[alexis w]

i just started using this Neem Auras Pet Spray recently as i refuse to put the chemicals on my fur baby and it seems to be working well so far, neem oil is proven safe and effective against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes and i use it on myself and my children as well as it is safe for humans. we live in georgia so i know how bad the bugs can get and this seems to be working like a charm. plus feeding the homemade food seems to have been helping too(not exactly sure the science behind it)

[DieselJunki]

It depends. Does your dog have food allergies or is it environmental or both? Notice any fleas?

Not all dogs have the same allergies, so we can’t recommend without knowing more information.

What is your dog currently eating? Has the itching always been an issue or is this something that has cropped up lately?

I will tell you that I have an Ambull which I thought originally had food allergies so we went raw for two years. He was still so very very itchy due to environmental alleriges. He does best kept inside with the A/C to keep the pollens and dusts out. Thankfully I’ve kept it under control by weekly baths and if we’ve had a day of hard play I rinse him with the hose in between baths.

[anonymously]

By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Jean B]

No, Interceptor is for Heartworm and all the other worms they can get
except tapeworms, unless it has been included now. I can’t remember.
It does nothing for fleas. I use Interceptor, then I use Frontline Plus for fleas
and ticks.

[Kathleen C]

OK, Interceptor is for fleas and ticks, right? But is it for heart worms too?

[M F]

I find this an interesting topic. I had two dogs who lived to be 17 and 18 years old. One a Border Collie and the other an Icelandic Sheepdog. The started out there lives in Arizona and then spent time in both Florida and Michigan and then back to Arizona. Anyway, when we lived in florida my Border Collie became itchy and was diagnosed with allergies, in Florida their snap test does not test for Lymes disease as it is not prevelant there. Finally after three years with no good results, I am up in Michigan with the dogs and find out the Border Collie has Lymes and have him treated and all the allergy problems go away. Quite interesting. We always used frontline on the dogs and also checked daily for tics, It still didn’t prevent the Lymes disease. I now have two dogs again an Icelandic Sheepdog who is 4 now and an Australian Cattle Dog Mix who is now 5. I winter in Arizona and summer in Michigan. When I got the cattle dog I decided I would vaccinate him for Lymes because of spending time in Michigan, after the Lymes Vaccine he developed ITP and almost died, he never has gotten Lymes though, therefore I decided not to vaccinate the Icelandic Sheepddog, she ended up with lymes at age 1, was treated and has been doing well, I do worry about her though because my Border Collie who had undiagnosed Lymes for three years developed sever arthritis. Anyway I just wanted to share my story, because although all these dogs were on frontline and also checked for tics daily, two of the four ended up with lymes and the other two did not. I also want to mention that while the Michigan property is in the woods, they do have a grass fenced yard, which is mowed short and treated for pests at the beginning of the season with an organic product two months before the dogs arrive. I’m not a believer in using pesticides around my dogs, yet I do use the frontline. In conclusion I am not sure of the best thing to do, I do know I will never give another one of my dog’s a Lyme Vaccine after what happened to my boy. I haven’t had any adverse reactions with the frontline, however I only use while in Michigan for about four months per year, fortunately in the area of Arizona I live the rest of the year we don’t have a big problem with fleas and tics. I’m not even so sure about the frontline though because it didn’t prevent two of the four dogs from getting lymes. I would not feel comfortable giving my dogs an oral flea and tick preventative, seems like giving them poison but, I don’t know enough about that oral medication to give sound advise.

[Anne B]

@anonymously,

Thanks for the links….I think I’ll be ordering some of those TickEase tweezers….However, I couldn’t play the article in second link due to this ancient computer with totally blown out sound system..**SIGH**

Also thanks for your condolences about my dog.
In VA, we have to give rabies vaccination every three years, but I have heard in some states, dogs have to get it every year….That’s much too much, IMO.

I do have a nice vet now, but the clinic she works for is really pushing the Bravecto.
She knows I won’t buy any flea/tick pesticide products, so respectfully, she doesn’t try to push them on me.

I do buy the heartworm preventative, which is a pesticide, but feel I have no other choice , since I can’t really control flying insects like mosquitoes with a natural product, and my dogs getting heartworms would be a major setback……However, I only give it every 6 weeks, during the warm months, and they only get 6 doses a year.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Anne B.

[Anne B]

@davis h

No, I have never seen a dog with meningitis….But I did see my healthy 4 yr old dog die within hours of an application of FRONTLINE…..Was acting funny, not eating, then he had several seizures and died….My vet concluded that the FRONTLINE was to blame.

Becca above is right about the chemicals not repelling ticks/fleas….Since the insect has to bite and attach to your dog to be killed, it’s highly possible that a live tick could drop off in your home, anyway…..I check my dogs for ticks outside, using a comb to carefully check the entire dog….Then, if I find a tick, which is rare now that I’m using the DE, I drop the tick into a container of rubbing alcohol, which quickly kills it.

My suggestion would be to fence off an area of your property that is not wooded, and don’t take your dog in the woods if there are that many ticks……Then treat the fenced area heavily with the FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth and re-apply weekly……You can also apply the DE directly to your dog, being careful not to get it in the eyes…..Also, it is not impossible to check several dogs for ticks twice a day…..I do it every day….Yes these methods take more time, and I’m willing to to put in that time for the sake of my dog’s health.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Anne B.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Anne B.

[Becca]

a lot of people do the poison treatment because its easy, the natural ones take time and effort. those companies are making billions of dollars per year one company made 825 million dollars last year alone, they are not in it for the welfare of your pet, there in it for the money. once enough reports come in about sick or dying pets they change the formula and the name. and start over, these are poison regulated by the epa. environmental protection agency. they also pay for a lot of the veterinary schooling and throw huge incentives to push the products. look up the studies they do, on dogs and expose them to high doses of the stuff very sad, we lived with ticks and flea long before these products came out. there is definitely way too many unnecessary vaccines out there, that do more harm than good all of which kill you dogs immune system, which make them more susceptible to Lyme etc.. we are bad pet owners if we don’t use the products they scare you to death, me included. putting poison on the pet does not protect the person probably creates more exposure, seeing the tick has to suck enough poison from the pet to drop off in your house and then climb on you that is scary

[Anne B]

@davis h,

What I am doing is not “smoke and mirrors”…….DE has been proven to work for many people who are choosing not to use chemical flea and tick control……I actually lost a dog after applying Frontline ONE time and it was then that I educated myself about natural flea control methods that work.

The DE (diatomaceous earth) has virtually eliminated all the fleas from my yard, and has drastically decreased the tick population, but my dogs are short-haired and it’s easy to check them daily for ticks right after they come in from outside (which I do)…..

Besides, it takes 24-48 hours after the tick attaches to the dog for it to transmit any diseases……So, if you check your dog carefully for ticks every time they go outside, and immediately remove the tick(s) if you find any, there is a practically zero chance that the dog has gotten any disease from the tick…….Occasionally I find a tick, and this is what I do, and my dogs have NEVER had Lyme or any other tick-transmitted disease.

Thanks for your recommendations, but I’m not taking the risk of using the chemical toxins for fleas/ticks (and yes, they are TOXINS), on my animals, when what I’ve been doing works well for me………….I know about cancer statistics in dogs, but why would I possibly increase the chance of my dogs getting cancer, when I have safer alternatives?

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Anne B.

[Shirley B]

It is such a shame that people are still using this, and exposing their dog’s immune system to stress (at the very least). You cannot tell me it and others are safe, for I have lost one dog, and two are still recovering. Had that dog not died, I would have never linked the other’s illness with that PESTICIDE.

What to use if you do not want to expose your dogs to Tick and Flea chemicals? Go to Naturapetics and they will ship internationally. Order the http://www.naturapetics.com.au/pet-equine-concentrate-250ml/ (That smaller size will last for a long time) You mix it with water and our dogs have not had fleas, even though they hike in mountain and other dogs : ( have had fleas after those hikes. This is a preventive and not for dogs with infestations. For infestations, grab the Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth. The Pet & Equine Concentrate smells nice and will prevent the fleas & ticks, not rid you of an infestation.
By the way I used this concentrate and neemsoap at the first sign of my dog licking his paws. Yes they ship to Mexico, USA/internationally, and the products go a long way!

[davis h]

There is no natural product that I know of that works against heavy artillary of ticks! So many products would never have been invented if vinegar stopped fleas and removing carpeting solved the problem!
Even with a tick preventative Activyl Plus my dog was bitten by tick and came within 24 hours of dying with menangitis and a swollen brain!
One in four dogs will die from cancer…one in two adter age 10! Im sure chemicals dont help the statistics but PLEASE dont rely on smoke and mirrors or your dog may pay the price!
Im now using the soresto collar good for 8 months. So far so good. ..no adverse reactions. I never had a problem with Bravecto..but I did with Advantix2….neurological twithing in hind legs. Try the soresto collar. Order it from Petmeds…if youre not happy they will refund 100%. With a such a liberal guarantee you can afford to experiment and see what works best in your area.
I almost lost my Service Dogs life within a weeks time due to a tick bite. I know the need for heavy duty prevention even given long term possibilities of cancer due to chemicals. Good luck!

[Anne B]

I would encourage everyone who has a flea problem to rip out all of the carpet from their home and replace it with laminate flooring or linoleum, if at all possible–fleas can’t reproduce in these types of flooring….However, they absolutely love carpet to lay their eggs in.

I ripped out all carpeting from my home 3 years ago, plus I applied food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in my yard, and still do……..Haven’t seen a flea in my home since, and I live in VA–known for hot, humid summers….The DE was very effective at killing all the fleas in my yard (plus it killed other nasty creepy-crawlies like ants and spiders that would occasionally get in my house).

If you decide to try DE, make sure you buy the FOOD GRADE DE, not the DE used for pool filters….The kind used for pool filters is chemically treated and toxic, but Food Grade DE is completely non-toxic…..I have heard of some people applying directly on their dogs, and it successfully killed the fleas with no ill effects…You can get it fairly cheap at Southern States or Tractor Supply Company.

If applying DE on your yard, use a protective mask and safety glasses so you won’t inhale it or get it in eyes.

Yes, I would rather rip out all my carpet than use Bravecto, Comfortis, Nexguard, Trifexis, etc, or any topical flea product………However I do have to give heartworm preventative, because the DE obviously wouldn’t be very effective against mosquitoes…..I only give the heartworm prevention every 6 weeks, and only during the warmer months when mosquitoes are most active, so my dogs only get 6 doses a year…..This approach has worked well for me–my dogs are always tested once a year for heartworm, and have always tested negative.

My concern is, even if you don’t see any immediate adverse reactions from an oral or topical flea pesticide, who knows what it’s doing to your dog’s internal organs, especially if taking long-term—That’s why I choose not to use them.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Anne B.

[Anne B]

Diatomaceous earth (DE) would be a good thing to try in your yard–I use it in my yard….It’s fairly cheap and you can get it at Southern States or Tractor Supply, but if it rained you would need to reapply, it is ineffective if it gets wet…….Just make sure it’s the FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth, NOT the kind they use for pool filters….The kind used for pool filters is chemically treated and highly toxic……Food Grade DE is non-toxic, and some people apply it directly on their dogs, ……..Another suggestion would be to vaccuum your floors well every day if you have carpeting….Fleas love carpeted floors……Or, as one poster suggested, pull out all the carpet from your house–an extreme measure, but worth it if you love your dogs….I pulled out all my carpet several years ago, still use the Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth in my yard, and haven’t seen a flea since……..Good Luck to you…..
Helpful tip about applying DE: Always use a face mask and some safety goggles to prevent inhaling it or getting in your eyes..!!

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Anne B.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Anne B.

[aimee]

Hi Chris,

I think the key to flea control in a challenging environment is to focus your efforts on shutting down flea replication and not on killing adult fleas. The products geared to killing adult fleas without addressing reproduction can fail because some fleas always seem to survive to reproduce so the cycle continues.

A very effective option is to administer lufeneron to all the dogs and cats in the home.
http://www.jarvm.com/articles/Vol10Iss3/Vol10%20Iss3%20Dryden.pdf

If the above isn’t an option I think a professional application of Fleabusters borate powder is the next best thing. You can apply it yourself but I think a professional application may be more effective. The company guarantees their product.

For adulticide I’d follow your vets advice. I’ve heard in challenging environments some products need to be given more frequently than the label directions specify. An option to consider would be Bravecto which reports good control for up to 90 days after one oral dose.

If my finances were limited and I had to choose between using an adulticide or shutting down reproduction I’d choose targeting reproduction. The adult fleas can be dealt with by less costly options like combing them off or bathing.

[Chris F]

I am at my wits end. I have had a constant battle with fleas for two years now. A battle I just keep losing. I have checked everything online and spent inordinate amounts of money. I am in a position whee I can’t really afford to spend that much money, but its driving me insane.

I have tried Nexgard (which I had decent results from but is rather expensive), pet armor, advantix, natural remedies such as apple cider vinegar in water, spraying coconut oil and water on the dogs, bathing in dawn, flea shampoo and so forth and so on.

For my yard I tried a spray I found online, really didn’t see any spectacular results (sorry the name escapes me). For my home I have sprayed the coconut oil spray along with Bengal Full Season Flea Killer Plus.

All of these over a two year period (with a few I am sure I am forgetting) and yet nothing. It is getting to a point to where I am considering keeping my dogs outside fulltime. I hate to do that, as I live alone and they are great companions and not to mention living in the south we have really extreme summers with outrageous humidity. But I am thinking that is the only way I can rid my home of them, although that won’t exactly help the dogs.

Is there any advice anyone can suggest?

[C4D]

Hi Jennifer,

If he’s already been checked out by a vet to make sure there are no parasite issues like fleas or mange, you might consider switching the protein first. If you don’t see improvement, you could try a grain free food.

[Kathy P]

I’ve heard of Bravecto, but not seen anyone using it around me. Among Advantix, Bravecto, Frontline, Nexgard, Bayer Kiltix, Above all, I think the most popular one these days for dogs is Nexgard. My sister uses Bayer Kiltix Necklace on her dog for fleas and ticks and My uncles’ dogs are on Nexgard all of the seasons. (both from either walmart/amazon/ petbucket.com, if you want to know more info) I guess they both work great now that the medication won’t wash off unlike Frontline.

[anonymously]

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Kathleen C]

I never thought about giving oral flea products that way, but reply 66233 from Milissaandcrew is right. “Running pesticides through the bloodstream to get to the skin” does sound dangerous. I always used Frontline Plus before until my dog got Cushings and began losing her hair right where I put it between her shoulder blades. That scared me away from the liquid. Now I’m nervous about the chew. Seems everything we do for our dogs turns out to be against our dogs.

[Kathleen C]

Is it any better than Heartgard Plus or less expensive? My dogs have used Heartgard for years but my vet sent me a message about Interceptor and there’s a special sale. I use NexGard for fleas and ticks. Not sure I want to introduce anything new into Jack’s food dish at this time if no difference.

[C4D]

Are you using the Lamb & Rice or the Chicken and Duck formula? If you are using a chicken base, it could be the chicken causing the problem, since that’s the common protein in both formulas you’ve used. Has he had a vet check for fleas or a skin scrape for demodex?

[Susan]

Hi, I use creams either the “Sudocrem” sold in the Baby section at Supermarket or I use Hydrocortisone 1% cream you can buy over the counter at the chemist apply Hydrocortisone cream thinly also check for fleas & give him a bath…when he’s scratching have a look where he’s scratching, my boy was going mad & scratching thru the night 2 weeks ago, something he never does then I found 2 fleas, we must of pick up at the park so I bathed him in his Malaseb medicated shampoo, also give tin sardines in spring water give 1 little sardine as a treat daily, when a kibble is low in “omega 3” dogs get itchy dry skin, does he have dandruff little white flakes?

[gina m]

It’s been more than a year ago that i posted on here regarding my terrier mix Dolly’s gulping. I don’t know what we did but she stopped having her panic/gulping/eating grass frenzy. We still don’t know what was the issue but i wanted to post what we did.

Dolly is 8 years old and we adopted her along with her brother a year and a half ago. She came with the gulping issue and super allergic to seasonal pollen and allergic to any bug bites (ticks, flea, mosquito, etc). Her teeth were ground down and causing irritation so some of her teeth had to be removed. She had a few lumps on her body which one was cancerous so we’re glad we were proactive and removed it.

After all these issues: we stopped giving her any chicken, beef, pork (mass produced meat) but stuck with venison & rabbit wet food – Royal Canin from the vet, and anchovy dry food from Forza. Additional supplements of enzyme and probiotic. Cosequin for her joints. Famotidine for heart burns (though i’m thinking of stop giving this to her to see if she still needs this daily). Zyrtec in the morning and Benadryl at night for her allergy. We give her Sentinel and Bravecto for fleas and ticks and heart worm. And we shampoo her once a week.

After continuing this for a year, her gulping has stopped since last summer. A small gulping happened few weeks ago but I realized we gave her a lot of cheese the day before (she loves cheese) so no more cheese for her. I think dairy might be causing it as well, as I remember giving her yogurt thinking that it will help with the gulping but may have been causing it.

Hope this helps someone or gave them a clue for a cure.

[Dennis M]

Hi Vanessa,

Thanks for your post. Long story short, since we weren’t getting anywhere with our regular vet, whom we really do like, I took our boy into a neurologist today. Based on physical exam, watching a video of an episode I taped, and a lengthy question and answer session, including the fact that all the GI meds made no difference, the official diagnosis was partial complex seizure. I felt somewhat vindicated, as I slowly started to lean that direction over the past year or so, since I read an online post of this diagnosis in another dog. Partial complex seizures don’t mainfest the same way in all dogs — our boy happens to be the rapid swallowing and gulping, and looking for things to eat. We did not do an MRI or electro-something as the Dr didn’t feel they would yield anything. In the Dr’s 40 years of practice, he’s only seen this swallowing disorder a dozen or so times, so it’s pretty rare — but not unheard of! He most recently successfully treated a dog with the same issue — seizures went from several times a week, to a couple times a year.

So leaving the office I felt mixed emotions — hopeful — that maybe after 8+ years, we’ve finally found the answer. Sadness, that I felt like I’ve let my dog down all that time. But I have died trying! My advice to everyone who has this issue — trust your instinct. You are your fur-kid’s best advocate. If GI meds are not working, and your pet’s behavior fits this description, it’s worth investigating with a neurologist. General vets can be wonderful, but they don’t have the knowledge or clinical practice that a neuro has. My personal opinion, is that all these fur-kids struggling with seemingly seizure disorders might have a link to either vaccines and/or monthly flea/tick products. From everything I’ve read, we sometimes over-vaccinate, and I don’t want to put toxic pesticides on my dog, if it’s harmful to my own skin. So a couple years ago, we went natural with those things. Diatomaceous Earth and sprays to keep bugs off him. Again, just my personal feeling.

I’ll conclude with treatment regimen. We got a prescrption for Levetiracetum (Keppra) extended release. It has less side-effects than phenobarbital, but is slightly less effective, especially over the long-term. But better to start with the least side-effect option, especially for an older dog. The “trial” is 6-9 months and we need to continue to monitor and track. If that doesn’t work, we could then go to phenobarbital, which I am concerned about. Alters personality for a couple months until the body adjusts. So have some real thinking to do, but feel like we finally have some answers. I’ll re-post with any developments. Please let me know if you have questions. Best to you all!

[anonymously]

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Josie F]

I have to disagree with “anonymous”. And here’s why- We’ve been using Nuvet Plus with our dog for almost 3 years. When we got him, he was a rescue who had been sitting in a box on the side of the road for who knows how long. Someone found him and his sister, and brought them to a vet. They were covered with fleas, had demoxdex, severe allergies and a bunch of other health issues. We fell in love with him- hair loss, red spots and all and decided we would do everything we could to get him better. We tried EVERYTHING to get the demodex to clear up, and it was awful for him (And us!) I was devastated.

I searched around constantly for a cure, and then ran into an old friend of mine who worked for a holistic vet, and she said to try NuVet. I did my own research, and read some of the nuvet reviews and saw a lot of other people who’s dogs had issues with hair loss and allergies- and it HELPED, and so I figured it was worth a shot. If it didn’t work, I’d get my money back.

Well- it didn’t hurt, it actually cleared his issues up. We made no other changes, stopped the (like Acid!) baths for the demodex, stopped the antibiotics (we felt he was on them too long anyways) and made sure to watch closely what was in his food. And within 2 months, his fur was regrowing. It took about 6 months to clear up fully. I’ve kept him on it ever since, and he’s 3 now, and hasn’t had a single issue with his coat or skin. He’s shiny, happy and healthy.

I don’t see how people say it’s snake oil- it’s easy to see what each ingredient does, and doing your own research will show you that some people have seen those things help with certain ailments in their pets. I take vitamins for myself, my husband and children take them as well, and have seen them work consistently, along with the right nutrition, so why wouldn’t I do that for my dog too? I know that not every supplement or even every medicine (as we proved in the past) is going to work with every animal but this one worked for my dog and I’m grateful. I’d recommend at least trying nuvet to any pet owner who is seeing similar issues.

[anonymously]

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Cindy S]

I’m on my 3rd golden retriever. Never heard of acid reflux in them but I give her 1tsp of apple cider vinegar (raw, organic-with the “mother”) morning and night in her dry food that has added canned food or chicken or scrambled eggs or sardines plus some greens from the garden, and some kefir or yogurt (probiotics great for digestive system), then add cold water (she isn’t picky) or bone broth to the mix. The vinegar seems to keep her flea free, good for skin, helps her ears, etc.

[anonymously]

Please consider going to a dermatologist/specialist for testing….see my previous posts, it will cost you less in the long run. Use the search engine here: “allergies”

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[anonymously]

@ Stephen S
You have to use caution with seniors (dogs over the age of 7), they are more sensitive to pesticides (that is what flea/tick preventives are).

What you describe sounds neurological…I would proceed with caution. I use nothing on my 15 year old dog, I just check him every night for ticks and bathe him once or twice a week.

Consider a Preventic collar, supposedly good for 3 months, 1 month is more like it.
Or a topical like Advantix II. I sometimes use both in conjunction with my younger dogs. I would not consider an oral. I also make an effort to keep them out of tall grass and woods, I keep the lawn mowed low.

Of course, I do heartworm preventives every 6 weeks (more pesticides) and have them tested once a year.

[anonymously]

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[anonymously]

You are welcome. The old rule of thumb was, if the seizures are severe or occurring more than once a month, the veterinarian would recommend medication.
I would work closely with your vet, after your dog gets his weight down and has been stable (no seizures) for a few months you may be able to try a trial period off meds, if your vet agrees. I tried this with my dog, but the seizures always returned. He still had a good life though.
Best of luck

PS: I’m sure your vet has thought of this. But by chance did your dog recently start any new medication, flea/tick preventive, heartworm preventive? Exposure to lawn pesticides/chemicals? Just looking for possible triggers….

[Michelle S]

I have used Bravecto for about a year on our Great Pyrenees and also on our Bichon – both of them have had no reactions at all and – no greasy hair, isolation from kids, no collars that irritate skin; I am liking it more and more. No fleas, no ticks, and only four doses a year. Our dogs go to several states with us… IL, NC, FL. We have two Vets in two states who like it and have had no reports of problems from their pet owners. My old standard was Advantix II, which worked well, but one had to be sure to put it on every month and keep the kids from petting them (hard to do.) The fleas have been horrific in the South – warmer winters – fleas don’t die and lots of ticks. Not a flea or tick to be seen since starting Bravecto and as I said no reactions at all from either dog. Will be using it on our Great Pyr young one when he is old enough & Vet says okay. If your dog is sensitive to medicines – talk to your vet and see what they say. Otherwise I would get some! Our full grown Great Pyr cannot get bitten by fleas; she gets a terrible reaction to one flea, so this is great for us. Good luck.

[Becca]

we had a family dog who lived to be 16 and a half years old, the only thing that was wrong with him was he was hard of hearing , he didn’t hear the car start and got ran over.he never had vaccinations, he was healthy. he never had anything put on him or in him for fleas or ticks. these poison weren’t even out, then he lived and he thrived. lyme disease wasnt as popular then. man made disease. check out info about vaccinations for lyme etc….both my dogs have been positive for exposure to lyme, they had no symptoms and no antibiotics, they came up clear a few years later with no treatment. lyme in dogs is different than human, only 4 percent of the dogs exposed to lyme ever get symptoms. unless they have had the vaccinations.

[Hanna D]

I live in Mexico where it is summer like all year long. We have a huge problem with fleas but more so with ticks. I use Bravecto now on both my dogs, a rottweiler and a chihuahua/dacschund mix. Both have had ehrlichia, a tick born illness and common problem here. Both my dogs were terribly ill with the disease, (rescues), and it took nearly six months to get them healthy again. I began using the Bravecto because the Frontline did not work nearly as well. With Frontline and others if a tick bites and attaches to a dog it takes at least and hour or more for the tick to die whereas with the bravecto the tick will die within 20 minutes. It takes a tick 40 minutes to release the chemical causing the disease, so I opted for the Bravecto rather than risk them getting sick again with the ehrlichia. I get their bloodwork done every six months and they are healthier now than ever. I also have the yard sprayed for fleas and ticks every three to four months using natural ingredients not harmful to dogs. It may sound like overkill, but I would rather be safe than to have the dogs or myself become sick from a tick bite. This product may not be safe for all dogs, there could be some underlying issues with an animal that becomes ill or dies after taking the medication. I would recommend having a complete blood workup done prior to administering any chemical that could be hard on a pet whether it be oral or topical.

[El]

Hi Raffaele C

Here’s a list of essential oils that are known to be useful in fighting fleas.

Peppermint – kills fleas, strong smell, relatively safe.
Clove – probably the strongest flea killer, but can be irritating to skin.
Lemongrass – smells like lemons, repels and kills, not as powerful as peppermint or clove.
Red Cedarwood – woody smell, kills fleas.
Rosemary – expensive and works as well as peppermint oil.

A simple mixture for a gallon of water would be;

4 oz of any of the oils above.
4 oz of isopropyl alcohol to help with absorption
120 oz of water
Shake well before each use
Lightly mist dog, NOT CAT, with spray bottle or wet a washcloth and rub all over. Can be used daily. Start slowly because you can never know if your dog will have any sensitivities to any of the ingredients.

Here’s a link, buy a couple of 1 oz bottles to start. See which ones you and you and your dog(s) like the best, and go from there.

https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/products/essential-oils/

For testing using 1 oz bottles, mix 1 oz essential oil with 1 oz alcohol and 30 oz water in a 32 oz bottle 😉

[JeffreyT]

Hi minnie-mama, congratulations! Havanese is a great breed, very much like maltese, which I have.

Here’s some good information on the importance of a rotational diet. I changed my pups’ diet a few days after they came home and used probiotics, enzymes and pumpkin to avoid stomach issues, and still use first two for good digestion and to keep their immune systems strong.
/frequently-asked-questions/diet-rotation-for-dogs/

Dr. Karen Becker’s newsletter gives excellent nutritional advice, and I use the Mercola enzymes, probiotics, krill oil and multi vitamin she recommends. Mercola also makes a natural flea and tick repellent that is the best smelling one I’ve used, and it works.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/07/21/13-pet-foods-ranked-from-great-to-disastrous.aspx

I highly recommend the book Scared Poopless to help avoid cancer and other diseases later on. The author’s website is loaded with helpful advice on avoiding vaccine overdose (especially important for small dogs), and how to do heart worm meds safely.
http://www.dogs4dogs.com/

Mine get a variety of the five star freeze dried and dehydrated foods (all you have to do is add water) with some home prepared meals using Dr. Harvey’s premix and organic meat already made from Whole Foods. Their main meal consists of these foods, and at night they get a light meal of dry and a topper like lean meat, egg yolk, yogurt, cottage cheese, goat cheese, a sprinkle of parmesan, a sardine from the can or ground salad or vegetables (never feed onion). As long as you keep toppers and treats under 20% of their daily intake, the diet will stay balanced.

I always get grain-free and gmo-free foods. Their favorite dry foods are air dried like Ziwi Peak, Real Meat Food Co, Only Natural Max Air Dried and Wellness Core Air Dried. Some of the better kibble foods that my picky ones have eaten are Petcurean Go Now, Farmina, Amicus and Wellness Trufood Baked. You can call the companies to get samples, and make sure to get the small breed puppy formula. I always buy the smallest bags, and do not keep food over one month because it starts to go rancid.

The treats they go crazy for are Stella and Chewys, Orijen, Lakse Kronch Wild Salmon, Primal and Dogs for the Earth. Dogs for the Earth also makes an organic food that they love.

Make sure to avoid synthetic shampoos and other toxic products. Earthbath puppy is a good one that is non-toxic. For face, when mine were puppies, I used Castle Bath which is a non-toxic face cleaner and powder to keep faces clean and avoid tear stains….cotton baby washcloths work best with this. Baby shampoo from the healthy food store is also good for faces. Avoid drug store brands because they’re loaded with toxic chemicals.
http://www.castlebaths.com/tear-stain-remover.html

Before I got my maltese I joined an online maltese forum where I learned a lot about food, training and grooming… you may want to consider one for Havanese.

Good luck!

[Becca]

I’ve used only natural products on my dogs and cat for the past five years. you name it ive tried it there is nothing out there naturally that i haven’t gave it my all to get them to work, diatamacous earth, apple cider vinegar, garlic, lemon, every spray they have ever made, beside all the homemade spray i’ve made, as well as the amber collars, and those tags, flea trap lights, etc, the list goes on. i’ve dealt with the fleas for 5 straight years with no relief, the new vet i go to wants my dogs on bravecto, it makes me sick to my stomach just to think about giving it to them. so its sitting in the package. it is too new to the market, although they say its safe for pregnant and nursing dogs then why have i read about horrible reactions, even death. in the past i’ve tried spot on flea treatments which always made my dogs not right for 3 day or so and my cat was frothing at the mouth does anyone know which product out there is the safest, with the least side effects and no pyethrins or any others in that family of pesticides

[Ann T]

I use Heartguard and Nexguard for my dog for heartworm and flea and tick prevention. My question is: Do either of these meds help prevent my dog from getting the other worms as well or do I need to give something additional?

[Susan C]

Hi Shichon:

I am new to this forum but not new to dogs or shihtzus and their itching problems. I’m not new to dog allergies or food problems. I have a shihtzu/lhasa apso mix who has suffered since I’ve had her (7 years–got her as a rescue). She has terrible flea allergies, so much so that she digs and chews until I can see either bruising or blood where she has been chewing. I’ve fed her commercial foods, prescription foods and finally settled on home cooking using organic ingredients, non-GMO meats, and free-range eggs.

I have found during all this research (and I mean RESEARCH—FOR YEARS) that a lot of itching has to do with what season we are in and where the dog goes outside. I live in a condo and we have hired a landscaping company to cut the grass. They use Round-up or similar pesticides and when I take my dog out to pee, she walks on the grass. The Round-up is made to kill weeds–and some of these weeds are beneficial to keeping away certain insect populations. The problem is that without the weeds, fleas and other insects overgrow and while we have a nice pretty yard, it’s full of fleas and other itch-making insects. Not to mention the exposure to the pesticide that my dog gets with just walking through the grass.

I use a homemade concoction to spray her every day and increase the usage when she starts itching. It’s made of apple cider vinegar and chamomile tea (brew it and let it cool). I keep it in the fridge and spray her paws before and after she goes outside. I also spray her backside as well because that’s the area that gets closest to the grass.

I mentioned the season earlier in my post because right now where I am, it is 70 degrees and in the middle of winter. This unseasonable warmth throws everything out of whack–I have flowers blooming, fruit trees with leaves, etc, all sorts of unnatural things happen when the environment is screwy–including my dog’s ability to fight off allergies and certain illnesses. When nature gets out of balance, it affects everyone, even humans. Even right now, the murder rate is doubled here in Birmingham, Alabama since the first of 2016…everything is crazy. Up until December 26, we had 70+ temps. It is supposed to be in the 40’s during the day in the winter in Alabama.

I feel our little shihtzus are very sensitive to all this, not to mention they are cold weather dogs and we put them in our US climate where it gets hot every summer. Our dogs are from the Himalayas. Not exactly tropical climate there. My suggestion to you is to spend a little time brushing your dog, use the spray I mentioned above, keep the puppy cool, and only bath him once a month, or once every 3 weeks. But brush his coat twice daily. I am a groomer as well, and we bath our dogs entirely too much. It is nice to have a sweet smelling pup but weekly bathing leads to changes in the dog’s natural ability to fight skin rashes and itchiness greatly decreased. Their skin is too dry, it starts itching, they scratch, we bathe, they scratch, they bite, we bathe—get the picture?

Just for what it’s worth–I feel your pain. I can share more info if you want. Just let me know. This is a problem that won’t go away once and for all. It’s ongoing so buckle down and get ready to spend some time with your puppy. Look at it like this, more time for you to enjoy him. Little shihtzus are the most precious.

Sissi

[El]

Hi Bobby D, welcome to the DFA forums 😉

“Is it possible for a dog to be allergic to a certain food and have them be symptom free for over a month”
Yes
“or should an allergy show up much sooner than that?”
Maybe

The first thing I would do is take him to a regular vet if you haven’t done so already. I would definitely take advantage of my vet’s expertise and experience before I do anything else. Once you have a better idea of what is actually going on with his skin then you could always find out what worked for other dogs with the same diagnosis. Your vet could take one look and know what it is (hopefully). Or your vet could immediately narrow it down to environmental, or food, or fleas, or yeast, or ???

If it’s food related I would do an elimination diet before I would ever put him on a veterinary prescription food like “Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein”. Here are the ingredients;

Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein
“Brewers rice, hydrolyzed soy protein, chicken fat, dried plain beet pulp, natural flavors, monocalcium phosphate…”

It’s just rice sweepings, hydrolyzed soy and vitamins and minerals to balance it, and it costs about $100 for a 25lb bag!!!

With a TRUE elimination diet you would pick 1 protein and 1 carbohydrate that he has never eaten before and feed ONLY those 2 things for at least 12 weeks.

Once you see a vet, please come back and let us know what’s going on!
Best of luck to you and your furry one 😉

[anonymously]

Recent NYT article, slightly off topic but relevant to the discussion (imo)

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-big-search-to-find-out-where-dogs-come-from/ar-BBonuuj

“Scientists have come up with a broad picture of the origins of dogs. First off, researchers agree that they evolved from ancient wolves. Scientists once thought that some visionary hunter-gatherer nabbed a wolf puppy from its den one day and started raising tamer and tamer wolves, taking the first steps on the long road to leashes and flea collars. This is oversimplified, of course, but the essence of the idea is that people actively bred wolves to become dogs just the way they now breed dogs to be tiny or large, or to herd sheep.”

[Shawna]

Hi Pittiemama,

Hopefully I can help you here. My puppy had kidney disease right from birth. It is believed her kidneys just weren’t able to develop (she was the sixth puppy, the runt, for a 12 pound Chihuahua / Boston Terrier mix). The breeder had to had feed her, due to a collapsing trachea, raw goats milk and egg whites to keep her alive. She had symptoms (excessive drinking and urine) at just six weeks of age. She was officially diagnosed at one year and given a year to live. She lived to eight years and seven months old and then passed for reasons not directly related to kd.

A little background on me, my father is a naturopath. I did consult with him when I got Audrey’s diagnosis but being raised by him, I was able to mostly formulate the plan of attack myself.

Audrey’s numbers, when she was diagnosed, were right around the same as your babies — and she lived almost seven more very very healthy and happy years. It could happen for your baby too.

The first thing I would suggest is to keep up on his dental health. You won’t want to use anesthesia for dental cleanings so RIGHT now start doing anything and everything you need to keep his teeth clean. It was actually bacteria likely from a dental infection that got into Audrey’s kidneys and ultimately took her life. Use fresh garlic in his meals. Use an enzyme supplement in his water, Dr. Melissa Shelton’s essential oil called Dog Breath is very effective and a drop can be added to his water dish or you can mix with water in a spray bottle and spray right on teeth. http://www.animaleo.info/dog-breath.html I would also recommend a product made by Green Pasture’s called Infused Coconut Oil. It’s high in vitamin K2 (which has been shown to have great benefit for teeth) and has other wonderful nutrients. All of my dogs get it but I found it when Audrey’s teeth were already needing some extra support. 🙁 http://www.greenpasture.org/public/Products/InfusedCoconutOil/index.cfm

I HIGHLY recommend Standard Process Canine Renal Support. It is a food based supplement that “feeds” the kidneys but also has a product called a protomorphogen (which is the RNA/DNA of the kidney cell) that helps prevent inflammation to the kidneys. It is the one supplement she never went without. I also used their SP Canine Hepatic Support when I thought she needed a little liver support — helps with allergies too. I also used their Cataplex B and C as water soluble vitamins may need to be added due to the large amounts being urinated out.

ONLY give filtered or other forms of “clean” water. I would avoid tap water at all cost. Lower sodium mineral waters with good amounts of calcium and magnesium have been shown to be beneficial for dogs with kd. I like Evian water because it is high in calcium bicarbonate. I didn’t give it all the time but made sure (at least in the beginning) to give it regularly — I got lax in the later years and I truly believe Audrey would still be with me if I had not. She was doing so well though and my life got busier..

I HIGHLY recommend getting some Garden of Life Primal Defense probiotic and Garden of Life Acacia Fiber supplements as well. These are used as “nitrogen traps” and as BUN begins to build up the bacteria consuming the fiber will cause some of the nitrogen to be routed through the bowels freeing up the kidneys from having to deal with them. I gave probiotic foods (like green tripe, fermented veggies etc) frequently but when I noticed she was feeling a little lethargic, depressed, not feeling well etc I assumed nitrogen was building up and I’d give her the probiotics and prebiotic for several days. Always worked like a charm. Will be quite important as the disease progresses and he starts getting symptoms. This also allows for a higher protein diet. The protein doesn’t damage the kidneys but it does, due to BUN, add to symptoms. Oh, I forgot to mention. Audrey ate a HIGH protein raw diet up until the last six to eight weeks of her life. Audrey never had a problem with phosphorus but as your puppies disease progresses you may have to watch the amount of phosphorus in the foods you are feeding. The golden rule is to limit phosphorus but it’s obviously not always necessary. That said, phosphorus can damage the kidneys if it gets too high in the blood so either monitor it or feed the right amounts of phos for the stage your pup is at. Right now while phosphorus isn’t as big an issue, I like the Honest Kitchen Brave. To that I would add a raw egg a few times per week and give Answer’s raw goat milk regularly as well. Both raw eggs (if not whipped etc) and raw milk can easily increase the “master antioxidant” in the body called glutathione. This will obviously help out everything. Later, when phos needs to be more restricted, you may not be able to give the whole egg (as the yolk is higher in phos).

Supplements —
1. Organic Turmeric is good as it is anti-inflammatory but it also is anti-fibrotic (prevents scar tissue). Audrey didn’t tolerate turmeric well so she didn’t get it but in general it would be quite helpful for a dog with KD.
2. Spirulina, chlorella and pumpkin seed oil are all high in chlorophyll and supplies lots of other nutrients. Dogs with KD can be at risk for anemia and chlorophyll is awesome for anemia.
3. Burdock root is a prebiotic and of the herb world is considered to be the “blood cleaner”.
4. Milk thistle helps spare glutathione and is a good detoxer.
5. Distilled water (given once in a while) and food grade activated charcoal are good detoxers too.
6. Copaiba essential oil is great for pains and inflammation plus more. A therapeutic grade, like Dr. Sheltons, is the only kind to use on pets. Can be given in food or rubbed into the skin over the kidneys as an example.
7. Braggs brand apple cider vinegar can help with indigestion or tummy issues. Audrey didn’t need it often but when she did I would mix it 50/50 with water and syringe feed it. She hated it but within seconds would burp and feel better.
8. Therapeutic grade peppermint oil, ginger extract or Dr. Shelton’s GI Joe essential oil work great for tummy issues as well. I got sick to my tummy and used the GI Joe to help. Kept me from vomiting and soothed my tummy.
9. Learn about essential oils if you don’t already know. If you have a Facebook account, join AnimalEO’s page and sign up for Dr. Shelton’s Friday Fun Facts. I didn’t know about them early enough to be much use with Audrey (specifically Dr. Shelton’s oils) but I sure wish I had.

DON’T do ANY more vaccinations – not even rabies if you can at all avoid. Audrey was legally exempted from having to get the rabies vaccine for life. She wasn’t protected either as she only got her first shot (at six months) before diagnosis was made. No heartworm, flea/tick or anything like that either.

I know there’s things I’m forgetting but hopefully this is enough to give you a good jumping off point.. 🙂 Hugs to you and your baby boy!!!!

• This reply was modified 9 years, 11 months ago by Shawna.

[Norene D]

I would ask first, why your vet stopped carrying the heart worm meds you use. Perhaps there is a very valid reason. As far as online pharmacies, I have used Pet Meds for about ten years and have never had any issues with them at all. I purchase flea meds, pain meds, shampoo’s, etc. from them. I’ve done product searches on other online pharmacy’s and Pet Meds has the best prices on almost everything. Their customer service is also very good. Plus free shipping for orders over $39.00 which is pretty easy to do with pet items. Just google pet meds and you’ll get their website. I highly recommend them.

[Shichon M]

I know this is an old post, but I was wondering if you ever figured out what was causing your ShihTzu to itch. Was it the food or something else? I just got a ShihTzu/Bichon puppy and he has the same itching. I have also checked the ears and fleas/ticks but nothing. Don’t know what to do for him.

[Jenn H]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I have seen this brand at the vet. A long term edible preventative did make me a little worried. Glad I didn’t try it.
Whenever a new product comes out, is redesigned, sold, etc. I tend to take the wait & see approach before using it on my animals.
There’s some natural preventatives that seem to have very good results as far as repelling fleas, ticks, mosquitoes. I haven’t tried them yet, but plan on it. There’s also a lot that are useless.
With horses I find the natural options dependant on the individual horse and their body chemistry.
Perhaps it’s the same with dogs. It may be certain products will work better than others on different dogs.

[Shirley B]

I own several dogs, all of the same breed, parents are screen genetically prior to mating, all of which are not known to have kidney disorders. All had perfect blood work ups prior to using Bravecto. My youngest (under 3 yrs of age) became ill two months after taking Bravecto. Kidney failure. I am watching her undergo dialysis for the second week now. The other two, have also been tested for blood. A second one, also under age 3, has elevated BUN levels, indicative of potential for Kidney complications. The third one came up clean, thank heavens I may not lose him. I just sobbed as I wrote that, and he looked over at me.

I didn’t want to come on the message boards, but I owe it to others who could lose their sweet precious babies.

What happened is this: I wanted to switch to what was a gentler flea application. A vet told me yes this was it. Fool that I am, I didn’t research side effects. They are posted all over the web. How dare this company not pull the product, to prevent death to our sweet dogs. However, once I gave them these tablets, I did research, for one threw up in 30 mins. I felt sick to my stomach reading the reports. My husband said relax, most likely nothing. Two months later we were looking healthy and enjoying life, balls, playing, and all of a sudden my sweet girl becomes ill. Looked like UTI, kidney failure mimicks that. If you have already given Bravecto, RUN A BLOOD WORKUP FOR KIDNEY FUNCTION IMMEDIATELY.

Another (dog of mine) didn’t look so great, but oddly enough he is the one who is coming up good blood work up. I was so upset as I read the incidents of kidney and liver failure, but my dogs seemed to clear up and look wonderful, but ah kidney failure is sneaky. You don’t see the signs until there is so much damage.

I hope I can help my second sweet heart. I hope that it is not too late. But literally I have a sick feeling about my sweet girl who is undergoing dialysis. She is not looking good and the Vet (not the one that recommended Bravecto) looks so sad about her illness, and so shocked at how athletic and healthy her heart and body is otherwise. He said this he hasn’t seen before, and cannot imagine what caused it.

So I write this as one is real bad, and the worst is heading our way. A second hopeful, but ah I see how horrid this is, this damage. The third will not understand why his younger pack mates would vanish. Such pain, so avoidable, as is using Bravecto. Avoid Bravecto. Shame on the manufacturer of this product… My heart is with them and part of me will leave with them if they die prematurely at such a young age.

I had to be responsible and post this. I do not want more blood on my hands. It is bad enough i held out the Bravecto and told them good dog as they ate it.

[Susan K]

Does anyone have suggestions for a over all protection for small dog that covers heart worm,fleas,tick ect? My dogs have been on revelation for years ,but recently I found a full blown tick on him in fl, it made me wonder if it is working as it should.

[Paula L]

My canine companion has long, thick, long hair and missing quite a few teeth. His hair seemed to wick away the topical flea medications from his skin and sprays don’t reach his skin. Some of the combination heartworm/ flea preventative combinations are cheaper than what my Vet charged for the two individual products I was buying before. I bought Trifexis first, but my dog couldn’t chew it, even after breaking it up. My Vet wrote a prescription for Sentinel Spectrum (she doesn’t sell it). This pill is much softer. I give it to him with food (per instructions) & he hasn’t had any vomiting.