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Posted by rainbowbeads on 09-Dec-2008 13:02 Report
Staffy/Skin irritation
Hi there, I have just taken my Staffy to the vet and been told, she has an allergy to something in the garden or air borne.
I could get all these tests done to find out what it is (money I don't have at the moment) then she can go on tablets for this that and the other, I would first off like to try my self to see how we go.
He said I could start her on fish oil and bath her in a natural shampoo that cost $50, it has to have no detergents in it.
I have started by putting some alo vera in between the paws where she licks at the skin.
I just wondered if other people have had similar problems and if so some suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks from Sheron & Coca

coca 08
 
Replied by trillionaire on 09-Dec-2008 13:16 (Ref 1526352) Report
I think you should follow your vets advice as you might end up causing more problems and suffering to your dog if you start trying your own methods-resulting in a massive bill. Fish Oil isn't that expensive and can help. However lots of skin issues will only respond to cortisone/cortavance/macralone/prednisone/megaderm etc.
Trying to think of what shampoo is $50? If you know the name of it, shop around for a better price. Most likely it would be Malaseb or Pyohex which my work sells for around $30.
Consider getting pet insurance also.
Replied by badonkadonk on 09-Dec-2008 13:17 (Ref 1526354) Report

my friend gives her dog  half a tablet of phenergan a day when her dogs allergies flare up.its an anithistamine and she has had success with it.I would check with your vet before giving any human tablets to your dog just in case
my dog use to have allergies but not anymore,I stopped washing her bedding with washing powder and that helped alot.
Replied by laceyjulz on 09-Dec-2008 13:30 (Ref 1526373) Report
Hi rainbow, i too have a staffy that suffers skin allergies. It worked out she was allergic to clove grass, and wood and fleas (the stuff they leave behind on the skin) I've moved to another place which doesnt have clove grass, and i piffed her wooden kennel :O) and treat her for fleas, we havent had any problems now which is great. Just check the sort of grass there is as staffies are prone to the allergy with clove grass.
Cheers
Laceyjulz
Replied by samboogem on 09-Dec-2008 13:42 (Ref 1526387) Report
Check the plants in the garden as some do irritate dogs skin. Google poisonous plants to see which affect dogs.
Replied by dididi16 on 09-Dec-2008 14:00 (Ref 1526402) Report
My dog has very itchy skin too, I have to get an sensitive skin diet from the vet. But there is not alot you can do if you dont know whats causing it. I dont want to spend too much money trying to find out. My vets advice is it could be anything causing it and hard to find whats causing the allergy. So try to illiminate certain things like others have suggested.
Replied by kevtms on 09-Dec-2008 14:04 (Ref 1526406) Report
Do you have any of the weed, Wandering Jew, in your yard. It's a common allergen.
Replied by garden-gnome on 09-Dec-2008 14:13 (Ref 1526413) Report
My parents staffy has the same thing by the sounds and it makes her lick all the time. They did go to the vets and she now has a tablet each day (not cheap) and it has calmed down but it always comes back.  I hope you get it worked out as l know it makes you worry!
Hope my lil puppy staffy is ok lol as my lil jack russell has done nothing but itch himself non stop! So l purchased from here a ointment shampoo you can get called stop itch (you will see it in what l have bought) so will be giving that a go today to see if it helps him, my mum is going to try it too l think on her staffy.
Replied by garden-gnome on 09-Dec-2008 14:18 (Ref 1526416) Report
is this wandering jew?
Replied by sheila-bloke47 on 09-Dec-2008 15:23 (Ref 1526477) Report
I have one dog with sensitive skin and I've found emu oil shampoo is good for him.  Available from pet stores.
Replied by mittymoo on 09-Dec-2008 15:47 (Ref 1526495) Report
Rainbow, we have a 12 year old Staffie with exactly the same problem. She was on corticosteriod cream (vet prescribed) for a while (fairly expensive) but it didn't have much of an effect. We were really concerned about her as she would virtually rip her stomach to shreds, with lots of blood, trying to get rid of the itch.
In sheer desperation, I asked at our local health food store, and they told me to try Chickweed Gel. Took a tub home and Shadow has never looked back. She has just started itching (summer is here!!) and a couple of rubs with the Chickweed Gel and she is itch free. It may not work for your dog, but it is worth a try!!
When we first got it, we used it three times a day for the first few days, and as the itch got less, we used it twice a day, and then down to "as necessary" (once a day/every 2 days). Its good stuff, nice smell and not over the top pricewise.
Mitty!!
Replied by nissa1054 on 09-Dec-2008 19:38 (Ref 1527122) Report
garden gnome ..... yes
Replied by kevtms on 09-Dec-2008 19:50 (Ref 1527164) Report
That's one type. There are a couple with the same common name that probably have the same effect.
Replied by rainbowbeads on 09-Dec-2008 21:03 (Ref 1527345) Report
Thanks everyone for all your great replys, I have just got home from work, checked in and found all these great suggestions, again thanks. Sheron & Coca
Replied by andoi on 19-Jan-2009 08:40 (Ref 1582751) Report
my dog has the same problem, saw two different vets one wanted to proscribe all sorts of stuff and we spent a hell of a lot of money, nothing worked - the second vet said to look at the diet - esp. beef - we have since cut out all beef from her diet and bathed her in a medical shampoo(cos about 12-15 dollars) and the difference is amazing - after it all cleared up we gave he just a little bit of food with beef in it and she started scratching again - try the same for your dog(you have to be pretty vigilante as lots of pet foods contain beef) and be patient cos it takes about a month of not eating beef to see the results - see how u go, also be on the look out for a plant called "wandering Jew" - the vets all know about it but dont seem to wanna say anything - most common plant to cause skin irritation and there is heaps of it in the sydney region(dont know where u r) - hope that help
Replied by gregandali on 19-Jan-2009 10:37 (Ref 1582923) Report
i had a beagle BJ who had severe allergies! it took many many years and i tried thousands of different treatments.
cortisone was awful and after 2 years with terrible side effects i refused to give it to him anymore.
i used malaseb shampoo, oatmeal etc
i did a food trial with fish (had previously tried chicken with no results, same itching) and found he was allergic to beef, chicken, lamb. i gave up trialing and put him on Eagle pack holistic fish dried food and no problems, he had dried fish treats.
the vet put him on Atopica and i t was the best thing ever. It isn't cheap however without it he would have been put to sleep! that's how bad the itching and scratching was.  His stomach was red raw, feet red raw, ears would fill with gunk.
i found it was food but also a seasonal type allergy.
if you don't want to do all the testing, i would try a food trial first.  Fish (sardines/salmon/tuna) with rice for 6 weeks and then reintroduce diff proteins 1 at a time to see if you get a reaction.
if it is seasonal you could ask to try the Atopica (if you go to their website, it's USA, but gives you heaps of info) i saw results within 7 days.
if you need any further info please contact me as i am happy to send you photos of BJ before and after
i tried so many homeopathic and natural remedies and they just didn't work.
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