Question by Mackenzie: Treatment for Lab’s skin allergies/blisters?
My 3 year old Lab has been diagnosed with allergies by her vet. When she has a reaction she will break out in a small area with blisters/sores. The last time she had this happen it was caused by her food and the breakouts were around her mouth. We switched food awhile back and she had been doing good until a few days ago when I noticed these same blisters on one of her elbows.
I love my dog very much but just cannot afford to take her back to vet at this time. Can anyone suggest a way to treat her at home? With home remedies or over-the-counter medicine?

Best answer:

Answer by alexis88883
I would start on a very limited diet for the dog and slowly add things to it, one ingredient at a time so you can isolate the problem foods.

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Question by Jessie: Appropriate Dog Food to transition from puppy to adult?
I have a bichon (50%) / maltese / shizu dog who is about 10 months and we are trying to wean her off puppy food. I was hoping for some suggestions on an appropriate brand.

-She likes eating dirt, which suggests she might not be getting the minerals she needs, so a brand that addresses that would be nice.

- We don’t feed her anything except her food, nothing under the table or anything, so something that will fufill her nutrition needs is what we are looking for.

-She also seems to lick her paws a lot, and the vet suggested it was allergies but we are in the process of testing that. I don’t know if there is something with regards to her diet that addresses that or if there is a particular brand that does so.

Other than that, we would just like a food that she will enjoy. She eats pretty much anything, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Is there one out there that your dogs particularly like, that you suggest?
She already has received all her shots up to date, we’ve been going to the vet and updating her shots and vaccinations since we got her at 8 weeks.

We are feeding her Purina puppy food.

Best answer:

Answer by Marina
Wellness is an excellent brand, as is Canidae.

Emily, you are sadly MISTAKEN, but, now you can have 2 instead of just the one. LOL

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Question by A Straight A Mommy: Beside fleas, what could be making my 7 yr old dog itch and chew?
We use Advantage Flea Control, and we have done treatment inside the house, there are no fleas, but here is is November, and my poor dog is still itching and scratching and chewing himself silly. Every so often I can feel bumps on his skin under his coat, but not there are no scabs. He has always been an itchy dog, but it has always been seasonal. I know to use Oatmeal Shampoo, and to give him raw eggs/veggie oil in his food, but it doesn’t seem to be working. Aside from taking him to get allergy testing ($ $ $ ) anything else you’d recommend? Thanks
Just to clarify… he doesn’t have any one particular spot he chews incessantly. I don’t think I over bathe him, about once a month, maybe every 2 weeks if he gets dirty. I haven’t changed his food in over a year, and it isn’t the crappy store brand kind, it is a good vet recommended brand. I don’t live anywhere that ants bite.. and he doesn’t have mange. Hope that clarifies. I know I am just fishing here, but I have tried everything I know, and exhausted the people at Petco’s knowledge. He has been to the Vet and the only option left now is to have the allergy tests. That is why I need some help.

Best answer:

Answer by Akhs
Sweat?

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Question by lunasan05: Dog Allergies – never had a dog with this before?
I did some research to understand why a my dog is scratching and it might be due to her old food and/ or a combination of our dry summer drying out her skin . So we did switch that to Healthy Choice’s lamb and rice as well as starting to bath her with magic paws oatmeal shampoo. Our dog is a mix breed, shihzu and poodle mix but takes more after the poodle but staying the shihtzu height. I just started the bath treatment last night and I am not sure how many times to do it without drying her skin out. She is itching up a storm and have some areas slightly red but thats it.
I have seen dogs with allergies and I know its not grass or anything like that. She hasn’t been eating this off brand of kibble ‘in bits which she does eat a little of bit and it that little bit could do it. I don’t see her skin getting like a human’s skin when it dries out .

So how long does it usually take for the oatmeal and food to take over and control the itching. Is there anything else I can giver her to help reduce the itching ? Would any over the counter drugs work? How many times should I bath her in the oatmeal?
She doesn’t have the serious case of allergies but how long should I wait before calling the vet if the symptoms stay as is? Tasha isn’t going to the lengths of making herself have bald or red spots. I just fell bad that I have to see her itch every 5 seconds or more.
We do have Child’s benadryl for her since the vet said it was to help calm her down when she gets to hyper . I’m guessing the best thing is cutting the dose down by half?
I know its not fleas or the flea medicine due I checked her out for fleas and she was clean. The medicine for the fleas wasn’t put on her skin 3 days after she started to scratch. The itching does have calm moments and it has its annoying moments where she is scratching non stop. No vets will be open for a few days anyway so I will ask to ask but I am looking for something to help in the waiting time

Best answer:

Answer by sunshine15yrs
im a vet. assistant and it sounds like you need to take her to the vet. stop the baths for sure and see if its her food but you need to get her there to the vet

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Question by cheesey : Is Iams dog food a quality food?
i live in a town where the best food i can get locally is Iams. otherwise i’d have to drive an hour every week for dogfood. Anyway, I’ve never used it because I was told Purina was also a good choice. I am interested in doing the best for my dog, so I am looking for personal experiences w/ either one. We have two very hyper boxers and one lab/chow mix who is also EXTREMELY active. the lab mix is 4, and the boxers are 2 and 1. thanks for your ideas

i am looking to switch because although my dogs are healthy, one boxer has a very sensitive stomach and another has allergies, so i thought maybe a better diet would help. (and i know i will consult a vet, but i’m just looking for outside opinions because i don’t want the vets recommendation of science diet just because that is what they sell at the office.)
we cannot feed pedigree, our youngest dog is bothered by it for some reason w/ stomach problems.
we are considering the lamb and rice version of Iams
TO NANCY M: please do not assume that you know anything about my boxers. when i say hyper, i mean HYPER. they play from sun up to sun down. they also are obedience trained. both know how to sit, lay down, speak, stay, walk on a leash (even together ) they wait at the door when asked, they do not bite, they are good tempered and a joy to have. they are not “UNTRAINED.” the lab mix is also very active and hyper and just as well behaved. all 3 are in the house and potty trained, and crate trained. so. don’t assume anything about my dogs. i am just looking for opinions, because not everyone has been granted that divine doggy knowledge you seem to clain.

Best answer:

Answer by Bucky
our dogs do very well on iams! they have beautiful coats and normal energy levels and go to the bathroom regularly! one is 2years and the other is 6 months (boxer shepherd mix and newfoundland puppy)

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