Allergies? - Page 3

Thank you for those links Louise. Is this immunity shot something they need for life? Over a course of weeks/months or routinely every few months or so?

"Is this immunity shot something they need for life? Over a course of weeks/months or routinely every few months or so?" Depends on the dog and whether the vet has his head in the right orifice. Most don't--sigh!!Usually, there is a course of several injections over several weeks/months. I believe that the Immunoregulin must be given IV (at first, at least). I appreciate the link that says that, with dogs with chronic but intermittent Staph, you give the cephalexin two consecutive days (say every Saturday and Sunday) for life--after several successful treatments with AB's. IOW, after favorable results (skin clear with no lesions) with cephalexin after 2-4 weeks, you start the 2-day-a-week regimen. 4pack, I think that your dog may be the victim of overkill with a shotgun approach to therapy. The fungus on the skin/ears is probably secondary to generalized Staph pyoderma and a run-down immune system (often challenged by too many drugs). I also agree with Blitzen's comments about fleas. Many hot spots and Staph infections are triggered by and are secondary to flea allergy dermatitis--a lot more common than food/inhalant allergies--at least, in my experience.

I've not heard of Immunoregulin, but it sounds very interesting and worth a try I think. Can't hurt. Good information, Louise.

Well, in addition to Immunoregulin, there is the Staphage Lysate--which doesn't have to go IV. The trouble with most of these things is that folks expect a complete cure (an instant fix--with no relapses) and stop treatment too soon. I know that the latter product has been around for many years. People would be more likely to explore these treatments if the vets did not charge and arm and leg for them. Go figure what it would cost to go to a vet 3 times weekly for initial injections!! Do a few Google searches and you can find answers to almost everything. Yep, Blitzen, we're never too old to learn.

I put my allergic dog on the Z/D for awhile - this is NOT a diet you would want a dog to live on it is poor quality to say the least, but it does hydrolize the proteins to reduce allergic reaction. He he did clear up and allow me to do an elmination diet and chicken and flax were the culptits. Two things very hard to get past in prepared dog foods and way hard to get away from on on a raw diet / particularly a dog that is immune comprimized and developed PF while on the long term raw diet. After major rectal pull through surgery three years ago I put him on kibble and he has done fine @11 years and still plays ball twice a day. He tolerates this quite well. Purina Pro Plan SS. Salmon, brewers rice, canola meal, oat meal, fish meal (natural source of glucosamine), animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), salmon meal (natural source of glucosamine), pearled barley, brewers dried yeast, animal digest, salt, potassium chloride, Vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), manganese sulfate, niacin, calcium carbonate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite

Is the Z/D the Purina prescription diet, Nancy? If so, the main protein source is/was soy and, you are right, it is not a diet intended for long term, but it could tell 4pack if her dog is reacting to its diet. I tried that with my allergic GSD, but it didn't make any difference with him because it was inhalation and not food.

Z/D is "Hills" product - I think it is the Science Diet Folks - The ingredients are pretty hideous but I was pulling out my hair and used it until I could come up with something else. The hydrolysis of the proteins makes sense to me - as a chemist - but there are a number of ingredients that make me shudder and I had to feed a good bit more than the label to keep any weight on my dog.... and it was very expensive. But it bought us time. http://www.petrx.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=736 Starch, hydrolyzed chicken liver, vegetable oil (preserved with BHA, propyl gallate and citric acid), powdered cellulose, hydrolyzed chicken, glyceryl monostearate, DL-methionine, taurine, ethoxyquin (a preservative), minerals (dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, salt, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement).

Nancy,HI.I was the first one in Canada years ago to get the ZD before it was ever released.NOW,here I am again with another GSD with the same problem.Everything you said about the food is accurate.It could sometimes take OVER 12 weeks to finally kick in on some dogs.Would you be so kind as to tell me how EXACTLY you found out about your dog being allergic to chicken and flax because last year when i also had to resort back to this food ,I had not done the actuall elimination trial so i would be very interested in hearing from you since you have hands on experience with this.You may also e-mail OR pm me if you like.I am looking forward to hearing from you.Thanks

The flax had caused me problems with gas and loose stools in the past when I was adding to the raw diet that abated when I quit using it so I did not "formally" test that one but for the chicken....... I had him on the Z/D for several months then just started adding raw chicken leg quarters with the food. He started itching almost immediately (2-3 days). According to the article it may take anywhere from a few hours to 10 days. http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/70400.htm So far he is "doing ok" on the salmon based food -- I was feeding one before with corn in it (He did FINE on the corn for a long while, probably because he had never had it before) but slowly started itching again and I switched him to another with no corn and he is back to fine- of course allergic dogs always get new allergies but chicken is a bear to avoid. I think it is a lifelong battle with such a dog; glad only one of mine is this way. I imagine the salmon will eventuall cause problems too. I may have to go back and use a food with flax in the future and make sure that does not really cause problems; I was using ground flax and not just the oil

Dominic, I have my second GSD. My first had inhalation allergies, was skin tested and desensitized. When my second GSD began to scratch more than I though he should, I thought - oh no, here we go again. So far his atopy has been minimal and I've been able to keep him comfortable with antihistamines, topicals and an occasional light dose of steroids, so am assuming it's not the food with him. If he gets worse, I'll have him skin tested. I think allergies are very, very common in this breed. Too much breeding to and from dogs that are also atopic or that have produced atopic dogs. I believe this condition is taken far too lightly by many breeders and they don't realize it is more complicated than just a dog with"sensitive skin". Good luck with your dog. Been there done that, I know what a colossal pain it can be.