calliecritturs
Posted : 8/17/2009 6:05:28 PM
This sounds crazy but it HELPS.
Make up a jar of 'suntea' (just plain black tea bags steeped in plain water) -- every time he comes in draw a small container of it (like an old margerine tub works great?) and use an OLD hand towel or bath towel (stains).
Swish each paw in the tea, and then wipe with the cotton towel (not paper - you don't need to add paper dust to this). The tannic acid in the tea will help neutralize the pollen from outside.
Also -- Use baby wipes (or like Scott bathroom wipes, or Malacetic wipes if your vet sells them) and WIPE HIM DOWN every time he comes in from outside. Just run the wipe all over him -- dogs absorb pollen from their skin as well as thru their nose.
The histamines "tingle" the feet similar to how your foot might go to sleep if you "sit on your foot" too long? It's that tingle that makes them lick.
You can try Benedryl -- most any huma n antihistamine works for dogs but have your vet dose it. But you MUST use enough and often vets may be reluctant to give you the "full" dose because it does make them sleepy.
The correct dose for Benedryl is 1-2 mg/lb body weight per pound of dog -- so a 50 pound dog needs TWO Benedryl capsules **minimum** given 2-3 times a day. Dogs have faster metabolisms than we do so the dose is more. But dogs can take Benedryl, Tavist, Chlortrimeton, Claritin -- most anything we take.
Be *very* wary of Vetalog -- it is a steroid. Steroids have VERY severe long-term bad effects on the liver and kidneys. Vetalog particularly is a long-lasting steroid. There are other ways of treating allergies that are far less problematic.
Knowing exactly "what" the dog is allergic to may or may not help. If it's something like goldenrod (which would be likely) you can't exactly simply say "Oh, by the way -- don't inhale". there really isn't much you CAN do other than mitigate the damage.