allergic to plastic???? - Page 1

after searching the internet, i am finding that it is fairly common for dogs to be allergic to plastic.  plastic crates, dishes, pails, nylon collars with plastic snaps, etc.  when i have done everything i can think of for one of my dogs and she is still miserable, i have to believe it is something environmental.  she's had surgery on her ears twice, prednisone, antibiotics.  i have fed her every kind of 60-70$$ per bag feed i can find. (grainfree) some times she does well for a while and then gets worse.  she is especially allergic to chicken.  we have done the raw thing & still do parttime.  i have tried all different sorts of ear treatment including zymox.  i have wormed her yet her coat is gummy and ears are a mess.  it makes me want to cry.  everything the vets suggest is something to further diminish her immune system.  pills, shots, steroids etc. 
lately, i have begun to think she may be allergic to her crate, water bucket & other plastics in the house.  i bought her a wire crate today and a stainless steel water bucket for starters.  i will be attempting to get rid of everything plastic that she comes in contact with.  i don't know what else to do or to try.  i've had others with unexplained allergies as well.  according to things i found on the net, it is not uncommon for dogs to be allergic to plastic and when it is removed, they improve immediately.  any one else had similar experiences?  i am not a newbie.  i've had gsds for 30+ yrs, but have only had allergic problems for about the last 12 yrs.

pjp

I know that using plastic dishes caused my cat to have acne and loss of hair to his chin. So, I don't think you are crazy to think plastics can be a cause. When I switched to ceramic dishes, it cleared up. Good luck, I hope it helps with your dog.

So sorry to hear this PJP.

While I have no help to offer, I will say this, I am so sorry to hear how many problems your baby is having. I also, if I may, wish to suggest something. Sometimes dogs will ALSO have an allergic reaction to stainless steel food bowls. I have a pitbull who's allergic to stainless steel bowls, so we bought her ceramic bowls instead. I also can wash the heck out of them in the dishwasher and not worry about rust, or in the case of plastics, melting.

When she would eat from her stainless steel bowl, her lips would swell up and turn bright pink, and crack, as if she had chapped lips. 

Also, I'm sure you have, but if not, you may also try LID foods. (Limited Ingredient Diet) There are several companies who make the LID foods, because of dogs with severe allergies.

Best of luck, sorry again to hear your baby is suffering.

ziegenfarm, if she's not allergic to dairy products, you might want to see if MicroLactin powder is of some help...I'd been using Duralactin (brand name of MicroLactin products for animals) for its anti-inflammatory properties in my senior dogs over the past couple years, and found it helpful for that purpose, but recently I've also been using it to help keep my newest adopted dog's discoid lupus in hand without having to put him on prednisone.  According to the reports from product studies, in addition to an anti-inflammatory effect, MicroLactin also appears to act as an immunosuppresant in situations where there is hyperresponsiveness of that function.  Because I've also got this dog on high doses of fish oil and Vitamin E supplementation, I wasn't sure the MicroLactin was playing much of a role in suppressing the lupus lesions, but when I ran out of the product I had been using, and had to switch over to a different formulation of it that resulted in a much lower dose, the effect the MicroLactin was having was evident almost immediately--within 48 hours, the bridge of the dog's nose broke out in weeping papules which became raw, crusted lesions.  Got him back on the 2 grams/twice daily dosage, and the situation resolved almost as quickly as it arose. 

Swanson Health carries MicroLactin powder, as does Beyond A Century:

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWU270/ItemDetail

http://www.easycart.net/BeyondACenturyInc./Joint_Support.html#7030

I hope you're able to find a way to keep your girl comfortable for the long-term. 

fought to find a solution to my female's itchiness, last resort was to move her out of the house, which helped immensely.  Not sure if it was dust  mites or chemicals related to carpet, furniture, etc.  She still spends some time in the house most days, but not for long periods. She still has some spring itchies, but goes away by June/July.  Our chemically laden world makes things difficult.
Sue

You may want to take her to a veterinary dermatologist and have her skin tested to identify what she is reacting to. Allergies are very common in the dog world, indicate a compromised immune system and the tendency to develope allergies is genetic. My first GSD had many inhalation allergies. I spent several years giving him steroids, fatty acids ,bought  air purifiers, covered the dirt in my houseplants with charcoal pellets, etc.. Nothing much help. I finally had him skin tested, identified all the allergens and then desensitized him. That helps about 70% of dogs but it can take up to a year to see a difference. IMO, a dermatologist is the only way to go. GP vets just don't have the expertise to diagnose and treat allergies.

If your dog has a reaction to plastic, it would probably be a contact allergy, and she will only react  in the areas of her body that touch the plastic; keeping her away from plastic should help. From your description it sounds like she may have developed a secondary bacterial infection and may need an antibiotic like Keflex and baths with medicated shampoo. Bacterial infections will cause intense itching in dogs. Was she tested for a yeast infection?

Good luck, I hate allergies and would rather deal with almost any other non-lethal disease in dogs.

thanks all!  i am certainly interested in the microlactin and think it would be worth a try.  she is not lactose intolerant.  when the weather is decent, i like to give all the dogs plenty of outdoor time.  lucky, right now is a perfect time of year - not too hot or too cold.  here in the midwest we can go from -25* to +98* in nothing flat.  pretty hard on all of us as well as the dogs.  right, sue?
i am really frustrated with this and it helps getting some input from others.  thanks again.
pjp

http://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.html

...don't know if you read the above link already. I have come across quiet a few metal and plastic allergies in dogs over the years. It also depends on what quality and colour the plastic is made of. Blue can contain a lot of cadmium, for example.

I tried all kinds of dog bowls, good quality stainless steel still works best for my dogs.

heh, also a good article.  thanks.  have been wondering what all this plastic is doing to us as well.
pjp

Are you sure it is blue and not red and/or yellow? I've never heard of a cadmium blue, only cadmium reds or yellows.