I have a lab mutt, which is about one and a half years old. She hates baths, although they seem to help (my vet said she alleric pollen is coming on her skin). She has no fleas. Antihistamines have not worked. Cortisone images have proven useful, but I will not continue to give her steroids. Any suggestions? She eats a high quality lamb and rice foods and getting daily omega 3 oil. My husband is an alternative medicine veterinarian, so the problem is that we usually do with. Steroid injections are a number of undesirable side effects, so I do not blame you want to avoid them. It is a company called West Coast Apawthecary animal, and they carry a natural supplement called Detox Blend. The dogs get a dose of 2-3 times a day, either directly in the mouth or on food, and it really seems to help with itchies. They have also just released a new option that is called Spring Tonic, has also been found that acupuncture really eleviate problem for seasonal allergies than dog allergies years we have. They often have treatments once a week for four or five weeks to get things under control. I really have some some spectacular results and I think it’s worth a try. There should be a website AHVMA (American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association) that you are looking for local doctors. Good luck with this problem – I hope this helps. I had finally put down my dog because of this problem (several years). In my case the problem only to the point that they tear holes in the skin, and the only way to stop the vet it was through drugs, could turn off the immune system was HOT, increaed. We lay before she died of cancer. Hopefully your case is not so extreme. Science Diet makes allegy formula for dogs. They cost a bit “more, but it added years to life for our vet has a dog perscription lotion (it works in humans), which acts as a kind Orajel. Secondly, you must be a fanatic anti-flea. One bite and abreak dog. Brush the hair of the dogs are often in search of fleas and flea bites. Good luck. add a supplement of vitamin E, or omega 3 or 6 (fish oil) for food and make sure that food has corn flour or corn ingredients. it is not fertilize the lawn, which can also cause a reaction. I had a workshop with the same problem, I would have an oil capsule fish and a spoonful of plain yogurt once a day mixed with dog food. How to bathe a dog too often tend to take coats and oils can also cause dry skin. you should change your dog’s food too. Many People buy these products are branded products that are not good for skin problems of your pet and long term, allergies, etc. They cost a bit “more, but it added years to life for our vet has a dog perscription lotion (it works in humans), which acts as a kind Orajel. Secondly, you must be a fanatic anti-flea. One bite and abreak dog. Brush the hair of the dogs are often in search of fleas and flea bites. Good luck. add a supplement of vitamin E, or omega 3 or 6 (fish oil) for food and make sure that food has corn flour or corn ingredients. it is not fertilize the lawn, which can also cause a reaction. I had a workshop with the same problem, I would have an oil capsule fish and a spoonful of plain yogurt once a day mixed with dog food. How to bathe a dog too often tend to take coats and oils can also cause dry skin. you should change your dog’s food too. Many People buy these products are branded products that are not good for skin problems of your pet and long term, allergies, etc.
2013年9月24日星期二
2013年9月15日星期日
fleas and allergies and bites on dogs, oh my
Cici is still itchy and scratching herself, but after discussing the situation with Dr. Harvey’s office and Dr. Richmond’s office, I’ve been putting coconut oil on her skin and she is loving the taste of it too. I LOVE essential oils but Cici has had strong reactions to them sensitive girl that she is. Coconut oil is supposed to help with itchies and a lot of other situations. Am going to start taking it myself as well. We also got some spirulina. (Read about the health benefits at Dr. Mercola’s website).  I love Dr. Harvey’s herbal protection shampoo, smells yummy and has all good organic ingredients. Cici survived her bath. And she is eating Dr. Harvey’s Canine Health. Only thing is that yesterday something bit her. And I got bit, too. Do not know what the bites are from. Ugh.
Once she got the hang of it, she LOVED having her belly and chest rubbed with the coconut oil (raw unrefined) and licked it off my fingers, too. I think we have a winner.
http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/coconut-oil-benefits.html#2
Coconut oil has strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal functions. Coconut oil alleviatesskin allergy symptoms (e.g. itching, dry skin and hair coat) and protects the skin against cancerous growths. When used topically, coconut oil can:
- Disinfect cuts and promote wound healing.
- Improve dogs’ skin and hair condition, making the hair coat smooth and shiny. It can also eliminate the dog’s body odor.
- Clear up numerous skin problems, such as warts, eczema, dandruff, precancerous lesions, ringworm, bites and stings.
an interview with Dr. Annette Richmond, holistic vet in Pacific Grove, California
do you have general suggestions for dogs who are itchy? what do you look for and/or what should pet owners consider if their dog is constantly itchy, scratching and licking their paws?
Of course check for basic things like fleas first. If none, then I am thinking a food or environmental allergy. So then I always start with looking at the diet. A diet that is NO grain, high quality and easily digestible proteins, preferably organic is what I recommend.
Raw food is the best. Home cooking is terrific too. But if those options don’t appeal to the owner, then the brands I recommend include; Taste of the Wild, Orijen, Wellness, just to name a few.
Eliminating any treats that don’t fall in that category too. Supplementing with fish oils is therapeutic for itchy skin as it is a natural anti-inflammatory.
Use shampoo that contains therapeutic quality lavender oil and chamomile on a weekly basis, a high quality shampoo with oil will not dry out the skin. There are a few homeopathic anti-itch remedies as well.
Environmental allergies are tricky to diagnose, but all the above will help with that too. A blood test is easily performed to check for either food or environmental allergies.
are certain breeds more susceptible to fleas or allergies?
Yes, there are certain breeds affected by skin problems. All the breeds with extra skin folds: English bulldogs, Shar-peis, Mastiffs, and Pugs. Other breeds include: Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, and West Highland Terriers.
are allergies seasonal or get worse during hay fever time? do dogs get hay fever? are there plants/grasses that make dogs sneeze and itch?
Some allergies are definitely seasonal for pets, as there are many environmental grasses and trees that make dogs itchy. So if these are in bloom, or growing well, dogs can be adversely affected by them. Dogs usually don’t sneeze like people, but may have inflamed eyes and discharge from the eyes.
how can pet owners prevent or treat fleas and allergies naturally?
Essential oils are a wonderful flea and tick repellent for dogs. Cats are too sensitive to the oils and I don’t recommend them for cats. One product line I carry is Only Natural Pet, they have an oil that is put along the back of the dog once weekly and also a spray to put on anytime the dog is going out. This product line also carries a flea powder that is made of diatomaceous earth which dries up the flea eggs and larva, and also contains essential oils as a repellent (this powder is safe for cats). These types of essential oils are used by humans for the same effect.
best diet/foods for dogs with allergies, sensitivities, digestive issues?
Organic, no grain, high quality protein. I recommend raw food whenever possible. There are many raw food brands. Starting the dog off slowly with just little bits to get them used to it, and supplementing their diet until they eat only raw food is the purest diet that their digestive tract is designed to handle. Raw meats can also be cooked if owners prefer. I also recommend probiotics and digestive enzymes along with the meat.
what do you think about comfortis and over the counter flea treatments? drugs for allergies (steroids)?
I don’t like to use any of the strong flea medications, they do build up in the environment and because there aren’t any long term studies on these products, I don’t feel comfortable recommending them for ongoing treatment. However, if an owner is dealing with a severe infestation, doing one dose after a good bath may be required once in a while. Many general practitioners will give steroids without trying some of these other treatments first. Only in very severe cases is a steroid warranted.
any other thoughts about itchy dogs esp. during summer?
Baths are wonderful with the right type of shampoo that puts good quality oils back onto the skin and all the other things I mentioned above.
About Dr. Richmond
Dr. Annette Richmond graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. She became a certified veterinary acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society which is a world recognized certification program. Dr. Richmond has been integrating acupuncture in to her practice since 1999, and has continued the study of natural medicine, Eastern and Western herbology, homeopathy, flower essences, healthful diets, and nutraceutical support. She incorporates all of these into her natural medicine clinic to treat most common ailments. The clinic also includes a canine and feline physical rehabilitation component helping pets before and after orthopedic and neurologic surgery, pets that suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia and much more.
www.naturalveterinarytherapy.com
some relevant articles written by Dr. Richmond for Canine Coastal Magazine
http://www.naturalveterinarytherapy.com/coastal_canine_magazine_articles
2013年9月13日星期五
Fish Oil, A Natural Cure For Dog"s Allergies
Fish Oil, A Natural Cure For Dog’s Allergies
Every pit bull owner will tell you, there comes “that time of year†when all of the sudden they break out like a teenager on picture day. For us, living in Florida, that time of the year is usually summer time. Something about the heat, grass and pollen in the air makes our pit bulls break out in bumps all over the place. Dog allergies are a real pain in the butt. There are several reasons your dog could be suffering from allergies, including atopic dermatitis, a possible skin or ear infection (usually the scratching will center around the ear area), a possible food allergy, or external parasites/bacteria.Â
My recent rescue, Prada, managed to stay allergy and bump free until around 9 months of age. Around that time she started developing severe red bumps in between her thighs, which then spread all over her stomach, into her arm pitts and down her arms. I tried to sooth her with some benadryl and oatmeal baths with no success. So as every nervous new mother does, I called the doctor, freaking out about her dog allergies.
Vet trip #1 - $ 120, TEMARIL- P, a.k.a good for nothing. TEMARIL- P claims to be a “3-way therapeutic effect–antipruritic, antitussive, and anti-inflammatory – relieving the itch caused by allergic, inflammatory, and parasitic dermatosesâ€. What it should say is a 3-way laxative that will give your dog extreme diarrhea and make her droopy 24/7. Well here were are after week one of meds and still red bumps, everywhere. To make matters worse, now she’s starting to itch, badly. She scratched herself so badly that one of her nipples was inflamed to 5x it’s normal size. Heart. Breaking.
Vet trip #2 - $ 75, Zeniquin. I’ll skip the theatrics on this one and just tell you it didn’t work. Dog allergy #fail #2.
Vet trip #3 - I’m told to go to a doggie dermatologist. Really? Who knew those even existed.
Dog Dermatoligist visit #1: So off I went to the doggie dermatologist, knowing this was going to be extremely costly yet really wanting my poor baby to get better. At this point I’m desperate, my poor baby is all hopped up on Benadryl like a crack addict, she can’t sleep because she’s scratching all night, I can’t sleep because she’s scratching all night, and she’s feeling blah all the time. The dog allergies are starting to affect my sleeping patterns – and that’s DANGEROUS. Don’t mess with me when I’m tired.
After a small skin scraping, I’m told she has a bacterial infection and allergies. That one took a medical degree let me tell ya. This time I’m prescribed Cefpodoxime, Dermalsooth Shampoo & Rinse, Douxo Calming Spray and a nice balance of $ 221.00. They recommended a full allergy test to determine exactly what she is allergic too, and then injection shots over the next three years until she builds up an immunity. Sure thing buddy. Like Iâ€m really going to start injecting my 9 month old baby with shots every week for the next three years.
So I left with the meds and a prayer, and started her regimen.
The Cefpodoxime did clear up her bumps, temporarily. She was on them for 30 days, and although it did alter her mood and upset her stomach a little, it wasn’t nearly as bad as the TEMARIL- P.  The TEMARIL-P made her ANGRY. She growled at people, it scared the crap out of me. I’ve never seen her show a mean bone in her body, this was not acceptable. That didn’t happen on the Cefpodoxime, actually it was quite the opposite. Some days she didn’t want to get out of bed, or even go for a walk. That’s crazy talk. Prada is a walker, she walks with me 1-2 miles a day. When she was on the Cefpodoxime, she wouldn’t even look in her leashes direction.
The Dermalsoothe Shampoo and Rinse is amazing. As far as doggie shampoo is concerned, it’s the best in my opinion. I’ve tried everything from $ 30 crap at the pet store to $ 7 crap from Wal Mart. The shampoo is about $ 18 and the rinse is $ 21, but it LASTS. Prada will smell good for days after I give her a bath, and she’s outside a LOT.
The Douxo Calming spray did help as well. Prada was in so much pain that she would crawl on the bed when she saw me grab the spray and just roll on her belly, with a look that said “bring it onâ€. I would take a towel and run it under hot water, press it against her belly and then spray her down. She LOVED it. She said “thank you ma†with her eyes every time. The downside of the spray is the alcohol in it will cause your dog to loose hair in some areas. My poor baby was starting to look like she had mange. Every area that had bumps was now replaced with bald spots!
So…a few hundred dollars later, my dog still has red bumps and allergies. Not sure why I didn’t do this sooner, but at this point I’m fed up, broke and researching “natural†cures. One reoccurring treatment that kept popping up was fish oil. I knew about the benefits for humans, but had no idea it was safe for dogs. So, slowly, I started weening Prada on to fish oil
VOILA! IT WORKED! Seriously! I am so pleased with the results from the fish oil. Not only has the inflammation gone down, the fish oil has made her coat extremely shiny and restored all the hair loss that was caused by the Douxo Calming spray.
You can get fish oil supplements from any health food store, or pet store. You can use fish oil intended for human consumption as long as you choose the correct dosage. General dosage recommendations are 1500 mg soft gel fish oil for large dogs weighing 20 pounds or more. Smaller animals should get smaller doses. If you use fish oil that is intended for humans, you can either add the capsule to their food and hide it in some peanut butter, or open up the capsule and pour it on their food. I’ve done it both ways and she loves it either way.
Fast forward a month after being on the fish oil and she’s doing much, much better. She almost never scratches, and every few days she will get a small red bump her or there, but the issue is 90% gone.
Thank God for mother nature, right? If you have a pit bull with allergies, or any dog for that matter, save yourself the time, MONEY and aggravation, and start with the fish oil. You’ll be pleased with the results!
Have you tried any natural remedies for your dogs allergies? Share them below!
Category: Dog Nutrition, Life With Prada, Nutrition & Safety