Roxie Can't Stop Itching!

[RoxiesMama]

Roxie has spent the last month of her 13 week old life being a pin cushion for the Vet's office with no great success. We thought she had sarcoptic mange, but no mites have shown up on 2 week apart skin scrapings or hair samples. We thought ringworm and those results just came back negative. She was originally put on one antibiotic that wasn't strong enough and is now on another that has suddenly allowed her to have belly hair! I was so excited I had to call the Vet! She didn't seem to think it mattered. Roxie is still itching and so we still haven't found the problem. So they continued the stronger antibiotic and put her on a steroid-prednisone to stop the itching. She is still itching!!! Does anybody have any advice for Roxie and I? Even our Vet is confused by her. They haven't given up on her; they think it is some skin infection. They said that if this doesn't work, then they will treat her for mange. Why? Two tests have come back negative. I'm confused. Any help out there?

Thanks!
RoxiesMama

[AngelBunny]

What are you feeding her?

[JemarsSerena]

Have they even suggested possible allergies? I would look at your food choice as well. It could also be something in her bed or your house. Change her bedding or wash it in a different detergent. Start looking at all possibilities. If you are not sure about your vet's decision, get another opinion.

[RoxiesMama]

Thanks for the replies! When the itching first started, food allergies was our first thought. She was on chicken and corn and we switched her over to lamb and rice. She continued to lose hair, got the red sores, and the itching is just horrible! We've tried everything we can think of! We are simply at a loss...............

Thanks,
RoxiesMama

[JemarsSerena]

Yes, but which food are you feeding? A major ingredient in many store bought foods is corn or corn meal (even lamb and rice) or wheat. Both are known to be big contributors to dog allergies. Try feeding a raw or bland diet for a week and see what happens.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by RoxiesMama

When the itching first started, food allergies was our first thought. She was on chicken and corn and we switched her over to lamb and rice.

You need to name names.

What food are you feeding her?

[Ninasmom]

It could be any of the chemicals that they use in dry food that could be triggering her allergies. Changing from corn and chicken to lamb and rice might not be enough.

Also, Nina reacted just as poorly to lamb as she does beef. (Chicken, she can still eat; venison, duck too). You might want to try a more hypo-allergenic food. Also, how are her ears? If they are not bothering her, I would have to say it was more chemical than 'food'.

Have they tried prednisone yet? While I am not a huge fan of pred, if it is allergies, you will know immediately.

[RoxiesMama]

Roxie is on Prednisone now and has been for 3 days. She is still itching like crazy. She was originally fed puppy chow, and we switched her immediately to Iams large puppy breed. That was chicken and corn fillers. The Vet and the guy at Petsmart said "food allergies" and we switched her to Natural Choice which is lamb and rice. The Petsmart guy read through the ingredients to make sure there was no corn fillers in it. Our Vet said this isn't food allergies, but they can't figure what is "wrong" with her. She said that if it is not a skin infection then Roxie would start itching worse. She's not. It's just not getting any better. We are also giving her Benedryl and it seems that nothing is helping her. Her belly hair is finally growing in and red sores are healing, but the hair loss seems to be going up her sides now. And she just keeps itching. We have no idea how to help her.

RoxiesMama

[rottnkidd]

What about an environmental allergy? Has she been thoroughly checked for fleas? Flea-bite dermatitis can make an allergic dog miserably itchy.
kathy

[JemarsSerena]

This sounds much like my sisters dog who is allergic to Oxygen. Try a fish based food. YOu may have to search a little to find a good one. I would be looking at enviormental possibilities next. Bedding, carpet, air freshners. Make sure you have a good filter in your heating and AC unit. Don't discount getting a second opinion from another vet.

[spoiledbabies3]

Look into Flint River Ranch Fish and Potatoe...this is the one that has finally worked for my 7 mo girlie that has massive food allergies. It can be ordered on-line if you don't have a local distributor. It has made our life "normal" again...whatever that is with 3 rotties....

[Diane Heller-Vaccaro]

Hold on don't go switching foods everyday. That puppy chow stuff is probably the problem. Stay away from anything with corn. Other protein sources like lamb are what is considered a "hot food" originally created for dogs with beef and chicken problems can cause problems on it's own. It is the type of food you feed not the food it's self.

You can feed Nutro Lamb and Rice and in my opinion still not be feeding quality food. Instead feed CA Natural Lamb and Rice.

My guess is the Chicken and Rice formula from CA Natural would be just fine. It is going to take 6-8 weeks to get the bad food out, but if you start switching foods daily you will never really no what is causing the problem. Remember to watch the treats that you feed. Those cheap treats in petsmart and petco are the same junk found in low costs foods. If you are going to do treats you can make your own liver or buy holistic, human grade treats. No wheat, no corn, etc.

The vet can do no better (except the pred or other meds than this) food allergies are a process of elimination. Get her off her old food and go with something high quality and simple. If she is on ie CA Natural Chicken and Rice and in 6 weeks still scratching like mad than the chances are she has a problem with that protein, switch to lamb if it doesn't clear up in another 6 or 8 weeks than switch to a bison or buffalo. I only go to fish as a last resort and sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes are better so look for that in the food to if you go to a fish based diet.

Let us know how she is doing. If you want a list of foods that we recommend on the board you can search or I'll be happy to give them to you.

In some cases certain dogs just can't tolerate kibble those dogs must go on a RAW diet. I have a friend with a Jack and if that dog eats on piece of kibble even in a treat form his entire belly turns red.

So one step at a time. It is just a process of elimination.

Has your vet done skin scrapings? Can this be a yeast infection?

[brunie's mom]

I agree with Diane!
The simplest thing to try is a food change. The foods she has been fed are not the best quality. Even the Nutro is a poor choice for a dog with the itchies...lots of grains and by-products and fillers. You need to try a simple food ( one with only a couple of ingredients) that is top quality. These good foods are not found at Petsmart,etc. Do a search for the store locator for California Natural. www.naturpet.com

Also even if they have not found anything on a skin scraping, around here ,most vets start treating for mange if they have ruled out other things. Sometimes when they scrape, they have just not gotten the little mange buggers on the slide.

It's terrible that your poor pup has been suffering with this so long. I think I would be trying a holistic vet or a vet dermatologist. Prednisone given to a young pup is not the best way to be starting out in life. It would be my last choice and only given in desperation. There are all sort of side effects.

Gina

[MARYDVM]

Treat the puppy for sarcoptic mange. It has been estimated that it takes an average of 16 skin scrapes to detect sarcoptes mites, since only one or two on the whole body can create uncontrollable itching.

[RoxiesMama]

Thank you again for all of your responses! I took Roxie in to see the Vet who treats her parents hoping for any answers, even if it was genetics, not to mention a second opinion. Roxie's parents have a clean bill of health, which in itself was a good thing to hear. I caught up this Vet on all that we've been through with Roxie and she agreed that we should treat her for mange. If it is not mange, the medicine will not hurt her. She said if it is mange, we should notice a drop in the itching within 3 to 4 days. So here's hoping. She didn't believe it was an allergy to food since the red sores have healed and the hair is growing back due to the antibiotics. She thought this sounded more like sarcoptic mange. Let's hope she is right and Roxie can finally start getting some relief. The funny thing is, she's not throwing up, no diarhea, and nobody else is itching or has red sores. So we are still left with questions........

RoxiesMama