Itchy Mitzy

[JesBred]

My poor baby is SO itchy.. I've ruled out fleas. we battled fleas when she was a puppy and is now on comfortis and havnt had a flea for months.. I bathed her today in oatmeal and its not half an hour later and she itching like CRAZY!! I don't know what to do..
She switched foods about 2 weeks ago to blue buffalo and blue wilderness. I thought it was her old food making her itch but I'm not seeing a change in her. She loves to be outside so I'm going to start leaving her inside as much as I can and see if that helps any. I give her benedryl about twice a day (vets suggestion) and it doesn't seem to help her much..
She focuses a lot on licking her feet and scratching her head/face area.. idk if that narrows anything down.. any suggestions as to what I could do to help her would be so appreciated I just hate seeing her like that with nothing I can do.

TIA

[gypsyqueen]

Lamb and rice I switched 2 days ago and today Nohea has not licked her feet once

[Miss Melanie]

I hope you can figure out what is making Mitzy itch so much. Poor baby, I feel so bad for her, since I have very sensitive skin, myself. So many things make me itch.

GOOD LUCK!
Melanie

[Tcarnagie]

If she is licking her feet then it is allergies of some sort. Itching can be a number of things including allergies also.

My bulldog is allergic to something in our yard and she is constantly scratching if she goes outside during hot weather when we just mowed.

[JesBred]

thanks guys.. i feared it was allergies.. i read somewhere that dogs can be allergic to cat food or even cats (and people!!) and im not getting rid of my cat so i switched his food to blue wilderness for cats hoping it helps as well.. i am going to try some new foods for her too.. i just wish there was something to help soothe her skin for longer or some doggie allegra lol

do you think if i kept her inside she would be better? :confused:

[Tcarnagie]

It depends on what is causing her to itch. If it is something outside then staying in more would help but if not, then it might not make a difference.

With Missy she would have welts when she would come in from outside so that is how we knew it was out there.

[paris]

I had to end up getting Paris tested for allergies. She is allergic to everything he tested her for except mold. I give her allergy shots every 10 days...big difference in her now!

[Angels4]

My poor baby is SO itchy.. I've ruled out fleas. we battled fleas when she was a puppy and is now on comfortis and havnt had a flea for months.. I bathed her today in oatmeal and its not half an hour later and she itching like CRAZY!! I don't know what to do..
She switched foods about 2 weeks ago to blue buffalo and blue wilderness. I thought it was her old food making her itch but I'm not seeing a change in her. She loves to be outside so I'm going to start leaving her inside as much as I can and see if that helps any. I give her benedryl about twice a day (vets suggestion) and it doesn't seem to help her much..
She focuses a lot on licking her feet and scratching her head/face area.. idk if that narrows anything down.. any suggestions as to what I could do to help her would be so appreciated I just hate seeing her like that with nothing I can do.

TIA

Tia - sorry that Mitzy is dealing with this. There are so many things inside and outside of the home including foods that can trigger allergies. If I may suggest instead of going crazy with switching foods, etc. that you talk with your vet about testing for allergies. There is a blood test and also a patch test. I think testing would be very helpful in what direction you have to take. I also mention this because just say your vet places her on steroids to see if they help before any testing is done. It would be a little difficult in taking her off the steriods for testing. In order to have the testing a pet has to clear their system of any steroids, etc to get a true reading.

With our 1st Maltese he was patch tested (patch testing is my preference) and we found out what he was allergic to. He went on a series of injections and after a while he never had another reaction. Let us know how Mitzy is doing.

[Tcarnagie]

I agree, if she is having really bad problems, I would check with the vet about having the test done.

Missy is able to take Benedryl and that helps her out so we did not have the test done, but if meds are not working, then you would want the tests so they can find something that works.

[JesBred]

Tia - sorry that Mitzy is dealing with this. There are so many things inside and outside of the home including foods that can trigger allergies. If I may suggest instead of going crazy with switching foods, etc. that you talk with your vet about testing for allergies. There is a blood test and also a patch test. I think testing would be very helpful in what direction you have to take. I also mention this because just say your vet places her on steroids to see if they help before any testing is done. It would be a little difficult in taking her off the steriods for testing. In order to have the testing a pet has to clear their system of any steroids, etc to get a true reading.

With our 1st Maltese he was patch tested (patch testing is my preference) and we found out what he was allergic to. He went on a series of injections and after a while he never had another reaction. Let us know how Mitzy is doing.

hehe my name is jess TIA is just thanks in advance I'm sorry I shouldve been more clear I apologize.. and I have talked to another member on here about allergy testing and I am looking into to it.. thank you all for your responses I appreciate it

[LittleDogLVR]

We have been dealing with Itching too....

I have done everything possible to eliminate anything that could be
bothering her. I have her on new food....tried just about everything over the summer and she is still itching.

Up until last night she wasn't doing any damage to herself and had good days and some bad. Well last night one of her ears were bleeding from scratching...so that was it !!

I took her in tonight to the vet and they are doing an Allergy test, they drew blood from her and put her on a 2 week supply of Atopica, its an Allergy med for Dogs.
Its going to cost about $60 a month at first, once a day for the first 2 and then it can go to every other day.
I wont find out for about a week and a half but they are pretty confident its environmental Allergies.....Grass or something...dont know.

I really hope it works....I am feeling pretty bad about it right now.

She must be going crazy itching 24/7.......

I hope we get some answers after the tests come back....

I will keep you updated........




John

[diggy4]

Just battled this....Believe it or not DONT CRINGE but Science Diet DD Venison and Poato helped Bella A LOT the i compared ingreds and went with Wellness Simple solutions Venison Potato working GREAT

You need a single protein Diet with allergies most of the time. ANd Usually NOT beef or chicken. Def. go grain free ;)

[LittleDogLVR]

Just battled this....Believe it or not DONT CRINGE but Science Diet DD Venison and Poato helped Bella A LOT the i compared ingreds and went with Wellness Simple solutions Venison Potato working GREAT

You need a single protein Diet with allergies most of the time. ANd Usually NOT beef or chicken. Def. go grain free ;)

I think Natural Balance has a Venison and potato too if you wont go there :)

I did try the single protein , California Natural Lamb and rice.....Didn't help
she was on it just over a month .

Also Benadryl didnt help either....

Changing food is easy, good first option and or second !
I gave up, couldnt stand seeing her like this any longer :(

John

[JesBred]

I think Natural Balance has a Venison and potato too if you wont go there :)

I did try the single protein , California Natural Lamb and rice.....Didn't help
she was on it just over a month .

Also Benadryl didnt help either....

Changing food is easy, good first option and or second !
I gave up, couldnt stand seeing her like this any longer :(

John

I just switched her to natural balance potato/duck allergy small bites. (crossing fingers this helps) I really think its her food. she been on iams since she was a puppy (cut me some slack this was before I found MT lol) and JUST switched her to blue buffalo when she started having problems.. she's always been and indoor/outdoor dog and loves being outside with her brother so I don't think its enviormental but if I have to switch back to iams I will and if her itching doesn't stop I've found a derm vet if I need it..

again guys I appreciate the help more than you know. I'm so grateful