B&B Happy Goats....journal

[Rammy]

Please don't sell yourself short, you are like a favorite blanket that gives one comfort, warmth and makes you feel like your home and every thing is going to be alright.....you don't have to put it in words......your care and love can be felt...even through a computer screen. You are a very special person, and everyone knows it

X2000

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Had a Westie once that seemed to be allergic to everything...turned out it was a yeast infection and women's Vagisil yeast cream really helped him...

 

[Bruce]

Sorry Missy is having such troubles. Maybe you need to move to New England where she won't have grass allergies much of the year

If the Vagisil helped with her ears, maybe put a little on her face where she can't lick and see if it does anything?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I know it's controversial - but have you tried a raw diet?

 

[Southern by choice]

What does she eat out of?

 

[Rammy]

I know it's controversial - but have you tried a raw diet?

Thank you FEM for suggesting that. I was also thinking the same thing. Ever since I watched the documentary Pet Fooled on Netflix, I have gone to raw diets for my dog. Currently I get her the Fresh Pet as thats about the only thing available here. There is a store about an hour away that has a little more variety, so I may go there to see what they have.
BB I agree with FEM about trying a raw diet for your pet. You can go online and research it if you wish, but I think thats a good idea to try that.

 

[Southern by choice]

Good, I ask because plastics can cause that issue... a contact dermatitis.
I am coming to this a bit late but has the area been cultured? It looks very similar to staph.

I think raw diets are great however you do not want to use grocery store meats. Also no chicken necks as the thyroid is there and will affect your dog.

 

[Rammy]

X2

 

[StarSpangledNubians]

Yep, I would also suggest a raw diet. One of my pups also seemed to be allergic to most foods. Switched him to raw elk, deer, rabbit etc. Within weeks I saw a huge improvement.

 

[Finnie]

I will come out of lurking for this one.

i have suggested that to the vet but she is "sure" its contact dermatitis.

Why is she so sure of that? Have you had any allergy testing done?

The reason I ask, is because I had a vet long ago who steered me away from testing my dog. Said it was expensive (it is) and then it would require expensive shot therapy (not necessarily). She would rather do food trials to try to find out what was causing my dog's problems. (I now believe she just wanted the cash cow of a constantly sick dog with a gullible owner.) I spent way WAY more in vet bills than the allergy testing would have cost. Until I switched vets, tested the dog, eliminated all the foods she was allergic to, and then it was like a miracle! I couldn't eliminate the outdoor allergens or the dust mites in the house she was allergic to, but just removing the food culprits gave her immune system enough of a break, that she was able to deal with the others just fine on her own.

Anyway, my point is, if you don't get the allergy test(s) done, you just don't know what specific ingredients your dog is allergic to. So all the special "whatever"-free diets in the world won't help if they happen to contain any one item on your dog's "allergy" list. You are just shooting in the dark until you know what she specifically needs to avoid.

Right now I have a 3 year old dachshund who is allergic to most everything under the sun. I've searched through many many ingredients lists. Each one gets ruled out within the first few items. I finally found a formula from "Sport Dog Food" that only has one small allergen way at the end of the list that I'm hoping will be small enough not to matter. That company has a lot of special formulas. Google them, maybe you will find something you can use. But you would really need to know first what it is you have to avoid.

The raw diet route may well be your answer, but I suspect you will still need to make sure you don't use something she is allergic to. (What if it's rabbits?!) My current dog's allergy test cost me $470. But well worth it if it saves me the thousands I spent on my previous dog, prior to having her tested. And healthier for the dog than the trial-and-error route. Especially if your vet starts pushing prednisone shots.

I hope you are able to find just the right diet for her, and that it alleviates her issues.