Does anyone else have a dog with allergies?

[puffkin]

My dog (3 1/2 year old beagle) is plagued with chronic ear infections and now we are treating him for excessive eye drainage. The antibiotic drops haven't really helped, so the vet is suggesting he might have bad allergies which can lead to ear infections and the eye problems. She has him on an antihistamine for a week to see if it helps at all.

Does anyone else have a dog with allergies? The vet seemed to indicate that if this works, he may have to be on the medication permanently. The good news is that the pills (over the counter at WalMart) only cost $3 for a 50 day supply so it isn't a financial burden in any way. I just haven't heard of dogs having allergies before.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

My dog (a 12-year-old cocker spaniel) has horrible skin allergies that flare up every summer. She literally breaks out in this dry little bumps everywhere, her hair falls out in spots - she's got a huge bald spot in her chest right now. So every year, we have to take her to the vet in order to get a 2-week supply of antibiotics, plus some fish oil capsules that she's supposed to take every day (which make her horribly gassy), and a $20 bottle of prescription shampoo that we have to take to the groomer. She can't be perfumed or any of that stuff.

I'm hearing more and more about pets with allergies now. When we had our first cocker spaniel, no one ever mentioned it.

 

[Evil Queen]

My Basenji/Lab mix does........and every summer, she basically goes bald, from half way down her back to the tail end. Dang-she's so ugly in the summer.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Oh yes...Butters.

I think I have nailed it down to our lawn grass. We are putting in a pool and hence alot of the grass is gone in the backyard. I suspected it already due to his paw chewing.

Once the grass was almost gone, the paw chewing stopped.

The ears are better but he still chews on his hind end. But he will eat grass and I think that has something to do with it.

I remember reading you ear saga. Our vet has us clean his ears with a foamy stuff once a week and then use the other ear cleaner when he gets wet. That has really helped him.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Our dog is a german shepard/beagle mix and also has allergies. She can't stop scratching and she biting her toe nails. Her fur falls out in clumps all summer long. Actually it starts in the spring and usually stops by Thanksgiving. Sometimes it gets so bad that all she can do is pace the house and look miserable. We've tried medication from the vet, but it doesn't seem to help. We never were able to pin down what she was allergic to, but now that grass has been mentioned that would make perfect sense. Besides her being miserable, it's a pain for me too, I have to vaccuum the house everyday to pick up her fur.

 

[PlutosFriend]

I have a 3 year old Cocker Spaniel. She recently had major ear surgery to help with her ear infections. Cockers are known to have ear infections. We also feed her special doggy food to help with allergies. She used to get hot spots and the vet thought it could be a food allergy.

 

[Hercules10]

My German Shepherd had allergies. His ears would go red and he'd start digging and scratching like crazy. Tried ointments, washes and ear drops.

Switched his food when we got the pup and increased the protein with turkey. Clear right up! The vet told me that a dog's diet can have a LOT to do with allergic reactions.

Hope the little guy gets better soon!

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Our previous beagle "Ricky" had severe allergies. To be honest I bought him from a horrible pet shop and I attribute all his ailments to them. He came form "Pet Depot" in Pt Pleasant NJ. Anyhow, he lived with ear infections his entire 13 years. Nothing cleared him up and the vets did not think even surgery would work. He also had eye infections quite a bit. I honestly think the chronic ear infections is what killed him. This is horrible to say, but he was always a house dog and the last days of his life he would not come in, he was looking for a place to crwwl up and die. The last day, it was raining and I finally got him in and I knew it was time. I brought him to the vet and she had never seen such a horrible infection. It was to the point that he had maggots in his ears. I was so sick over it.

Maybe you can ask your vet if surgery is an option for your beagle.

Our new pup, has very clean and healthy ears. I was a little gun shy getting another beagle, but this one is quite healthy, and he was a rescue.

 

[Crankyshank]

Yes both beagles have pollen and dust allergies like me.
Peabody has eye drainage and severe reverse sneezing. The air purifier helps and benadryl but I think it's getting slightly worse but the vet doesn't seemed concerned.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Floppy-ear dogs are prone to ear infections. Chloe gets them all the time in the same ear and before her I had a Beagle that suffered from them.

When I moved to Florida, Chloe's totally stopped. Within a week of being back in Texas (Houston is the famed allergy capital of the world, by the way), she already had her ear showing the signs of infection.

I put an ear-drying solution in Chloe's ears, called Epi-Otic for routine maintainance and I always make sure to put cotton balls in her ears if she gets a bath, or swims.

She still gets 'em though. There is a newer ear medicine that you only have to use once a day, for seven days and it works great. Ask your vet about Momemtamax. (I may have that slightly skewered)

 

[tuckerkeys]

try switching food. many times chronic ear infections and hot spots are a result of a food allergy. i switched my dog to Eagle pack holistic food. seems as if a dog eats a different protein that does the trick....we are on duck base. they also have a lamb & rice, vennison and chicken. another good one is back to basics. A golden retriever rescue group informed me of the 2 brands. these are what they use for ear problems, hot spots and coat condition. works like a charm! a 30 lb bag is @ 30-35$ though and it is a specialty food that you'll need to call around to local pet places for. i need to go to a feed store that has it. also petfooddirect.com has both and has a lot of sales so i get it there from time to time.... my golden is in top shape and has yet to get another infection.....and she swims in the bay 1x a week, but we do clean her ears aftet her swims and dry them out...