Thursday 2 June 2016

A Plea.

Does any one else have a dog who is allergic to grass?   Each year, once the grass begins to grow, Tess begins to scratch.   Each year I take her to the vet and each year we try something different.   Nothing seems to make any difference.  Poor thing, as soon as she gets warm she begins - it is upsetting to watch her.

This year we are trying a new treatment - capsules called Nutramega.   One each day, squeezed onto her food and mixed in.  The blurb says we should notice a difference after a month, so we have a long way to go (only started yesterday).

The trouble is that she and the farmer walk the fields each morning and evening and these two walks are the highlight of her day so we just can't deprive her of this and just walk on the lane.

Any suggestions anyone -  please?

21 comments:

Derek Faulkner said...

How frustrating that must be, glad that my two don't get that, given that they spend all their time on the marsh. The one thing that they do get, in late summer though, is harvest mite. Minute orangey mites on the skin that cause them to scratch a lot.

Fourth day of winter here in Kent - heavy grey skies, bitter cold N. winds, dampness.

A Heron's View said...

My first instinct would be to contact a Homeopathic Vet because I treat all of our animals that way as they are very responsive.
Basically the remedies that work for humans also works for Dogs, Pat.

Alternatively :-

• Vitamin B complex- promotes circulation and healthy skin
• Essential Fatty Acids – Omega 3, 6, 9 – provide lubrication and help the skin retain water
• Vitamin C – inhibits inflammation
• Coenzyme Q10 – removes toxins and boosts energy

Linda Metcalf said...

Soothing baths with oatmeal based shampoos....also an anti itch such as Benadryl by mouth (sneak it into food) ?

Derek Faulkner said...

Sounds like some good advice there Pat.

Rachel Phillips said...

Take her on a walk down the loke and not the grass.

artpropelled said...

Yes, we go through it every year. We give Bella chunks of bread soaked in coconut oil and if that doesn't help she has a cortisone injection which stops it immediately. She also gets itchy feet from wet grass. The best way to treat it is with anti-dandruff shampoo in a mug with warm water. We dip each paw in the mug for a minute each day. It works wonders.

Derek Faulkner said...

Robyn's post is interesting because a couple times a year one of my dogs will come back from the marsh and go round the house, scratching up the carpet, as though her feet are on fire. Next time, I'll dip her feet in Head and Shoulders.

Heather said...

Poor Tess. It is quite some time since we had a dog but I do remember our labrador getting skin complaints in the summer. Sadly I can't remember what the remedy was, but your previous comments seem to be full of good advice. Hope you can find something to sooth Tess.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you for all the remedies you have suggested. I shall begin by buying some anti dandruff shampoo in the morning for her feet which drive her mad. Not sure where i can get coconut oil but might try that too. Thanks Heron - I shall investigate.

As to walking her on the Lane Rachel - the farmer likes to walk round his fields each morning and evening to check fences and gates - and Tess has always gone with him - and both of them enjoy it. It seems such a pity to deprive both of them.

I shall also discuss a cortisone injection with the vet.

Derek Faulkner said...

Good luck Pat, lets us know how you and Tess get on.

Terry and Linda said...

Gosh! I've never heard of this, but will be interested to see what you find out.

Linda

angryparsnip said...

One of my dogs had this problem.
We did the cortisone shots
I like the idea of the shampoo dip in warm water.

cheers, parsnip and thehamish

donna baker said...

Booties? Please be careful with the cortisone pills and injections. It sent my weenie Sister, right in to diabetes which is one of the contraindications. There is a cortisone shampoo though that might be helpful.

Virginia said...

Poor Tess! I'm going to opt for the booties - our police dogs wear them when there's the danger of broken glass, so they must learn to cope with them, and because she's small, you might be able to cobble together something from babies booties pick up from an Op Shop? Those, coupled with washing her off after she's been out, ought to help if it is contact dermatitis. If that didn't work, Id head for the Heavy Artillery and try cortisone - it will give instant relief.
Best of luck.

Joanne Noragon said...

Yes, a lot of good advice here. I could have used it for Angus. Poor fellow had terrible grass allergies.

jinxxxygirl said...

We believe my daughters dog is allergic to grass too... He does real good all winter long but once spring gets here forget it... poor dog and poor daughter... She has spent so much money on this dog (Scrappy) in search of some relief.. She has found a system that works pretty good... if you want i can ask her what she does exactly.... Hugs! deb

Midmarsh John said...

Hope the latest medication helps.
Looking round the internet one simple suggestion I saw was to wipe her down with a damp towel when she comes home from her walks. This was said to help remove any irritant she may have picked up from the grass.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Buy Tess a Russian spacesuit. Didn't Laika wear one in 1957? I think they may sell them in Space Pets at Home.

Coppa's girl said...

Have you tried an anti-allergen dry dog food? We feed our dogs on Purina Skin-Sensitive kibble during the summer months - it does stop them scratching. I also bought a (human) dermatitis cream from the chemist, which helped on small inflamed areas which would have been scratched raw.
What a good idea to soak itchy paws in Head and Shoulders - I'll try that.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks to everyone (including the droll comment YP!) - I have made a list. So far I have bought and started giving her evening primrose oil sprinkled on her food (thanks Kate) and am still using the capsules the vet supplied. Her feet are being dipped in the anti dandruff shampoo each evening. I shall not think of cortisone until all else fails and yes please Debs - do ask your daughter. (letter in post on Tuesday morning when I go into town - that's a promise).

jinxxxygirl said...

Hi Pat! I'm so sorry to tell you that my daughter will not help. She suggested you go to the Vet....duh.... I know you already have. I guess i should have known she wouldn't give out any suggestions...sometimes i just forget that shes like that. I'm so sorry. Hugs! deb