Tell me about steroid shots for dogs' allergies

[thegooser]

My dog has really bad environmental allergies. I'm not sure what the allergens are, but they appear to be outdoors vs. indoor based on behavior monitoring. We used to live in NC where doggo had terrible allergies. In DC they weren't so bad. Now we're back in NC and after being here for just about a month, she has the following:

2 hot spots on her back
2 open sores on her paws
Rash/irritable skin/budding hot spots on her tummy

She is constantly scratching, and when I scratch her back her skin visibly crawls from itchiness. I've given her a bath every other week with anti-itch dog shampoo.

From past experience, she will start with ear infections and eye infections soon.

She's had steroid shots in the past with no discernible side effects, and they were highly effective. However, it's come to my attention that they can be harmful and maybe even fatal. I'm talking 1-2 shots/yr. She is 65 lbs and 6 years old.

What do you know about the chances of a bad reaction with a steroid shot? I want to protect my dog from harm, but she is super miserable and erupting with sores everywhere.

[steph96]

Sometimes my dog has to get them once his allergies get really out of control. It seems like if I notice his allergies super early on, I am able to help control them with allergy medicine. It might just be a coincidence....idk.

I have never heard that they could be fatal--maybe that happens if they give too much and the heart races too fast?

[LoveTrains]

Why are you only doing the baths every other week? My dog suffers from allergies and our vet has said that the reason the skin reacts is because the allergens get on the skin. She said to bathe my dog every 3 days or so.

[lindyanne]

I know steroid shots in humans aren't good to do frequently (I have eczema and that helps but I've only gotten them twice when it's got out of control). Now that you're back in NC, I'd get him a shot to get him some relief and get him some medication that he can take on a daily/regular basis to keep issues at bay.

[Doctorblue]

A couple times a year is probably not going to do much damage if given appropriately. It's generally the pets that get them many times a year that have problems. Some long term complications of steroid use can be Cushing's disease or diabetes.

[thegooser]

Sept 28, 2012 20:16:38 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Why are you only doing the baths every other week? My dog suffers from allergies and our vet has said that the reason the skin reacts is because the allergens get on the skin. She said to bathe my dog every 3 days or so.

Every 3 days! Holy crap. Your dogs are small, right? Bathing my dog is kind of an ordeal. She takes all day to dry. I can't imagine having a wet dog 1/3 of the time. I guess if it's what the vet recommends...

[LoveTrains]

Well I have a fat pug who is like 38 lbs. He is probably the biggest pug you have ever seen. He did this "1000 pugs" photo shoot today, and the photographer is shooting 1000 pugs across the country. She placed my dog in the top 3 of biggest pugs she has seen.

[sarahsas]

My dog had this problem too, with itching, hot spots, etc. Always in the summer/spring. Last Spring, my vet put her on a med called doxepin. It's actually more like an anti depressant/anti anxiety with some antihistimine - he gave it to her because it helps the allergy and the compulsion of scratching. She has kept all of her hair this summer - after losing huge patches for the last couple!

If she doesn't take it, I notice a difference. It's really helped her. Just something you might want to mention to your vet.

Also, it's not expensive. I get about 100 pills for $18. She takes 2 a day.

[huskymom]

What do you feed her? Have you played with her diet at all?