Allergies - Page 1

Posting below about my current dog got me to thinking about what almost seems like an allergy problem in GS. I'm not an expert of any kind, just a "lover" and pet owner (tho I wish I could do more) - I don't breed, train, show, anything; just own 1 dog at a time. But I'm concerned there mite be major allergy problems going around in GS. I have little evidence as yet - after all, I'm only an isolated pet owner - but it's awfully strange that my sister's dog had bad allergies, and my pet now has had bad allergies from the get-go (2 mos she was scratching all over). German lines. After all this, I now 2nd-guess about my old dog Shana, who exhibited what may have been seasonal allergies (Summer only, hot spots and a few awful large grotesque bloody/pussy scabs on the back) - and she was half German. I don't see much talk about this, but I wonder if it is prevalent but doesn't get air time since every1's so worried about really severe diseases instead. But allergies are bad, and the dogs shouldn't be bred - allergies are expensive, time-consuming, sometimes back-breaking for the owner, all to try to keep the dog comfortable. Also just annoying (when your dog wakes you from scratching so much). It is a serious problem, really. If it's untreated the dog can get infections and badly sick from that, so allergies can be a domino leading to worse conditions. Any1 have troubles w/allergies or hear of it? What are your lines?

My first GSD had inhalation allergies. He was out of a von Sternbusch sire, an Am lines bitch. According to the breeder, there was no history of allergies in his dogs, but I did come to learn that wsa not exactly the gospel truth LOL. The upside is the shots do work for most, so if you haven't already done so, you might want to consider skin testing your scratching doggie. Dylan was allergic to just about every local pollen and mold and after a year, the shots really did help him. I agree that atopic dogs should never be used for breeding. Dog with inhalation allergies are immune cripples and that would be passed on to some of their offspring. Like begets like so they are not good breeding prospects. My dog developed a number of other health issues associated with a depressed immune system; a chronic bacterial sinusitis and then lympohsarcoma. He died 7 months after diagnosis,was only 7 1/2 years old. Sometimes inhalation allergies are the harbinger of something worse to come in the future.

The Ol'Line Rebel wrote: "But I'm concerned there mite be major allergy problems going around in GS." No 'might' about it, my friend. Be it North American, European show lines or European working lines, allergies of various types have been on the increase in the German Shepherd Dog, unfortunately. Not that this phenomenon is restricted to GSDs alone--such issues are being observed in other breeds as well. This would suggest that the problems are likely to incorporate environmental as well as hereditary factors. I also suspect that we are unwittingly and unconciously selecting in favor of animals with less-robust immune systems by virtue of the trend of feeding novel proteins and carbohydrate sources and specially formulated diets, as well as through practices such as 'prophylactic' supplementation with l-thyroxine to aid with conception in dogs which may be subclinically hypothyroid. One reason the issue of allergies doesn't get much air time is the fact that there are ways to circumvent the effects of the allergy--be it with diet, medication or a bit of both. If the problem can be masked in that fashion, some people feel it's no longer a problem because you can't see it. I find it a sad commentary on the state of the breed when a feed that is purportedly produced *specifically* for the GSD is packaged in a bag which carries remarks about the 'sensitive skin' and 'special needs' of the German Shepherd Dog.

The Ol'Line Rebel wrote: "But I'm concerned there mite be major allergy problems going around in GS." No 'might' about it, my friend. Be it North American, European show lines or European working lines, allergies of various types have been on the increase in the German Shepherd Dog, unfortunately. Not that this phenomenon is restricted to GSDs alone--such issues are being observed in other breeds as well. This would suggest that the problems are likely to incorporate environmental as well as hereditary factors. I also suspect that we are unwittingly and unconciously selecting in favor of animals with less-robust immune systems by virtue of the trend of feeding novel proteins and carbohydrate sources and specially formulated diets, as well as through practices such as 'prophylactic' supplementation with l-thyroxine to aid with conception in dogs which may be subclinically hypothyroid. One reason the issue of allergies doesn't get much air time is the fact that there are ways to circumvent the effects of the allergy--be it with diet, medication or a bit of both. If the problem can be masked in that fashion, some people feel it's no longer a problem because you can't see it. I find it a sad commentary on the state of the breed when a feed that is purportedly produced *specifically* for the GSD is packaged in a bag which carries remarks about the 'sensitive skin' and 'special needs' of the German Shepherd Dog.

Hexe, intersting observation regarding the thyroid supplementation. I know of some in other breeds who do that too. One in particular swears he gets larger litters that way. It seems that allergies are the dirty little secrets of some breeds and I don't think some take them seriously enough to withhold the affected dogs from breeding.

Thanks guys. I suspect you're correct about this being a "dirty secret" that no1 talks about. As I stated before, the truth is, the allergies we've experienced have been HORRENDOUS. My sis' dog was mutilating himself, pussy and bloody in many places, never mind the direct effects of the dermatitis - yucky coats of dandruff, red bumps, etc. My dog's worst problem so far is she sometimes gets her ear(s) infected (as did Yanto, all the time), and when she was young her entire sides were virtually bare while the rest of her body grew in the new adult hair. She looked to have very big "saddle sores" - but it was just missing hair cuz she'd scratch so much. Believe me, we have been thru it all w/Tara. She has had shots for 1.5 years, we do it every week and had to INCREASE the standard dosage. Likewise we're on Atopica 100 PLUS 50 mg pills (giant dog size) every day, and antihistamines alot, plus baths including "spot baths" if she has a trouble spot. Plus the IVD Vegetarian (been 2 years) you can only get at certain vets. This may be all in a day's work for breeders and showers and trainers, but for pet owners and REAL working-dog people (you can bet police forces would oust a dog exhibiting this much special needs), it is overwhelming in time and effort not to mention cost!

Shoot, sorry to hear the shots aren't working for your dog, Rebel. It took about a year and we finally ended up giving Dylan his shots twice a month rather than just once, splitting the dose. Eventually he improved about 70%, but still needed the pred now and then. Overall, the cortisone was really the only thing that gave him sustained relief, and you know the problems with using that on a regular basis. I'm not familar with Atopica, is it a steroid? Dylan weighed 126 lbs, so I know what you mean about the bigger the dog, the bigger the bill LOL. The only time I ever had any success with food was when I made him a vegetarian homemade diet using the recipes in Pitcarin's book. You are so right, it is a huge nuisance disease, might not be life-threatening, but it sure does make one want to go nuts at time. The secondary bacterial infections make the atopy even more intense. Dylan didn't take 5 steps without stopping for a scratch.

"Shoot, sorry to hear the shots aren't working for your dog, Rebel." Actually, (cross my fingers), she seems alot more under control now, last few months. I just hope it continues. We've had Tara on all kinds of meds trying to figure it out - various antihist's as well as cortisones early on. "I'm not familar with Atopica, is it a steroid?" No, Atopica is "brand new" - so there is little real history w/it, just studies. It is clyclosporine, NOT a steroid, which is why they developed this (from human use), because we all know that steriods can hurt many things. In studies of up to 200 dogs it reduced problems by some 70%. The worst reactions at a very high 25-30% incidence - unfortunately - are GI problems - VOMITING, diarrhea, etc, which they say often clear up once it's acclimated. Luckily, Tara showed no problems w/that! Finally, I got LUCKY w/her! "Dylan weighed 126 lbs, so I know what you mean about the bigger the dog, the bigger the bill LOL" Sadly, not what I meant. ;-) Tara is a proper *60 lb* bitch who needs giant-dog sized dosages every day. She started at 100 as do all "large" dogs but that apparently wasn't enough - now it's 150. That's how bad she is. Plus, you're supposed to scale back on the dosing schedule - I don't know if that'll ever happen for Tara. :( Atopica is VERY expensive - basically I'm spending $9/day ($6/large pill, $3/medium pill) on Tara for just this pill set - and, they only give you annoying 15-pill packs which of course you get from your vet only. Maybe 1 day it'll be used more and price will go down. But for now, it's very expensive. In any case, she seems as if she's better! I hope it continues. Tara is very special - she doesn't appear to have OUTDOOR allergies, only INDOOR - dust, tobacco (previously in my parents' house), FLIES, molds, etc. So she'd probably be better off as a kennel dog! :-\

I just returned from the Vet and was informed my GS has allergies. Although , he said it wasn't bad. He informed me that 60% of the dogs he sees have allergies. This was not a question I even considered when we purchased him as a pup.....being so concerned with "hips". It will and should be a concern when anyone is about to buy a pup or dog.

I am managing 19 dogs From an all american show bred to an all german working line. Not one of them has any skin issues. Luck of the draw..maybe. But I am very strict about flea medication. You know the kind you put on the back of your dog. Over and over again I here of people with all breeds of dogs having skin problems. when ask if they use these products the answer was yes.If you have a flea issue then you must take action to get rid of them. Vets are quick to preach prevenitive and put this aweful stuff on your pup/dog befor eyou can even think about it. Ive even heard of them putting a half of tube on a 6 week old pup when the manufacturer clearly states that the pup needs to be 8-10 weeks old. It is a nerve agent! Also foods with ground corn and wheat cause alot of allergy problems, chicken can too. Stop useing flea products and switch to a good food with out corn or wheat. A lamb and rice food is a good start.If all else fails then you are faced with a trip to the Vet. Certainly if you pup/dog has oozing sores you must be careful of sencondary infections.