Skin Allergies still persist . . .

[CYNTHIA MOELLER]

Hi everyone. We are new to BoxerWorld, but not to Boxers. We are currently the proud owners of Baron (age 2 1/2, brindle, 80 pounds of sweetness) and Sadie (age 2, dark brindle, 60 pounds of wonderful.) For thirteen years, we also had a male and female that we adored and THEY helped us raise four boys. Unfortunately, we lost them within a couple of months of each other not long after our youngest son moved away from home. It was a very difficult time. Within three months, we decided it was time for new babies and after looking at multiple litters, several different breeds, we decided once again on our Boxer Babies.

Our dilima at this time is our female, Sadie. She has had skin allergies / problems since she was four months old. Our vet is very caring and dedicated to their health, and I feel like we have tried just about everything from diet, to antihistimines, to steroids, to every day medicated baths, etc., etc. Two weeks ago we took her to a vet / dermotologist. He feels like her alergies are "airborn" i.e. dust, pollen, grass, etc. She has bumps, scabs, whelps, you name it and she is not a happy camper. The cost of the allergy testing is over $500.00 and it is not guaranteed. Has any one out there had the testing and could you share your results with us? We would really appreciate some news . . .

Also, I am very interested in getting additional professional training for our male, Baron. We feel like he would make a great Therapy Dog - visiting hospitals, nursing homes, etc. He is just a great big sweetheart and very intelligent. We haven't started researching this yet and were hoping for some input.

Thanks . . . and love and hugs to all Boxer Babies out there.

Moellers in Texas (Cynthia Moeller)

 

[hoover's mum]

Hi Cynthia
I know all about the problems of allergies. Our Boxer, Hoover, is almost 2 & is allergic to almost everything. He is constantly scratching himself & driving us & him mad.
I work for a vet & we decided to get an allergy test done. The results were not great. Hoover is allergic to wool, cotton, foods - chicken, rice, turkey, grasses, weeds, some insects, horse hair ( I work with horses!) You name it - he is allergic to it!
We had a desensitization vaccine made for him, but I can't really say that he has improved much yet. It started in Oct. last year & started off with 2 injections every 2 days & is now down to once a month for a few more months & then it finishes.
Apparently it can take quite a while for any improvement to be seen. Also, it was spring when he started on it, so he was already facing a lot of challenges at that time with the grasses, etc.
He does not usually come out in lumps & bumps, but usually just scratches all the time ( sometimes scratches himself raw). He sits on the door mat & drags himself along it, scratching his chest & chin! It's quite funny to watch.
I feel so sorry for him being like this all the time. We have changed his diet, but most of the dog food seems to be based on chicken or still contains it even if it is beef or lamb (which he is ok with)
I guess we will just have to wait & see what happens. Hopefully things will improve. Don't know what we will do otherwise.
I wish you luck with Sadie. Let us know how you get on.

 

[LennoxRooster]

Hello Cynthia

I too know of skin allergy problems with my current boxer dog in Australia. My current boxer is an eleven year old female and I have had problems over a six to seven year period but not over the last 18 months.

My dog has been on and off steriod tablets for this period with the vet convinced that the problem was caused by grass. Around 18 months ago I moved house (still remaining in the same street) and in my current house I changed the type of lawn (grass) from a course leafy lawn to a non-leafy variety (in Australia this grass goes under the name "couche grass") and since that day my dog does not have any form of skin allergy and she is no longer on steriods. This could have resulted from the change in grass or from other unknown factors.

I was always concerned about the constant use of steriods over a prolonged period but my dog thrives.

 

[LokiGem]

Cindy,
I was wondering if you ever found a way to take care of Sadie's problem? A co-worker of mine told me about her dog that chews up her paw pads so bad they bleed. They have spent a lot of money and more than 3 years trying to find the cause and the cure for the problem with no luck.

It must be so frustrating to go through this. My heart goes out to you. Is there any new news about Sadie? Let us know how you're doing. I would love to pass on any advice to my co-worker for her pup too. I wish you luck.
-Kim & Loki

 

[Ronin1]

Hi Cynthia,

I hope you can find something to help poor Sadie!
Ronin has the same problems - staph infections, very red between his toes on his back feet, yeast infection in his ears once, and itching slightly - mostly under the flaps - and a little bit behind his ears. The fur in this spot (and this is the ONLY spot that bothers him) is a bit thin - but that's it. I've changed his diet (Natural Balance Duck & Potatoe) in hopes that it was food related - it seems to have helped a bit but not totally. I am also researching switching to BARF - I've read so much on BW about the wonders of this diet for dogs with allergies. I am taking him to an allergist/dermatologist next Thursday (took me over a month to get an appt. with this Dr) so I will see what happens. I'm hoping it's simply a seasonal thing that can be managed. I will let you know what I find out!

Megan & Ronin

 

[Ronin1]

Hi Cynthia,

I got Ronin skin tested last Thursday. I PM'd you the results. I'm going to start him on Auto-immune therapy (shots) this week.

-Megan

 

[Margarita]

I've been going throught this for about six months with princess..(she's 1yr 3months now) I've also done the dermatologist thing and nothing yet. Environmental allergies is all I was told. Its verry frustrating!!! She scratches her ears soo bad she has no fur left on them! She chew's her legs raw sometimes... I had her on hypo allergetic food for months and it didn't make any difference. Now she' on Royal Canin (Natural Blend) but again no difference. I've been giving her Atarax (atihistamine) and it works but it's almost every 4-5 hours that I have to give her more. I'm soo sad to see her like this, and not be able to do anything to help her. Hope we all figure this out. My question is....Is there not a allergy vaccine out there like they have for humans?

Best wishes for all our babbies
Margarita and Princess

 

[LokiGem]

I feel so bad for the dogs and owners that go through this. The co-worker I mentioned earlier has had allergy testing done and a biopsy of her dogs paws. They have been unable to pinpoint the irritant that causes these reactions in her dog. At this point, she washes her pups paws w/ a special shampoo twice a day and treats only the symptoms as she is unaware of the cause. She has changed diet but hasn't yet tried BARF which I suggested.

Healing vibes to all the puppies going through this...

 

[SC's Mom]

I feel your pain! Caesar is allergic to LIFE! Right now (this very moment) I am in tears over my baby. I've had the testing and he is allergic to SO much both food and airborn. We do the shots but I'm not sure it's really doing much for him but it makes me crazy. Good luck. I've been dealing with this for almost 2 years. It started when he was about 4-6 months old with food and progressed to the airborn. At least the food we can control!

Right now C has chewed his paws raw, scratched his beautiful face raw and bloody so when he shakes his head blood spatters! His "armpits" are raw and scratched and his eyes are swollen. My heart is breaking for my baby.

Yesterday we spent the day at the vets due to allergy induced hives now we'll be going back tomorrow first thing. The shots and benedryl are not cutting it.

If anyone has any suggestions I will gladly take them. Like I said hubby and I are at wits end. I cry and he yells (not at Caesar of course).

 

[BeckyNC]

Kim (LokiGem)--is your friend sure her dog has an allergy causing him to chew his pads? The reason I'm asking is I was readin The Dog Listener last night and somewhere near page 160, I read a chapter about dog's with obsessive compulsive behaviors. The author explained how she broke the dog of that behavior...