It's a Miracle!!! (BlackLabbie)

Gold Bond Powder is another remedy that a lot of people use.

Truly nothing better than finding something that works!  Yay...so glad to hear it, for your sake and Mo's.

janet_rose

Gold Bond Powder is another remedy that a lot of people use.

 But that one apparently can have some severe side effects.  It can cause renal failure if the dogs DO ingest it.  Not something I have personal experience with but a gal I know who has goldens told me they've lost an incredible number of goldens to renal failure and tied it back to using Gold Bond for allergy hot spots (which is also a mega problem in goldens)

 ALSO -- Stephanie -- be aware that Atopica is long term VERY hard on the kidneys and liver.  Do be giving some pretty major milk thistle all along.  I think I talked to you about getting it bulk??  Much cheaper.  Atoica is cyclosporine -- and it's also used as an immune-suppressor. 

calliecritturs

janet_rose

Gold Bond Powder is another remedy that a lot of people use.

 But that one apparently can have some severe side effects.  It can cause renal failure if the dogs DO ingest it.  Not something I have personal experience with but a gal I know who has goldens told me they've lost an incredible number of goldens to renal failure and tied it back to using Gold Bond for allergy hot spots (which is also a mega problem in goldens)

 ALSO -- Stephanie -- be aware that Atopica is long term VERY hard on the kidneys and liver.  Do be giving some pretty major milk thistle all along.  I think I talked to you about getting it bulk??  Much cheaper.  Atoica is cyclosporine -- and it's also used as an immune-suppressor. 

Yeah, we never even tried the Gold Bond Powder, even though a vet tech said we could try it.

Also, the atopica we only used for not even a week- it made NO improvement at all and he was actually trying to itch and bite his skin more with it on. When I told our vet that he brushed it off, and he has been brushing the hotspots off too and just says it's probably environmental allergy related (it probably is) but my poor dog has been biting and itching his skin so badly he's actually pulling his fur right out and has created bloody raw patches........BUT with this stuff, IDK why, but it seems to be bringing major relief. He hasn't even tried itching or biting, thank doG, and the redness has gone away, overall it just looks 10x better already.

We also switched his food last night (we did an abrubt change, we didn't change slowly like usual, but he hasn't had any tummy upsets) from Orijen 6 Fish to Wellness Simple Solutions Duck & Rice...only because since we started Orijen 6 Fish his allergies issues (and anal gland) started, so we figure we'll try something different (and he loves the food). We thought fish would be something most doesn't aren't allergic to, but after talking to that women last night she said some dogs are allergic to fishes, so we decided to try duck & rice...we've already tried chicken and turkey and lamb (all were a no-go).

Be VERY careful -- switching all over to different foods actually INCREASES the allergy risk because while his body is already overloaded with allergens every new novel protein becomes yet ANOTHER allergen.  You actually increase the likelihood of it being a problem.

Wellness has a history of being hard on the kidneys. 

Was was he on before the Orijen?

Oh gosh, I didn't know that!

Before Orijen he was on Canidae Grain-Free Salmon. He did really well on the Canidae then all of a sudden he (and Patty) started getting mushy poop and a lot of gas, which is why we switched to Orijen. And before the Grain-Free Canidae he was on Canidae ALS Regular Formula. When my cousin had them they were eating Iams, idk exactly what kind. And w/ Orijen 6 Fish it seems like his allergies have been horrible.

BlackLabbie

Also, the atopica we only used for not even a week- it made NO improvement at all

You'd have needed to use it longer than that to see if it works. It's not like benadryl where it's going to relieve the symptoms quickly. Sassy has been on it for a few years now and it's truly been a lifesaver for her. I know it's got it's downsides and if other remedies work, I'd suggest going with them, but it's worked well for her.

I used sulfodene for the one and only hot spot I've ever dealt with and I thought it worked amazingly well too. It smells strong but doesn't seem to sting or anything and it dries it up in no time. Glad you found something that works.

 They make a stinky shampoo, too, that works pretty well, but it is drying. I've used it for Bean, a couple of times, when her skin was ooky and oily.