calliecritturs
Posted : 9/30/2006 9:49:27 AM
I wouldn't use Sulphodene - that's pretty harsh stuff and you can do better with other things. I've seen that actually worsen skin to be honest.
The benedryl will at least *help* the itching a bit and if it doesn't that's going to tell the vet something.
Try 1 (1-2 is a typical dose) mg/lb body weight -- it's not a big dose but should help. The over the counter Benedryl caps are 25 mg so even if she's a bit under 25 pounds that's still a safe dose. The liquid "elixer" is 12.5 mg per teaspoon -- so you have to give a lot of it to approach the 1 mg/lb dose. (and you DO have to give at least 1 mg/lb for it to be at all effective -- dogs have a much faster metabolism than we do so they need more than we would).
Other things to consider:
1. You say you are in a rural area so likely you may have wildlife around? rabbits, coon, fox, deer, etc?? That might mean she has gotten into sarcoptic mange mites -- I'd consider this especially if the itching is pretty much non-stop. You can't see them, and a vet won't find them on a scrape -- but if you suspect them treat for them. It's not difficult -- but the difficult time is figuring out where she got into them. But just rooting around sniffing under trees, etc. where animals have been hanging out -- and any mites that jumped off the wild critter will look for another host that is warm-blooded. Wildlife sarcops don't typically 'breed' on dog skin (dog sarcops would but they tend to be pretty species specific in their choice of host) so getting rid of them can be easier than keep them OUT of the source.
Another question for you is are YOU itching anywhere? A small red uncomfortable rash -- maybe you even thot you were scratching in sympathy? That would be another hint of sarcops.
2. What you're describing could be a lot of things -- but think carefully if anything has changed in your yard -- any new foliage/trees/fertilizer -- any change at all?? Dog DO tend to grow INTO allergies -- where human kids tend to grow out of them, dogs tend to grow INTO them and they worsen with age. But typically you'll see paw-licking *first* with dogs.
3. Has anything else changed lately? Have you started using a new fabric softener? Done any changes in the house? Turned on your heat?
Things that may help:
A. Keep a container of plain old black tea in your fridge -- take a bit out (like a small margerine bowl full) and microwave it just to 'body temperature' when you are ready to bring her in after a walk. Dip each paw in it (swish it around) and pat dry with a terry towel (not paper if you can help it). Helps with the paw licking a bunch.
B. Bathe at least once a week in a mild shampoo -- no conditioners (you don't want anything to help the fur 'trap' pollens, etc.) -- but do a final rinse in a couple of gallons of water with about 50 drops of tea tree oil in it -- that helps keep the staph infection down.
C. Chammomile tea (the kind you can get at the grocery store is fine) -- you can use it topically (like particularly on the red belly -- it will help calm that down. It also is a good calmative and helps with the inflammation internally -- it's not strong but it's VERY gentle to the tummy and should help calm things down.