Anyone have a dog on allergy shots?

[nomad100]

Ugh. This all just stinks. Hugs to you and Bentley.

On the steroid part, I have a dog that will be on a steroid (Prednisone) for the rest of her life as part of her Addison's treatment and she isn't even 4 yet. So it is possible to have a dog on steroids indefinitely.

Since it looks like Pred is a component of Tamaril, can you see if prednisone alone makes a difference in his itching? I know that our prescription cost isn't that expensive so maybe that can help with the costs and you can skip the what seem to be useless and expensive shots.

[Deleted]

Our lab is on Temeril P as well for allergies and has been for the last year. It's honestly the only thing that helps. I have tried to wean her and she chews her paws and scratches herself raw. We're just trying to find the lowest dose possible to keep her comfortable. We figured we'd take the risks of the steroids in order to make her more comfortable.

Check out Zymox shampoo too.

[nomad100]

No problem.

Not sure of the dosage level needed for allergies but Willow is on 2.5 mg daily and is tolerating it very well even after a year. And she will probably be on about that dose for the next 10+ years. And for a month supply of 10 mg pills, it is less than $20 (I think. It has been a while since we picked up her last prescription). Pred is a generic drug (versus the Temeril) so the cost is much less.

Re the weight gain: We just make sure to keep her activity level up since she has the tendency to sleep alot since that means she gets to snuggle with us on the couch or the bed and that dog lives to hunt squirrels in the yard and be a snuggle bug.

[Deleted]

Jul 5, 2013 11:10:59 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

No problem.

Not sure of the dosage level needed for allergies but Willow is on 2.5 mg daily and is tolerating it very well even after a year. And she will probably be on about that dose for the next 10+ years. And for a month supply of 10 mg pills, it is less than $20 (I think. It has been a while since we picked up her last prescription). Pred is a generic drug (versus the Temeril) so the cost is much less.

Re the weight gain: We just make sure to keep her activity level up since she has the tendency to sleep alot since that means she gets to snuggle with us on the couch or the bed and that dog lives to hunt squirrels in the yard and be a snuggle bug.

Our allergic dog is also named Willow.  

And she looks like the hulk with the weight gain, we've had to adjust her food and up her exercise. 

[nomad100]

Jul 5, 2013 11:12:40 GMT -5 doglove said:

Jul 5, 2013 11:10:59 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

No problem.

Not sure of the dosage level needed for allergies but Willow is on 2.5 mg daily and is tolerating it very well even after a year. And she will probably be on about that dose for the next 10+ years. And for a month supply of 10 mg pills, it is less than $20 (I think. It has been a while since we picked up her last prescription). Pred is a generic drug (versus the Temeril) so the cost is much less.

Re the weight gain: We just make sure to keep her activity level up since she has the tendency to sleep alot since that means she gets to snuggle with us on the couch or the bed and that dog lives to hunt squirrels in the yard and be a snuggle bug.

Our allergic dog is also named Willow.  

And she looks like the hulk with the weight gain, we've had to adjust her food and up her exercise. 

That is too funny that they have the same name.

Our Willow also has hypothyroidism and is on meds for that and those help keep the weight off (she had blown up like a balloon before her diagnosis) so I think that helps with keeping the weight under control. 

We joke that our Willow takes more pills a day and see the doctor more often than we do. 

[Deleted]

Jul 5, 2013 11:26:18 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

Jul 5, 2013 11:12:40 GMT -5 doglove said:

Our allergic dog is also named Willow.  

And she looks like the hulk with the weight gain, we've had to adjust her food and up her exercise. 

That is too funny that they have the same name.

Our Willow also has hypothyroidism and is on meds for that and those help keep the weight off (she had blown up like a balloon before her diagnosis) so I think that helps with keeping the weight under control. 

We joke that our Willow takes more pills a day and see the doctor more often than we do. 

No WAY - our Willow has hypothyroidism too. Are they secretly the same dog?? She definitely takes more pills a day then us. We also give her zyrtec as well. 

[nomad100]

doglove

Here is our Willow doing what she does best.  Sleeping on the couch. 

[Deleted]

Jul 5, 2013 11:35:19 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

doglove

Here is our Willow doing what she does best.  Sleeping on the couch. 

She's a cutie! Here is our Willow, she's a lot more active although she has slowed down a bit with the daily dose of steroids:

[nomad100]

doglove She looks like a sweetie. Our Willow decided at an early age (like 2) that if there wasn't something to chase, she would rather be napping or laying down next to a window where she could keep an eye out for something to chase.

[Deleted]

Jul 5, 2013 11:47:05 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

doglove She looks like a sweetie. Our Willow decided at an early age (like 2) that if there wasn't something to chase, she would rather be napping or laying down next to a window where she could keep an eye out for something to chase.

Haha our Willow would run 10+ miles with me up until a year or two ago and still not be tired. I guess they have some differences! We just started fostering this year and she has been an awesome foster sister, she figures out exactly what each of the dogs needs and then gives it to them. She's very special. 

[nomad100]

doglove I think if I tried to take Willow on a 10 mile run she would stop deal at about mile 2, and she isn't even 4 yet. But, if you have a tree with a squirrel in it that needs to be stared at for 2 hours, my Willow is your girl.

We just started fostering and Willow is still figuring our how to be a really good big sister. Of course, it doesn't help that our first foster is a crazy ass, 1-yo, terrier herding dog breed that is like the energizer bunny and hasn't learned the cues that mean "leave me the heck alone" yet so she ends up having to school him on the regular. But that is a big sister's job too right? Keeping the little kid in line?

[Deleted]

I think I remember one of your foster posts nomad100! Our Willow is almost 7 years old, so she doesn't exercise like that anymore, but at 4 she did! I think because of the steroids, her running days are behind her at this point.

And yes, a big sister's job is never done - our Willow is constantly teaching these dogs how to act appropriately.

[prettyinpink]

My mini doxie is allergic to grass and chicken. Fun times let me tell you. The Rx diet he's on helps with the skin reaction he gets from the chicken a huge amount. He's tiny( 13lbs) so I don't mind the crazy amount we pay for his food because it last forever. The grass thing is rough. He clears up as soon as it gets cold outside and we do our best to not let him stay outside very long. He loves the grass so its hard but doable. As far as itching we do a 1/2 tab of benedryl twice a day and we have an Rx shampoo that we do every 2-3 days to help with the itching and prevent infections from the itching. Our Vet recommend wiping him down with cool water on his belly and paws after he has been outside. I was really good about that last summer, this summer not so much but it does help. I'm thinking though that it might be more difficult to do if you have a bigger dog than what S is. I just set him in the bathroom sink and rinse his belly off but with a big dog that's not as easy. Last summer we were on a different allergy med I don't remember what it was called. I think he was on anti-biotics for secondary infections for at least 6 months last year. Because we hadn't figured out the food allergies, the benedryl wasn't helping but it is helping a lot this year. So all that to say I feel your pain and I hope Bentely feels better soon.