Introducing Jed the allergic lurcher

[jinedin]

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Hi all,
Here to find out other owners' experiences with severe allergies (Jed, our lurcher, not me). In particular we're interested in finding out how folk have got on with various diets as he's been on an elimination food for years and I feel his health is suffering from it (plus, it doesn't seem to make any difference to his flare-ups). We've had the blood tests done and know he's very allergic on all fronts (environmental and food). He has Malaseb baths and Cortavance is on hand.
We'll be trying a move from Purina to Royal Canin HA hydrolised as a first step forward, so will let everyone know how that goes, but we're always keen to hear how others are getting on with their dogs' allergies in the meantime.

 

[Flobo]

Hi and welcome to you and Jed. An awful thing dealing with allergies, how old is he? There are a lot of raw feeders on here that may be able to advise, obviously depending on what foods trigger him.

 

[jinedin]

Hi there and thanks for your message. He's 8 and a half, so we've been battling it for over 6 years now . I'll look forward to a sit down to read through some of the other members' experiences.

 

[JudyN]

Welcome - I've no experience of allergies in dogs, but do hope someone can help you. And if you're interested in raw feeding, we can help with that too.

 

[jinedin]

Welcome - I've no experience of allergies in dogs, but do hope someone can help you. And if you're interested in raw feeding, we can help with that too.

Thank you so much, I will definitely pick your brains later if we do decide to go down the raw feeding route.

 

[RGC]

You have my sympathies. How are the allergies manifested?

 

[jinedin]

You have my sympathies. How are the allergies manifested?

Thanks so much. His main struggle is with frequent pyoderma around muzzle and paws. Malaseb baths are frequent and I use Malascetic spray brushed / massaged into his skin in between, plus Cortavance and lots of hoovering, washing and steaming.
Hard work but he's worth it. Your whippet is adorable..!

 

[RGC]

Thanks so much. His main struggle is with frequent pyoderma around muzzle and paws. Malaseb baths are frequent and I use Malascetic spray brushed / massaged into his skin in between, plus Cortavance and lots of hoovering, washing and steaming.
Hard work but he's worth it. Your whippet is adorable..!

Afraid I’ve had no experience of those symptoms and I feel for you both. For what it’s worth I started Mabel on a raw diet (Bella & Duke) about 4 months ago. It’s been successful poo wise - no runny bottom (unless she’s scavenged something nasty on her walks) - really sorry if anyone’s eating. She suffers from a seasonal itch from springtime and I’ve kept it under control with Apoquel tablets but I’m hoping that her raw diet may help alleviate the situation. Failing that I’ll see what the vet has to say the next time she goes to have her nails clipped. Thank you for your kind compliment but there are times when the adjective ‘adorable’ doesn’t sit right with an animal that I’ve have taken in, from the goodness of my heart, and shows her gratitude by destroying my drumsticks, tymp mallets, eating my Panama hat and, her final chef d’oeuvre, carving up my Latin textbook and homework. Best of luck with Jed’s situation - let us know how it goes.

 

[Hemlock]

Dogs exist to teach us to be tidy! You have to imagine a laughing but sympathetic emoticon here.

 

[RGC]

Dogs exist to teach us to be tidy! You have to imagine a laughing but sympathetic emoticon here.

Too true, Hemlock. I’m sure that Mabel enjoyed her passage of destruction. When I asked her if her rampage was a good idea it was difficult not to laugh. Yes, I’m not the tidiest of individuals.

 

[jinedin]

Too true, Hemlock. I’m sure that Mabel enjoyed her passage of destruction. When I asked her if her rampage was a good idea it was difficult not to laugh. Yes, I’m not the tidiest of individuals.

Oh dear, sounds like she'd prefer you spend all of your free time on her, not your homework. As a young adoptee, before his allergies manifested, Jed demolished anything wooden. When we caught him knawing at the feet of the bookcase, at my brother's recommendation we put a little tabasco on them. We found Jed half an hour later sprawled on the floor, joyously licking it off. Not sure how old Mabel is but Jed did grow out of the destructiveness, thankfully.

 

[RGC]

Mabel will be 5 in May. We’ve had her for 15 months. She did come with emotional issues, some of which are abating, but she’s fearful over certain things. I didn’t realise that whippets are suspicious by nature until Hemlock pointed it out to me - we had no such issues with our previous two rescues. Mabel’s destructive nature is a salutary lesson - I need to be tidier. Very much a work in progress. For both parties perhaps.

 

[jinedin]

Mabel will be 5 in May. We’ve had her for 15 months. She did come with emotional issues, some of which are abating, but she’s fearful over certain things. I didn’t realise that whippets are suspicious by nature until Hemlock pointed it out to me - we had no such issues with our previous two rescues. Mabel’s destructive nature is a salutary lesson - I need to be tidier. Very much a work in progress. For both parties perhaps.

We put it down to his age (1.5y) but perhaps it was just a settling in period during which Jed chewed. I think after about 6-12 months he had stopped. Fingers crossed for you that Mabel does too...

 

[RGC]

We put it down to his age (1.5y) but perhaps it was just a settling in period during which Jed chewed. I think after about 6-12 months he had stopped. Fingers crossed for you that Mabel does too...

Yes, I believe in prayer too!