How can i help my poor dog!!!

hi well i feel for u i know i love my dog more then anything to.well i might have a good thing to help maybe well my do was bitting to so the vet recomended this great stuff that work for my dog called hartz flea and tic liquid u should try it and mabey get a new vet

                                                                                  from,

                                                                                              cassidy

cassidy

hartz flea and tic liquid u should try it

DON"T USE HARTZ!!!!!  I has been linked to seizures and IMHA and all sorts of horrible problems. 

Caramac

 I have a 6 yrs old Jack Russell, (Charlie), he is like a child to me, i love him dearly. He has been scratching and biting at himself especially around the tail area, his tail started to go bald. I guessed he must have flea's. I bought the Bob Martins back of the neck drops, but they didnt work and he was still scratching. I gave him a bath with flea shampoo, he's still scratching, so i went to the vets and brought the expensive proper back of the neck drops, he's still scratching, so i then bought Bob Martins flea tablets,  He's still flaming scratching.

This isn't just from normal flea reaction.  This is what is called "flea allergy dermatitis".

Allergies are something that can worsen as a dog gets older.  And this is a particularly bad flea year **anyway**. 

JUST **ONE** flea bite will cause a horrific reaction in a flea allergic dog.  Much less what is called an "infestation" where you really have to battle them.  Literally, the dog is allergic to the flea's *SPIT*.  I'm serious (look it up in Merck's vet manual or ask any vet).  And just ONE bite from a flea can cause a dog just horrific scabbing and sores -- they start at the base of the tail and progress up the back and down the hindquarters.

Typically, you have to go to the vet and get antibiotics **and** an anti-inflammatory like prednisone.  Pred can be a nasty drug **BUT** for something like this, it really usually is necessary.

When you use a flea preparation the big huge deal is that it has to be something that is not "systemic".  No Revolution or Pro-meris or Bio-Spot nor Advatnage-Multi, etc. that sink into the skin and go into the bloodstream.  You simply want something that stays on *top* of the skin like Advantage or Frontline.    Simply because you don't want the flea to *bite* the dog at all (and all those systemic ones rely on the pesticide in the bloodstream to kill the flea *after* they bite.

Often you may have to use some other repellant (I have often used just plain old Avon Skin-So-Soft -- about a teaspoon in 6 oz alcohol and 6 oz water -- sprayed on **before** you walk the dog -- and you can use that daily).  Use these IN ADDITION to the Advantage or whatever.

 Diatamaceous Earth may also help -- you can rub that right on the dog's coat. 

Likely you will have to treat your living space and outside (spray your yard -- particularly the foundation of the house).  Breaking a flea cycle is no fun -- but you will have to get antibiotics AND an anti-inflammatory from the vet to get this to heal unfortunately.

I'm not recommending steroids generally for allergies -- JUST in a case like this.  I've had dogs with flea allergies and it is NO fun.  But please PLEASE don't use Hartz ANYTHING.  Even it's regular plain shampoo is well-established to cause seizures and all sorts of bad reactions.  Just don't use it please.

It is possible that the itching isn't related to fleas but it's seriously hard to pinpoint stuff like this. In addition to everything Callie said, I'd try using benadryl for a few days to getting the itching to calm down. You can give 1 mg per lb and since he's so small, you might want to use a liquid. I give it in the AM and PM and it really helps. I'm sorry you're dealing with this and know how frustrating it can be for both you and your dog. I hope you're able to find him some relief soon.

Try going through Care Credit, you can make payments and most Vets accept it.  Good luck. 

http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/whycc.html

My assumption of the flea allergy dermatitis was what the OP said about the bottom of the back near the tail area -- that tends to be a hallmark of flea allergy dermatitis.

 HOWEVER it could also be combined with something like sarcops at the same time.  It honestly doesn't sound like your vet is very responsive -- you may need to get more help elsewhere.  If benedryl doesn't TOUCH the itching, then you'll likely have to look at sarcops.

Are *you* itching at all?  (and sometimes it can feel like just a "sympathy itch";) but if you have a fine red rash anywhere that just seems miserable TELL THE VET ok?

Hi and Thank you for your replies. I am going to try Benedry tomorrow. I'm not sure how much to use though, he is a Jack Russel but real stocky and heavy, he weighs roughly 10kg!  I suppose it will be ok to give him an adult dose!  As i live in England we do not have any of these pet care plan things that one of you suggested. Over here, if you don't have money to pay, the animal goes without and suffers, end of!  Horrible isnt it.  

Tell me what is Sarcops!! never heard of it.  I am going to try the benedryl, is there anything else i could buy over the counter.  I have not seen a single flea in my house. None of us have a rash. It does seem to be the bottome end that he is biting at, but he scratches all over his body, As i said before, under his belly etc he is not very pink. There is not flaky peeling skin or anything. 

What else should i buy with the benedry that will help my little man.

Thank you

 Unless someone else has already suggested it, I am wondering if there is something topical that you could use to relieve the itch as well? I'm sure all the scratching only makes it worse. Callie??

Benedryl is diphenhydramine.  The dose is 1-2 mg per pound of body weight.  So at 10 kg he needs 25 mg of benedryl given 2-3 times a day.  (and that's a minimal dose -- it's likely going to be the adult human dose over the counter). 

 Most anthistamines are ok for dogs but you'll have to ask a vet for the dose.

 Do NOT use anything with decongestant in it and particularly not acetaminaphen (like Tylenol in this country) which is a common painkiller for humans.  It is SUPER toxic to dogs and just one can kill.  here it's commonly mixed with antihistamine for cold preparations-- hence the warning.

 Topically?  chamomile tea (brew it strong and dab it on the skin) or plain aloe (not aloe cream but literally the scraping from inside the 'leaf';).

If you can find a chemist good with herbs -- chickweed herb is SUPER for itch and can be made into a topical by combining with olive oil (literally open the caps and steep it in warm oil).  just massage into the skin.  St. John's Wort oil is also a super good calmative for the skin.  Boric acid (dissolve a tablespoon in a pint of boiling water and let cool) -- spray that on with a spray bottle -- it's also a good skin calmative.

 But seriously -- you need a vet.  This dog needs a steroid like prednisone or a shot of steroid along with an antibiotic.  If it's flea allergy dermatitis it is vicious and won't stop until you truly get that inflammation under control.

I'm having the same problem with Lexie, my shih-tzu.  I know her scratching is from the mold on the leaves.  It's hard because she wants to be outside.  She gets this every year when the leaves change.  I am giving her Benedryl (1mg per 1 lb) about every 5 hours.  It helps but doesnt seem to do the trick.  I just gave her a bath in Oatmeal shampoo.  She actually ran to the tub!  My heart breaks for her as she is so miserable.  We have no one in our area who specializes in holistic cures.  What else can I do to help her?  This usually stops once we get a frost....which I am praying for! 

Thanks!

frequent bathing is a HUGE help -- like every other day.  Keep baby wipes near the door and wipe off the feets and belly every time she comes in.  Even just rinsing her off helps enormously.

You may want to try some homeopathic remedies -- you can get them right over the counter.  Homeopathy is NOT herbs, or vitamins -- homeopathy is a whole separate alternative science -- look at a health store near you.  Newtom Labs makes liquids that work well on dogs, Hylands and Boiron both make a good allergy formula and I can point you to others.  But you don't give them in food or with food -- homeopathics are meant to absorb IN THE MOUTH.  So you crush them and just pour the powder in their mouth.

Try not to handle the pills -- just tap them into a folded piece of paper and crush with something hard - then pour into their mouth or on the floor--- it's sweet and usually they think it's a treat.  You have to give every 4-5 hours tho -- but there's no side effects.  No sleepiness, no thirst, etc.

Callie: The bath did seem to help ALOT!!!  I will try giving her one every other day.  We have also started to wipe her paws off with some wet pet wipes after each potty break. 

 Questions:  If I find the allergy formula from either Hylands or Boiron, should I quit giving her the Benydryl as well, or give her both?  What is the dosage for a 13-15 pound dog?  Also, is this mold from the leaves in the air, on the ground or both?  My husband mowed the lawn yesterday and made sure to bag all the clippings.  He said he would go over the lawn each day if it would help.  We had a bit of frost last night, so hopefully this wont last much longer.  (It's the ONLY time of the year that I pray for cold weather!) 

Thanks for all your help!  You are always so knowledgable and infomative!

 Don't use all sorts of different flea products, just because the dog is still itching.  You can overdose the dog and they can have a bad reaction to it.  If the first product doesn't work, check whether he still has fleas.  Normally, you do this by using a fine comb around the base of the neck and tail and tapping it onto some white paper.  Moisten it, and if the "bits" turn red, then it's flea dirt (which is, basically, dried blood).  But if the dog has recently HAD fleas, then you could be picking up flea dirt from the fleas that have already been killed off, so it might be a good idea to give the dog a good wash before using a new flea treatment (that you are not 100% sure will work). 

A scratch does not equal fleas.  It COULD be fleas, or it could be mange, or it could be an allergy.... If it's an allergy, it could be an allergy to the flea bite (which means the dog still itches even though the fleas have gone).  Or it could be a food allergy, or a contact allergy.  It could be any number of things, these are just the first things that spring to mind.

It's rare to see fleas on your pet.  Often, if you see just one, it means that you could have an infestation.  The fleas don't LIVE on your dog.  He is not their home, he is their restaurant.  Your HOUSE is their home.  Your furniture, carpets, floorboards and skirting boards - this is where the fleas are living.  You could have examined him real closely and not found a single flea, but he could still "have fleas" because they are in your house, hopping on whenever they are hungry.  This is why you check for flea DIRT, not actual fleas.

Different flea products work in different ways.  Firstly, there are 2 main types, those that treat your pet and those that treat your home.  Obviously, as per the above, you need to do BOTH if your dog actually HAS fleas.

The ones that treat your pet are also different.  Most/all have a lasting effect, unlike wormers, which only kill worms that are present; the dog could still pick up worms the next day.  SPeaking of worms, if your dog has had fleas, he will have tapeworms, so get a worming product that treats tapeworms if you haven't already.  (Some spot on treatements do worms - check the packet )

As far as I can remember, there are 4 main types of flea product for your pet:

Those that DETER fleas.

Those that KILL fleas on contact.

Those that kill fleas that bite.

Those that sterilise fleas, to break their reproductive cycle.

Don't quote me on that, because I need to look it up to check, but I am FAIRLY sure that is right.  Obviously, you don't want a flea product that deters fleas if you already have them in your home.  I *think* that this is what the Bob Martin ones do - check the packet!  Maybe that is why it didn't work.  If your dog has an allergy, you don't want a product that kills/sterilises when the flea bites either, because just one bite will set off the reaction.  A product that kills on contact is my preference if they actually GET fleas.

Don't forget to treat your home - that is important!  Wash the dog's bedding, vaccuum your carpets, especially round the edges, and get a product that you can use on your carpets etc (again, especially round the edges!)  Fleas can live dormant in your floorboards or under the skirting boards for years, so make sure these areas are treated.

Good luck - it's HORRIBLE when they get fleas, and it can be tricky to get rid of them.  I feel your pain!