Please Help! I need everyones opinion

[tish]

My 3 yr. old Chelsea has been dealing with allergies for over a year. She is constantly licking her paws and scratches her face open when I take the e-collar off to the point where she is bleeding. The sores on her cute face are distressing to look at. I changed her food4-5 times, the last one is Solid Gold. Now she has been on this special Science diet program from the vet to see if it is the food. I decided to go with the allergy test($200 one) to pinpoint what the allergy is, turned out she is allergic to just about all the trees and 10 different kind of grasses. I am currently waiting for the serum to come in to start the shots. I e-mailed Julie M. from here on boxerworld whom I think is a vet about this and she e-mailed me back and warned me about the risks of these shots, I became frantic and petrified at the thought that they can cause internal problems like cancer and problems with the kidneys, etc. I don't want her to have any serious problem in the future because of a decision to go along with these shots, I would never forgive myself and I couldn't bare the thought of losing her, it will kill me because she is my life. Julie did say that an alternative that she heard is mostly successful is the Barf diet, which might have an improving effect because of something in her dog food that all dog foods have in them one way or another. She was the runt, and now weighs 57 lbs. in case that might be a factor. Does anybody know if this barf diet might help?? Or anybody here have to deal with allergies such as Chelsea's?? What have you done to help this problem?? Please Help Me, I just don't know what to do! and I want to do the right thing for her. REPLIES, REPLIES! please. Thankyou:(

 

[Julie Davis]

Boomer usually eats the BARF diet, but he still sometimes gets watery eyes, and redness on his paws when he goes outside. The BARF diet is very good for them, in fact the IDEAL thing for you to feed them, whether it helps Chelsea's allergies or not. If she's allergic to things that are outside, I really don't see how dietary changes would have much of an effect on that. The question is, do you trust your vet, and respect his/her opinion? If so, and he recommends the shots, I would say that is the thing you need to do. Making Chelsea feel better is the most important thing right now, and if she needs shots, then you may need to go that route. I would share your concerns with the vet about the side effects, and then ask him/her if the shots are in the best interest of your pet. Good luck in whatever you decide, and please keep us posted on Chelsea's treatment.

 

[Mikejo]

Shankly had trouble with allergies not quite as bad as your baby though, she was allergic to 2 different types of dust mites. We have now got a vacination which we inject once a month for ten months she has had couple of months worth and the change is fantastic. She never scratches anymore apart from that there have been no other changes in her at all. I also have a friend who has a boxer with the same problem she has finished her 10 injections and up to now she seems to be cured.

Hope this helps

Mike

 

[uno]

Tish,

I'm with Julie. Your question, IMO, deals primarily with the quality of life for Chelsea. Do you give her a better quality of life now, and for a relatively long period of time, or do you continue as things are now for a longer period of time. If it were one of my two I would go with the shots. I love both of my fur babies and I would not want either of them to suffer with health problems ever, but given the choice that you're faced with I'd go with the shots. The one reality, in all likelyhood (provided we don't go first) that we will all have to face is the mortality of our beloved Boxers. I would much rather my Boxers have a healthier life in the prime of their lives than to be afflicted as Chelsea is for their whole lives.

Good luck to you and Chelsea in whatever you decide.

 

[roses]

allergies

charlize also has allergies although the vet doesnt know what to and keeps giving her antibiotics. one suggestion they did make was a diet of chicken and pasta and nothing else, this seemed to help some. hope this is of use to you.

luv roses and charlizelovicon

 

[tish]

Thank you SO MUCH, Julie, Mike,Uno and Roses. It is so wonderful to have this board to come to when you feel you are in a crisis with your boxer baby and to know you all know how I feel and what I'm going through. I feel so much better reading and evaluating your opinion and taking them ALL into consideration.It's just that the e-mail reply from Julie M. really shook me up and made me think, should I just cope with the allergies or am I opening the door to serious future problems.I don't think any boxer ever died from the allergies Chelsea has. I think I will go ahead with the shots and let you know how it's going. I just had to chase her around the room with the e-collar,wet cloth, dry cloth and neosperin in hand (twice a day ritual)because I caught her going for her face again. Then I give her a cookie with peanut butter with a benadryl pill buried in it, she thinks it's her reward Anyway, keep those replies coming, I am all ears to new suggestions and advice

 

[Gail Lyons]

Joey also has slight allergies, he was getting watery eyes and rashes that he would scratch into raw areas. His vet told me to give him children's benydryl and she also gave me a gentomycin spray to use on the rash...both worked and he is doing fine now, when we visit friends in the country he gets a benydryl tablet..there hasn't been any adverse affects.....I would go with the shots..if you are uncomfortable, get a second opinion from another vet, also if you are close to a veterinary school, check them out, they usually have all the latest information on just about any problem or disease. Good luck...

 

[ElizabethH]

Good luck Tish... and hugs to Chelsea!!

 

[Boxerworld]

Originally posted by tish
I e-mailed Julie M. from here on boxerworld whom I think is a vet about this and she e-mailed me back and warned me about the risks of these shots, I became frantic and petrified at the thought that they can cause internal problems like cancer and problems with the kidneys, etc.

Hi Tish,

Julie is not a vet, however, like Matthew, Julie knows a lot about boxers and probably more than many vets but do not forget it is always hard to give advices online without seeing your dog. Good luck and hopefully you will find a solution for Chelsea!

Olly

 

[alaska]

I am aware of the allergy injections for dogs, I have never seen any side effects of the shots, I worked in a vet clinic and have seen alot of dogs with allergies, in one case I remember is a 13 year old rottie that had been on allergy meds for along time and he lived to an old age. But I don't know everything, and I'm not a vet, just telling you my experience with allergy meds, they seemed to work good from what I've seen, however they are expensive. some dogs are allergic to natural fibers too, like wool. some people have wool carpets and their dogs feet get all inflammed and itchy. or dryer sheets will do it too, if she has a favorite blanket that you wash and then put it in the dryer with one of those sheets, something in those sheets makes the dogs have an allergic response. there is also inhalent allergies but I'm not too familiar with those.