Atopic dermatit

[Kristina Brannlund Westin]

This time of year is so lovely but there is a backside of it and that is my "Titos" allergic problems starts all over again. During winter no problems at all but now bathe, wash and anoint with various ointments cortison starts. What I have read this allergic condition is hereditary to a certain extent and is more common in certain breeds, and that includes setters, so I just need to know if there is some one else with this problem and if there is some other treatment than cortison treatment who can relieve symptoms.
Must be terrible with this itchy skin all the time.

//Kristina, Cherrybloom´s

[Ilona & Gina]

Hi Kristina,

I feel with Tito and you!
Gina is 9 months old and had exactly the same problem. The vet said "it's a setter thing" and pumped her with cortison. The little thing turned into a lethargic vegetable. She was so unhappy, especially as she had bad reactions to the cortison - critical load I guess. A bloated tummy, tiredness, dark red blotches around her tummy, the constant need to wee.....

Finally, we went to a naturopath, who suggested a complete change in diet - no commercial food, only raw meat, no carbs. The naturopath gave me homeopathic drops and a diet sheet. I paid 170 Aussie Dollars, including the medicine, a good "doggie cook book", and I am happy about it. The result: Gina is fine! She had a time of detox to get the cortison out of her system, but she is a different dog now: Lively, zippy, happy, head and tail up in the sky, and even more responsive to training.

Of course I can only speak for Gina, but maybe you consider a visit at the naturopath?
I wish your Tito to get well and happy soon.

A big hug to Tito from Gina's Ilona
Rockingham, Western Australia

[Melinda Auld]

We have a labrador here with AD. As Ilona suggested, a complete diet change has left him absolutely symptom-free. Most important thing we cut out was any "mass produced" meat product - eg chicken, beef, lamb, pork...basically any domestic animal given generations of vaccinations. He can, however, tolerate kangaroo, rabbit, turkey, fish and other game meats. He can now also tolerate the organic Eagle Pack kibble (no chicken fats).

We are lucky (if you can call it that) in that his first symptom of a flare-up is usually gastro-intestinal...so we now get plenty of warning if he's reaching his limit on any given food before it hits his skin.

I agree with Ilona - try looking at what changes you can make to the diet and see what effect that has. Take Titos right back to a very basic "fish and rice" diet. Then slowly introduce one food at a time and observe over a period of at least 2 weeks to give time for both reactions and reductions in symptoms. A good canine natropath or vet skilled in dietary issues would be the best place to start.

Good luck :)

[Cheryl Gorey]

Hi Kristina, I agree with the advice from Llona and Melinda.

My old boy had an allergic reaction to food (which I identified as chicken - the vet told me that he was surprised as usually that's the first food they put dogs on who show an allergy. Anyway, I took him off the chicken and also I supplemented his diet with a spoonful of garlic everyday. His skin is now allergy free and has been so for the past 7 years. He is now 11 years old. He still occasionally gets a treat (because Chicken is one of his favourite foods!), but I can't give him a regular diet of chicken. The garlic has corrected the dry flaky skin and also he doesn't get any welts or itchy skin anymore. You could also add some fish oil or some sardines to the diet as well.

I have heard that Lamb is the meat that is less likely to cause allergy, so you could try that as well if you don't have access to a complete fish diet.

I hope it all goes well. Good Luck.
cheers, Cheryl

[Kristina Brannlund Westin]

Hi and thank´s for your great advices!

What is so strange is that in wintertime he have no problem at all, but when spring comes and he gets wet and dirty in his coat it blossoms up, so I was sure that it wasn´t related to food, but I definitely will trye another diet for him. Thank´s to you all,

//Kristina

[Laura Kolbach]

maybe it is some sort of plant, flower, seed that starts to bloom (=being active) these times. i would do a test for all known allergetic stuff, it costs a lot but maybe worth it. of course, if it is a plant, there is not much you can do against it unfortunately, i'm afraid. but many humans are also allergetic to it, so maybe there is a treatment for dogs as well that eases the pain.

[Kristina Brannlund Westin]

Yes Laura, that crossed my mind too!

That is why I don´t think is related to food, but it don´t hurt to trye change food.

Regards Kristina

[Cheryl Gorey]

Sorry, I missed that important part of your question. Do you not change his diet at all from one season to the other? If not, then there may be something else environmental. I remember my young boy that I had a few years ago, whenever he went into the front yard he would have watery eyes, etc, and he was allergic to one of the plants out in the front yard. There are a number of plants that can cause local allergic reactions. ie mouth and skin rashes.
These ones I have found on the web (but there are probably many more):
Chrysanthemum leaves
Creeping fig, Weeping Fig sap
Crown of Thorns
Cypress Spurge,
Poinsettia leaves
Snow-on-the-Mountain leaves

When I went to the vet with my boy when he first had his skin allergy, my vet made a comment about red heads and sensitive skin. Also being a red head myself, I would agree with this as I too get skin allergies from some grasses and plants.
Sources on the web suggest
"Allergies are the most common cause of itching in dogs. Allergies may be caused by contact with an allergen causing multiple crusty lesions that are extremely itchy. Give your dog a cool bath for ten minutes to relieve itching. You may add colloidal oatmeal in the bath."
I see from searches, that there is now controversy about garlic, so I wouldn't recommend garlic now. But I do suggest the Omega fatty acids and the fish oils, etc as they may still help with the dry itchy skin. Also look for products that will strengthen the immune system as this should help.
I went to a naturapath for myself a few years ago as I was having an allergic reaction to something in my environment and she has improved my health dramatically with the right homeopathic remedies. Strengthening my body on the inside reduced the effect from the external allergens.
Again, good luck
Cheryl

[Laura Kolbach]

honestly said, i don't think that change of food helps, as it is something in the environment that bothers him. you can give omegas and all other stuff but the best is to take him to a test and see what makes him itchy. treat the problem itself :-)))))

jag är ingen veterinär, men har en gordonkompis som har samma problem. först trodde de, det var matallergi mot kyckling eller gluten, men så blev det massor med olika reaktioner till olika grejer, gluten oxå men oxå olika frö. det finns homeopatiska produkter som gör det bättre.

[ursula wilby]

Years ago a friend of mine had an english setter that was allergic to grass...
nothing during the winter, but once the grass started to grow...but in that case, most of the itching, swelling and soreness was on the poor dogs paws.

[Kristina Brannlund Westin]

Thank you all, you have all been very helpful!

I will take a test on him to see what he is reacting against. Scares me hearing about Ursulas story about grass-allergi but thinking about it, he never itch, and swell on his paws, only tepid side and armpit nowhere else.
Maybe a test will be for the best.
Just have to ask Cheryl a question about gaerlic, have heard that gaerlic is toxic to dogs, but your dog have been eating this for years and is still alive so it cant be that toxic.

Regards Kristina

[Catherine Carter]

Onions are toxic but not garlic. I feed a tiny teaspoon of dried garlic every day especially in the Summer. works very well as a repellent against fleas and also can be stronger than antibiotic for any stomach and guts infection!

[ursula wilby]

I dont know what is correct in this matter, but I do know that we have had articles in the swedish kennel-club magazine regarding garlic.
According to those, garlic is dangerous for dogs too.

But then so is choclate...yet in the early 60, my first dog used to love choclate and had plenty of it, yet lived to be well over 14 years on the worst ever diet (we were too stupid to know any better).
Perhaps some dogs are more sensitive...and will tolerate only small amounts?