comes into contact with in a hypoallergenic detergent.

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions - I have spend alot of money etc on vets and they are claiming it is an allergy but I am also thinking it could be seperation anxiety so I have brought a DAP diffuser to see how that goes and also going to start filling her kong with a frozen mashed carrots and fill her pryimid with goodies too incase its boredem

I will get to the bottom of it or even learn to manage it im just fed up woth spending alot of money on vets and not getting any results apart from the fact she may need to go on long term steriods which i do not want to happen just yet

Thank you all for your help