My 14 month old Boxer has been itching his ears since August 2004. The vet gave me ear drops and I used those for awhile it seemed to clear up but he has now started itching them so bad he makes them bleed. I took him to the vet on February 7th and he said he has allergies but he does not think it is a food allergy. He gave him Clariton that has not really been helping so he is scheduled for blood work Tuesday. Any advice on this matter????
Allergies
- Thread starter rdenear19
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Any clues as to why he's ruling out a food allergy?
If it's an allergy but it isn't to food, then it must be environmental. Is there anything in particular that seems to set him off, and have you tried changing or eliminating things like air fresheners, cleaners etc that could be the culprits? Really, for allergies it is best to try to narrow down the causes and if possible then eliminate them. Far better option than continually having to treat the effects
If it's an allergy but it isn't to food, then it must be environmental. Is there anything in particular that seems to set him off, and have you tried changing or eliminating things like air fresheners, cleaners etc that could be the culprits? Really, for allergies it is best to try to narrow down the causes and if possible then eliminate them. Far better option than continually having to treat the effects
Jesse's Mom
Boxer Pal
Our boy had really itchy ears a couple months ago. Our vet gave him an antihistamine for 2 weeks and it did seem to break the itch-scratch cycle. We think his allergan may be seasonal. He is not bothered all the time. Our vet said they will sometimes itch between their toes & lick there alot. Jesse has not had the itchy toes...thank goodness!
Itchy Ears
I believe your dog has allergies but I also believe it is cause by the food. I know of a cases in which dog food is changed and the dog's problems go away. I use Solid Gold and I highly recommend it but there are others Canidae etc.. I would look into that. Good dog food is a little more expensive but the overall health of your dog will be tremendous. Good luck
I believe your dog has allergies but I also believe it is cause by the food. I know of a cases in which dog food is changed and the dog's problems go away. I use Solid Gold and I highly recommend it but there are others Canidae etc.. I would look into that. Good dog food is a little more expensive but the overall health of your dog will be tremendous. Good luck
Itchy Ears
I have not switched his food or changed shampoo or laundry soap. I am not sure what it is. The vet did a complete check of his whole body and said he didn't think we were dealing with a food allergy. I don't know think it would be something outside because it is snowy here and cold. As far as something in the house I am not sure. I am at a lost. I guess I will just take him Tuesday for his blood work. I just don't want him on medicine his whole life. Thanks for all the input!
I have not switched his food or changed shampoo or laundry soap. I am not sure what it is. The vet did a complete check of his whole body and said he didn't think we were dealing with a food allergy. I don't know think it would be something outside because it is snowy here and cold. As far as something in the house I am not sure. I am at a lost. I guess I will just take him Tuesday for his blood work. I just don't want him on medicine his whole life. Thanks for all the input!
Ronin1
Boxer Insane
I actually took Ronin to a doggie allergist about a year ago. I learned that dogs can be allergic to: Pollens, grasses, trees, molds, dust and dust mites (to name a few). He had pretty bad symptoms at the time - Staph infections, red between his toes, etc. Luckily for him, he's pretty much outgrown them now that he's almost two years old. I've read that dogs can also have a problem with yeast. You could do a BW search and look for Atopy, allergies, or yeast. There's lot's of great information here, and maybe you'll find something that will "ring a bell" in regards to your baby. Good luck in getting him some relief and finding out what's bothering his poor ears 
My baby Otis had problems with his ears as a pup and also got horrible hives very frequently. The vet said he had never seen a dog with such terrible hives. I switched his food and he hasn't had any allergic reactions in over a year and a half. I don't believe there is any way to tell that his reaction is not caused by food just by looking your dog over. I also give Otis vitacaps by Drs. Foster & Smith and that is excellent, too.
Well, the way to sort out for sure what he may be allergic to is allergy testing.
Food is very frequently the cause though, with boxers. And allergies can develop over time too, so it is quite possible for a dog to develop an allergy to something it has been eating without incident for a year or more. Now, it is possible for dogs to be allergic to particular protein sources or to particular vegetables - but by far the most common culprits in dog food are grains. If the food you feed happens to contain any form of corn, wheat, beet pulp you might find it worthwhile trying a different food. Those are the most common allergens, and are also pretty useless nutritionally so nothing to be lost there by trying different food.
Otherwise, I'd discuss allergy testing with your vet. If you can discover what the cause is, then you're on the way to a solution. That sure beats having to use drugs or some alternative treatment for the rest of his life
Food is very frequently the cause though, with boxers. And allergies can develop over time too, so it is quite possible for a dog to develop an allergy to something it has been eating without incident for a year or more. Now, it is possible for dogs to be allergic to particular protein sources or to particular vegetables - but by far the most common culprits in dog food are grains. If the food you feed happens to contain any form of corn, wheat, beet pulp you might find it worthwhile trying a different food. Those are the most common allergens, and are also pretty useless nutritionally so nothing to be lost there by trying different food.
Otherwise, I'd discuss allergy testing with your vet. If you can discover what the cause is, then you're on the way to a solution. That sure beats having to use drugs or some alternative treatment for the rest of his life
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