Allergic to the world.... About This Page:

[jenifermg0]

So my dad has a sweet (and stubborn) little Scottish Terrier named Susie. My DH and I have her sister, Abby.

Poor Susie appears to be allergic to just about anything you can think of. She has been scratching and rubbing and her skin is red and raw. I made my Ddad bring her into town to my vet because he just wasn't following up with his regular vet the way I kept telling him to. And so, a $211 vet bill, $20 at the Pet Wash and $60 at PetCo, I think we are on the right track.

The vet said that:
A) She has a skin infection from scratching so - antiboitics
B) She needs to be bathed weekly in medicated shampoo
C) She has ongoing allegies to something (trying to figure out what) so - Apoquel and Benedryl
D) She needs to be on a complete fish diet. (I always thought that grain was the big issue, but according to my vet, most American dogs have bigger issues with chicken and beef Who knew??)

So now the poor girl is on antiboitics, Apoquel, Benedryl and weekly baths, she can no longer have her beloved Pupperoni and dog biscuits! HOWEVER, I did find a good quality ocean formula dog food (wet and dry) and salmon dog treats as well as some treats made with sweet potato. And hopefully, her hair will grow back in quickly so that I can see about grooming her and making her look a little better! And, BTW, the first medicated bath worked wonders...her skin lost several shades of red and was ALMOST a normal color.

DS and DNiece are going to have to pitch in and help with the bathing...my DDad is 80 years old and does not need to be getting down on his knees to bathe her in the bathtub and unfortunately, she is just a little too big to fit in the kitchen sink.

Our dog, Abby who is Susie's sister, you ask??? She can eat just about anything and never gets sick. Guess I should count my blessings!!!

[GingerJ]

Poor pup!

Heloise's column a couple days ago had a tip on bathing dogs...this person put an upside down laundry basket or something in the tub and used the handheld shower hose to wash her dog, to save her back. Perhaps something like that might help?

[KMB733]

Poor Susie!! Working at a vet's office I have seen my fair share of dogs who have chronic allergies. Apoquel is the best medication and your dad is very lucky that the vet had a supply. Our clients call it the miracle drug and we were in a minor panic earlier this year when it was back ordered! I hope it does wonders for Susie too!

[CinderAbby]

we were in a minor panic earlier this year when it was back ordered!

You can actually get it at your office?? My dog has allergies to who knows what and my vet has the hardest time getting the Apoquel. Mom got some earlier in the month and right now, the vet is saying they'll be lucky if they even get any in May because it's so backordered.

[jenifermg0]

Originally Posted by KMB733

Poor Susie!! Working at a vet's office I have seen my fair share of dogs who have chronic allergies. Apoquel is the best medication and your dad is very lucky that the vet had a supply. Our clients call it the miracle drug and we were in a minor panic earlier this year when it was back ordered! I hope it does wonders for Susie too!

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

You can actually get it at your office?? My dog has allergies to who knows what and my vet has the hardest time getting the Apoquel. Mom got some earlier in the month and right now, the vet is saying they'll be lucky if they even get any in May because it's so backordered.

Apoquel is AMAZING!! It had an almost immediate effect on her scratching. The vet gave him a prescription for multiple refills. I am going to tell him to let me know when he is down to a two week supply so that I can go get more for her...hopefully without the problem of backording. It sounds like our vet is trying to keep a supply on hand for her patients. Not sure what we will do if it isn't available.
Right now we have enough to get her through to the end of May. So mid May, I'll be calling the vet.

[ksimas]

wow I can't believe this post as I just came back from seeing a specialist for my dog because my Cairn has terrible allergies and like Susie she is now on Apoquel (2 pills a day for 14 days after that 1 pill a day) plus she is on an antibiotic because her allergies are so bad she has a bacterial infections. And a different shampoo that I have to use every other time Chlorhexi Derm (which I have to first dilute in a bowl of warm water and on the other week wash her with Relief shampoo. I had tried different things through my regular vet that is wonderful but he had her on Temeril P (which is a steroid) and I didn't want that as she is only 3 to young to be on a steriod.
It is terrible to see them with no relieve so I hope Susie finds her relieve as well as my Molly.

[Ashli]

As a dog mom who has one dog that takes Benadryl every day all spring & fall for seasonal allergies and another that is on a grain free diet to help control his allergies & demodex, I feel your pain! I hope all of Susie's medications work wonderfully!

[jenifermg0]

Originally Posted by ksimas

wow I can't believe this post as I just came back from seeing a specialist for my dog because my Cairn has terrible allergies and like Susie she is now on Apoquel (2 pills a day for 14 days after that 1 pill a day) plus she is on an antibiotic because her allergies are so bad she has a bacterial infections. And a different shampoo that I have to use every other time Chlorhexi Derm (which I have to first dilute in a bowl of warm water and on the other week wash her with Relief shampoo. I had tried different things through my regular vet that is wonderful but he had her on Temeril P (which is a steroid) and I didn't want that as she is only 3 to young to be on a steriod.
It is terrible to see them with no relieve so I hope Susie finds her relieve as well as my Molly.

Molly and Susie and in the exact same boat!!

We didn't see a specialist, but I know my vet has a dermatologist that she works with because she mention him (or her) multiple times. My dad wasn't following through as well as he should have been. He was trying. He had gotten her a good quailty grain-free food....with whole chicken as it's base....the exact thing probably causing her issues. And he was using a topical spray to help with the itching. But the man is 80 years old and he doesn't hear well, so sometimes I think he just nods and agrees, even when he doesn't really understand (cause he can't hear well and won't get hearing aids) but doesn't want to look stupid.

Susie is getting the same dose of Apoquel as Molly (and will possibly take it forever). And she had the bacterial infections from scratching and is on antiboitic too. I'm not sure what the shampoo is called, I don't remember it right now, but quite probably the same stuff.

Between the Apoquel and the bath I gave her yesterday, she looked a WHOLE lot happier. I'll be going out to my dad's this weekend and bathing her again and again the following weekend (unless I can enlist my DNiece to help). The weekend after that, DDad is going to visit his brother in MN so Susie will be coming to stay with us...getting her bathed for the next month will be easier then! After that, I'm hoping we will be able to go back to every other week. It's a 120 mile round trip to my dad's house...kinda eats up most of one day of my limited weekends!!!

Molly and Susie are both Terriers and related breeds to boot! The Scottie (and the Westie) was most likely bred out of the Cairn. Either that or they all came from yet another strain.

I am just counting my blessing that my dog, Abby, has apparently not got the same issues.

Good luck to you and Molly! I'll be trying to keep you all updated on Susie, so I would love to hear how Molly improves.

[jenifermg0]

Originally Posted by Ashli

As a dog mom who has one dog that takes Benadryl every day all spring & fall for seasonal allergies and another that is on a grain free diet to help control his allergies & demodex, I feel your pain! I hope all of Susie's medications work wonderfully!

Vet also recommended one Benadryl twice a day as well. Isn't a complete cure - but should help boost the other things we are doing.

[ksimas]

Originally Posted by jenifermg0

Molly and Susie and in the exact same boat!!

We didn't see a specialist, but I know my vet has a dermatologist that she works with because she mention him (or her) multiple times. My dad wasn't following through as well as he should have been. He was trying. He had gotten her a good quailty grain-free food....with whole chicken as it's base....the exact thing probably causing her issues. And he was using a topical spray to help with the itching. But the man is 80 years old and he doesn't hear well, so sometimes I think he just nods and agrees, even when he doesn't really understand (cause he can't hear well and won't get hearing aids) but doesn't want to look stupid.

Susie is getting the same dose of Apoquel as Molly (and will possibly take it forever). And she had the bacterial infections from scratching and is on antiboitic too. I'm not sure what the shampoo is called, I don't remember it right now, but quite probably the same stuff.

Between the Apoquel and the bath I gave her yesterday, she looked a WHOLE lot happier. I'll be going out to my dad's this weekend and bathing her again and again the following weekend (unless I can enlist my DNiece to help). The weekend after that, DDad is going to visit his brother in MN so Susie will be coming to stay with us...getting her bathed for the next month will be easier then! After that, I'm hoping we will be able to go back to every other week. It's a 120 mile round trip to my dad's house...kinda eats up most of one day of my limited weekends!!!

Molly and Susie are both Terriers and related breeds to boot! The Scottie (and the Westie) was most likely bred out of the Cairn. Either that or they all came from yet another strain.

I am just counting my blessing that my dog, Abby, has apparently not got the same issues.

Good luck to you and Molly! I'll be trying to keep you all updated on Susie, so I would love to hear how Molly improves.

That does make it hard .. your dad's age and living so far away. So hopefully Susie and Molly will have this behind them soon. I know it will be something that we will both have to watch and take care of. But to have them where the poor little things are so uncomfortable will be wonderful and something I want for them both. Molly is my 3rd Cairn and she has been the first with this issue. Yes Susie and Molly are related..the biggest difference is Molly can never be white and westies can only be white.
So please keep us updated...and good luck to us both and all the doggies that have allergies.

[jenifermg0]

Originally Posted by ksimas

That does make it hard .. your dad's age and living so far away. So hopefully Susie and Molly will have this behind them soon. I know it will be something that we will both have to watch and take care of. But to have them where the poor little things are so uncomfortable will be wonderful and something I want for them both. Molly is my 3rd Cairn and she has been the first with this issue. Yes Susie and Molly are related..the biggest difference is Molly can never be white and westies can only be white.
So please keep us updated...and good luck to us both and all the doggies that have allergies.

Cairns are adorable! I've met a couple of them over the years and they have great personalities. Westies are cute (almost cutsie), not really all that fond of them. But I have to say after having 7 different Scotties since I was in high school, I'm pretty partial to them!

Most Scotties are black or brindle, but you can get the rare Wheaten or White...and I want one!!! If I ever manage to find one, it's going to cost me a pretty penny!! I'd rather go with the Wheaten (kind of golden in color) - not as hard to keep looking clean as white!

[Cam22]

Poor dog!

[JackieB]

Poor baby. We had a shih tzu who needed weekly allergy shots. Lucky for us she was so good about the shots. We also bathed her in coal tar shampoo. It stunk but it worked.

[ksimas]

Originally Posted by jenifermg0

Cairns are adorable! I've met a couple of them over the years and they have great personalities. Westies are cute (almost cutsie), not really all that fond of them. But I have to say after having 7 different Scotties since I was in high school, I'm pretty partial to them!

Most Scotties are black or brindle, but you can get the rare Wheaten or White...and I want one!!! If I ever manage to find one, it's going to cost me a pretty penny!! I'd rather go with the Wheaten (kind of golden in color) - not as hard to keep looking clean as white!

Love Scotties as well and yes I would think you better have your pocketbook open wide when find your Wheaten color Scotty.

[cattailmarsh]

Terrible to hear about everyone's allergies. Glad they are getting the help they all need.

Our cat has a chicken allergy also. It is hard to believe everything chicken is in so god luck. Even where you don't think it is you find chicken meal, chicken fat or poultry by-products. Thankfully in the last 2 years with all the organic & healthier options more choices are coming on the market.

We have found that the little pet stores & our local training center have the best food options/treats that are all natural & chicken free. After we got Salve's skin back to normal we slowly added alternative treats & food to his diet. He is so much happier now that he can have a wider range of products.

Give Molly & Susie hugs from us. They definitely seem to be making good progress. [emoji14]ixies to all fur - friends with health issues.