My nine-year-old corgi has had terrible allergy problems since we moved to Texas. They seem to get worse as he gets older.
I have switched his diet from premium dog food to raw and cooked. I have tried Benedryl and a daily dose of Zyrtec. The antihistamines helped a bit.
While researching ways to increase immunity in dogs, I happened upon information about colostrum. I ordered a goat's milk colostrum for dogs from Amazon.
I noticed a difference the first day I added the colostrum to his food. Even with the other allergy medications, his eyes watered like crazy. It's been five days now, and his eyes are dry. He is only making little, dry eye boogies like normal dogs do. He is not licking his paws like he usually does.
Next week, I plan to ween him off his daily Zyrtec. I'm sure in the days and weeks to come I will notice other health benefits from the colostrum. I'm hoping they help his seizures also.
Lynn, go with your primrose oil but there are so many things to try: vit c echinacea, garlic, coconut oil, Apple Cider Vinegar with the mother internally and externally and definitely probiotics, I believe you have to look after the immune system to clear this up so therefore I would look at the diet so give the healthiest diet you can stay away from grain a lot of dry has this remember not a overnight cure try for a couple of weeks then try something else get back if none of these are working we can always look at something else .........good luck
Raw Food Diet
Hello,
My dogs had horrible allergies with nasty ear infections that would not go away. My poor dogs suffered for so long. I switched to numerous "holistic dog foods" trying to help them. My research showed that all the preservatives in dog food was causing all these problems. I finally switched to a species appropriate diet which consists of feeding my dogs like wolves eat - whole prey. I found out that there are thousands of people feeding this way. We all feed our dogs a diet that is 80% raw meat, 10% edible raw bone and 10% raw organs. After just a few weeks, the ear infections that my dogs suffered with for 4 years disappeared!!! All the itching all over their bodies disappeared!! Their coats are shinier than they have ever been, they have more energy and all the tarter is gone from their teeth too! I have now been feeding this way for 3 years and my vets can't believe how healthy my dogs are. we also no longer vaccinate. We had titers done on my dogs and they have enough antibodies in their system, from the previous vaccinations they have had, to last them the rest of their lives. :-)
We bought a tiny toy poodle that from day one has cost us thousands of dollars. He had vomiting and diarrhea for 2 or 3 years. Switched him to ZD dog food, hypoallergenic. Was fine with occassional allergies. Then took him to TN for vacation. Allergies never went away. Plus we had BP oil spill and burning oil in air. He gets yeast in ears. Been cleaning with diluted apple cider vinegar. Coat is dry. Constantly scratches ears, and licks feet. No hair loss or wounds. Starting a raw diet and have started adding flaxseed oil to his food. See bark website. Natural vet gives list of supplements that can be added to their food to help allergies. Acidophillus is one. Don't want to continue to give him benadryl (taking twice a day) because it just knocks him out. Don't want to give him steroids because of the possibility of muscle necrosis, as well as long term use can cause cushings disease.
Raw Food Diet
Our six year old mutt eats a raw meaty bone diet ("RMB", a combo of raw meat, raw bone and organs), and many health concerns other owners face have disappeared. She used to have eye infections and bad breath. We haven't seen an infection or cold in years, and her breath is absolutely neutral. Her teeth gleam. People mistake her for a younger dog. And never once has she had to have her glands expressed. I believe many of the skin problems people report here will disappear with this species-appropriate diet. Many allergies are due to grain found in kibble. Even grain-free kibble is highly processed. Feeding raw also provides our pup with the extreme satisfaction of ripping and gnawing. There are several books out there to learn about this diet, which can be frightening to many folks. It takes a little practice, and a freezer certainly helps. By getting familiar with cuts of meat I'd never heard of (tripe, turkey necks), we feed her for under $2/day. I was scared at first, but wouldn't dream of feeding any other way now. Best of luck to all!
Raw Food Diet
One of my German Shepherds had an awful time with gooey ears, crusty lips & itching/scabs on her lower back & neck. Once I placed her on raw meat & bone diet all symptoms disappeared. It took about 3 months for her skin to heal. Suppose it took that long for the grains to get out of her system.
I have even tried grain-free food but, the crusty lips & ears start up again after one serving.
RMB diet works.
Also, food-grade DE is not harmful if mixed in food. I use it several times a year to clear intestinal parasites in my dogs. In fac, t I add it to my own smoothies. It's silica. Food-grade DE is used in the midwest to treat cows & hogs for parasites. It is perfectly safe. One has to take precaution not to allow the powder to enter the eyes or breath it in. Add to moist food or broadcast in the yard & lightly water into soil.
Use common sense when using DE.
We got two kittens only to find out that our 4 year old son was allergic. He would sneeze, cough, get congested, and his eyes would get swollen, puffy, and red. I started having him drink lukewarm chamomile tea when I read that it was a natural antihistamine. It seems to reduce his allergies significantly. When his eyes get swollen, I also apply a used chamomile tea bag to his eye/eyes. It brings down the swelling immediately.
Dietary Changes
My blue pit bull started to get really bad skin allergies when he turned 3 y/o. It would drive him nuts, he would itch so badly and try to lick/bite everywhere whining and in pain. It would keep him (and us) up at night. He would get "hot spots" and hives that would get as big as marbles under his skin and they would ooze. We took him to the vets who in turn gave him a steroid shot, perscribed antibiotics and charged us a ton of money to do so. It would last a few weeks, then it would come back. I decided to look into pet food. Before I would get Costco's Kirkland brand food. I went to a family owned pet store and spoke to one of the guys that worked there. He told me that vets only get 6 months of training in regards to pet nutrition and mostly get comission to sell brands like pedigree/etc. He introduced me to hypo-allergenic dog food which was hollistic. Also he told me I could give him a tbsp of extra virgin olive oil to mix in the food every time I fed him. In addition we tried to keep him out of the sun and in our air conditioned house (in the summer). He was completely cured. I also made sure not to feed him any "treats" that were commercially made. His "treats" consisted of baby carrots, ice, pieces of fresh fruit and veggies. He was as healthy and happy as could be, and so was our lhasa apso who also had to go on a diet. I recommend this to anyone whose dogs have skin allergies!
Dietary Changes
Mange
I am in rescue & with 8-9 dogs most of the time I run into all kinds of problems. I have had serious side effects from meds so- I have mostly gone natural.
My Benji got ringworm 4 years ago & then mange & bacteria infection. Got rid of the RW but for 4 years the mange & bacteria has come & gone every few month. Yes I tried the borax 7etc & it works but he kept getting it back. Finally I insisted on an allergy test.The vet said no way is that the problem but i INSISTED!!!!!!
Sure enough he had lots of allergies & mostly foods. I had him on a really good holistic dog food. BUT His allergies were beef-fish-barley oats- potatoes - sweet potatoes- lamb - grass- dust mites to name a few.
I immediately changed foods. He now gets chicken & rice only - no perservatives & no treats unless they are chicken. Guess what he has been great for 6 months - back to his old self. Yes he has scars & always will as he had it so bad he bleed all the time from the sores. But this was the culprit. So if you have skin problems check for allergies - ivemectin & antibotics for 4 years without stop. That's not good.
I also sprayed him with collidal silver & it also works.
Allergies: My French Bulldog, 26 lbs, was given Ketoconazole for a large sore on her muzzle several years ago, like a cold sore. I stopped using it as soon as she became sick. I then used lemon balm ointment from Whole Foods, which my daughter uses for cold sores. The lemon balm works wonderfully. I also wash my dog down weekly with a little vinegar in water (no soap) and wash her face daily in diluted hydrogen peroxide.
She is now 5 years old and extremely healthy, no more sores, no itching and scratching in the summer. Also, she no longer gets shots or vaccinations.
Dietary Changes
My 14 month old Tibetan Terrier is finally doing great after months & months of digestive problems, diahrea, vomiting, etc. All the vets would give us were antibiotics which made him sicker. After trying EVERYTHING, we now feed him organic kibbles (no corn/no wheat) and mix it with an organic home cooked mixture I prepare mysefl of meat, mixed organic veggies & sweet potatoes & a tsp. of olive oil. Dessert is stalks of lettuce leaves and carrots to clean his teeth. He LOVES it and no more tummy problems! He is even bathed with natural shampoos and skin lotions. So after all this, it pains me to give him Heartguard and Frontline!! I started sprinkling dietomaceous earth around the house and on him for flea prevention, but my husband turned out to be allergic to it. I dont know of any other natural remedy. They are so, so toxic. I am about to try a tiny dose of garlic to prevents fleas, but I am very nervous about hurting him. Just dont know what to do. He's doing so well, but this awful Frontline.
Who would have ever thought dogs can be allergic to CHICKEN? Our Jack Russell had skin condition due to allergies and it took years to discover he could not tolerate chicken. He seemed better in the cooler months, can't explain, but true. Problems began in the spring with his feet, they began itching. It continued until his entire body was itching to the point, he chewed hair off huge portions of his body, one entire side was bald. It was suggested to remove chicken from his diet, he began improving. It worked! The poor dog has suffered enough. Finally, he is normal for the first time in his life. I regret it took me so long to find the answer. If you've tried everything, and I mean everything, remove chicken from the diet and hopefully it works for your pet.
Grain-Free Dog Food, Apple Cider Vinegar, Listerine
Dog with Hair Loss, Severe Skin Allergies:
I received a Great Pyrenees on Christmas Day 2008 and was shocked at the inflammation, loss of hair, itching and brittleness of her hair. I was told that she had severe food allergies (and I did immediately switch her to a premium grain-free dog food) but in addition, I started ading apple cider vinegar to her drinking water and bathed her in it several times. I have proof-positive pictures that within one month this situation took a 360 degree turn for the better. She is happier now, more energetic, has a zest for life and no more itching and inflammation. I recommend apple cider vinegar wholeheartedly.
On her ankles and her elbows she has dried crusted spots and for those I looked up home remedies for hot spots and saw several people had success with plain Listerine, mixed with baby oil and water and spritzed on these spots. Within 2 weeks, those dried spots clearedup and new skin grown and hair growth is happening there.
Raw Food Diet
Yes I agree, raw diet does wonders. My dog also gets severe itching twice per year due to allergies. I have paid hundreds of dollars and the only solution they could offer after trying various other things were steroids?. I hate the way it affects her. Constant urinating, weird eyes, real hungry & thirsty. I was sick of seeing her like that. Then she was put on a raw meat diet (seventy percent ground chicken (neck, wing tips), turkey, also lamb, goat mixed with some beef heart and thirty percent ground veg.(not gassy variety). This is mixed with half human dose of antibiotic. We also started to give her half human does fish oil. She's a different dog. Allergies are completely, utterly no scratching, she's calm, has a beautiful coat and I am so relieved after all these years. The dehydrated dog food you see in pet food stores which says "raw" is not raw, its dehydrated. I mean raw organic. I was shocked that it was not nearly as expensive as I expected. My medium size dog only eats about a 1216oz per day. Oh also, no vaccinations or heart worn/flea meds. for at least 3 years. I wish you the peace of mind we have found from these diet changes.
Raw Egg in Food
My short hair dog had a terrible oder due to flaky skin. I tried giving her oatmeal baths, oils nothing seemed to work and only made it worse. Then I started giving her a raw egg with her food every other day. Not only did she think it was a treat her skin issues are a thing of the past and she smells great. Also I started using coconut oil on her tender and red belly, worked like a charm and if she licks it no worries because it helps her doggy breath.
Neem Seed Oil - Promising Remedy!
My dog had an itching problem and she was losing her fur. I took her to the vet they did a scraping for mites, ringworm and checked for fleas the test came back negative for all. They gave her medication for jock itch, I tried it. Well...sometimes the docs think they know, but they don't. The itching continued. I have tried Teds mange recipe and use it also. I have since found neem oil. I put a generous amount of neem oil on each crusted welt. I put neem oil in her shampoo and try to bath her once a week. All of this has helped. I will continue until its gone. This is a slow process.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hi,
Can I use a nebulizer with 3% hydrogen peroxide ( food grade) to treat my dog's cold/ allergy?
Licking and Chewing Paws
Our dog has red skin underneath on his paws and he is biting and licking them a lot. I think it could be Pododermatitis from what I read. But I want to find a natural remedy if possible. We have him on Merrick chicken with brown rice. He is a male 16 month old bullmastiff. He also has been shedding a lot. He does get steak and chicken mixed in with his food because he is very picky. He does not want to eat his kibble without something in it. But he also gets cheese from time to time. Anything that might help him?
Dietary Changes
When dogs chew their paws and paws are stained the Biggest Allergies are Chicken, Chicken fat, Chicken meal!! No corn Soy of wheat! So go with Grain Free dog food with none of these ingredients Salmon,Turkey, Duck and Lamb are fine! Watch your Treats too!! No Wheat!!!
Raw Green Tripe
Hi There,
i just wanted to share this remedy for allergies. My cat is allergic to pretty much every food known to man, he was tested, even rice, corn, and I heard on the radio in London, BBC Radio London, The Barking Hour, that raw green tripe helps bring dogs out of allergies. So, I tried it on my cat. It has helped so much, he has never been better, not totally allergy free but much better even than when he was on steroids. He has been my "project" for the last eleven years and I cannot say how relieved we both are for the tripe. Here in London, it gets delivered from Mobile Pet Food, minced and frozen. So you just thaw it out, I mix it with quarter tsp coconut oil, courgettes, pinch kelp and sometimes some lamb heart ( he can tolerate a bit more 'normal' food now)
Turmeric
Are u using the powder or root
EC: Hi Bobby,
Most readers use powder unless otherwise specified in the post.
Turmeric
How much turmeric do you add to your dog's food to stop rash and runny eyes?
Multiple Remedies
Hello Janice,
Did you keep up with all the RAW and DE and body masks and then the symptoms came back when you stopped?
If you have continued with the program and the itching came back despite the RAW diet et al, you might consider a few additional dietary supplements. Consider yucca and quercetin for the inflammation, and also colostrum to help build the immune system.
Multiple Remedies
Maybe a it's a lot for the system ... I do know that when my Bells gets a hot spot she gets caught in a scratch and turns her brows upwards in a look saying" I don't have fleas... I swear! "
Vinegar works great for us, and wheat free. Stress never fails to set her back though.😇
Multiple Remedies
Have you tried bovine colostrum? it's the miracle cure in our house. My cat has almost doubled his life expectancy of 2 yrs. I haven't used it for allergies but I know it claims to work for them.
Multiple Remedies
Good Morning Jeffrey,
Could you please share the ratio of the turmeric and pepper you used? And can u share the brand of capsules? Thanks a bunch
Multiple Remedies
Jeffrey, Please, please..I'm desperate here...Since I don't know if all tumeric is created equal, could you please give some more specifics? My 7 yr old blue nose that I just adopted has the same problems your pup had. Just ended the 2nd dose of prednisone with antihistime and 3 days later she is a mess. how much pepper??
