Need help with Willow

ORIGINAL: JoAnnDe

Oh I'm so sorry I wasn't here last night to offer my support and prayers. I'm glad you brought her to the eVet and that's its working out. Hopefully this will all be behind you today and Willow will be 100%. Keep us posted please

x2!

Poor Willow and poor you!

I really hope she's going to have a fast recovery!
Allergies can be scary!

Thank you guys!

She didn't have such a great night.  She wasn't panting but she just couldn't get comfortable.  She kept jumping up and down and scratching and whining.  I didn't get much sleep either.  At one point I dozed off and next thing I know she's standing on my back--I was on the couch.  That's totally out of character for her.  She'd go to her bed and just dig and dig and spin. 

So, finally, about a half hour ago I couldn't take it anymore.  I gave her a bath in Selsun Blue.  She tried to get out the whole time.  But, so far no scratching.  So, I'm praying this will help.  She's starting to make ME itch!!  Ya know how just watching someone. 

Anyway, she got the Pepcid last night and no more vomiting so far.  I don't think she will.  But, then again last night surprised me too. 

I'm off to make her food now. 

Boy, this is just such a fun vacation.  I would of been more relaxed at work, LOL!

Thanks, again.  I'm really appreciating all the notes. 

Lori

I am glad to hear things are doing better! Many hugs to Willow. Hopefully she will be feeling her ole self in a very short time.
 
As for enviormental stuff, you can't contol it all. It could have been anything. I would suggest washing any bedding she came into contact with too, just to get rid of the allergins that might have carried over.
 
Tru

I have been having to give Ella benadryl lately. I KNOW she has environmental allergies, but I'm not sure exactly what to.
I'm going to have to start wiping her paws off when she comes in and keeping her eyes clean.

I know you could try wiping her feet with a dry, clean towel when she comes inside, then a wet towel and then dry them off.
But she has such a thick coat, I'm not sure how easy it would be to dry her off with a towel like I could do with Ella because Ella's coat is so short.

I'd suggest vacuuming as well, just in case some of the itchy stuff might have fallen off and is on your floor.

Did they send you home with more steroids to reduce any possible reoccurring swelling?
The combo of benadryl and steroids (steroids are nasty, though, I just had to take them for an allergic reaction I had) should take care of the itching AND the swelling. But steroids usually take a bit to kick in with humans, though, but I don't know about dogs.

Hi again.  I still can't believe I'm up at 8:30 on my vacation cooking doggie meals! 

No, they didn't send us home with anything other than she said to buy the Pepcid. 

So, do you think should I continue to give her Benedryl today? 

I've heard the steroids are not good.  But, she  really needed them.  The panting wasn't stopping at all with just the Benedryl.  I have to say that shot of steroid really helped her.  She was much more comfortable after that.  It worked pretty quickly. 

What do I do about the dehydration?  She's not vomiting anymore, no diarrhea-I can't believe she didn't have any at all.  I offered her a piece of the turkey breast I just boiled for her and she ate that.  I'm doing the rice now.  I haven't seen her drink any water yet.  Should I just wait and see if she drinks after she eats.  Last night she was drinking.  I don't know if I should bring her to her regular vet later to make sure that's resolved?? 

They also said as long as the vomiting stops to start the antibiotic again that we were giving to treat the UTI.  I had stopped yesterday because I didn't want to make her worse, antibiotic on an empty stomach just didn't seem like a good idea to me. 
Ugh, decisions.  Thank GOD I don't have children.

Lori

repeat bath -rinse twice as many times - do not over blow-dry
 
have you changed soaps -erither for her, you or laundry?

Well, I'm not a vet, but I would probably keep the benadryl going for today.
I'm glad the steroid worked for her!

I'd probably try to encourage her to drink, but I'd also let her drink on her own.

How long have you been giving her the antibiotic for her UTI? Is it an antibiotic that you've given before?
If they said for sure that this allergic reaction is in no way linked to the antibiotic, then good, but if not, I'd have my suspicions.
Sometimes, well with humans anyway, you can take an antibiotic for a while and then all of a sudden have an allergic reaction to it. This happened to me when I took penicillin.

I say, if it'll ease your mind, take her to your regular vet today. ESPECIALLY if you think that it's a good idea to check in. It won't hurt anything to take her and it'll keep your vet up to date on what the E-vet said and since your regular vet knows Willow, an examine won't hurt anything.


Allergies are SUCH a pain because they could be ANYTHING. I just went through this with myself. EVERYTHING runs through your mind when you have a sudden, out of the blue, allergic reaction and you cannot pin point what it was that caused the reaction. I was paranoid to dust, vacuum, bathe, eat, or sleep. I was afraid I might even react to the benadryl I was on (which, by the way, it IS possible to be allergic to an anti-histamine, I never thought about that until my nurse told me).


Give Willow smooches for me; she's such a doll.

Thank you.  I'll give her another bath tonight.  I didn't blow dry her at all.  It's funny a lot of people think they take forever to dry.  In weather like this it's not long at all.
 
I just finished the bland diet, boiled turkey breast and rice.  And, she's waiting so that's good. 
 
Thanks!

Becca--Last night I thought she might have gotten worse because of the Benedryl shot!  But, the e-vet didn't think that was it.  It could be the antibiotic but she hasn't had it now since Tuesday.  And, both vets seemed to say it would of happened sooner but who knows.
 
I personally think she walked into something on a hike or a walk or it could of even been in the yard. 
 
CRAP--She's acting nauseous again, licking, ugh. . .

I'd take her into your vet.
I, peronally, think it's time for testing. But I know nothing about allergy testing.

also - anything in bloom? pollen is #1 allergy esp. for dogs. Lady had a severe allery to oak pollen - would act alot like Willow - she had to have the steriod shot once a month during season

She's throwing up again.  I really scared to death!

Be careful of the Selsun Blue...not meaning to scare you here, but one time I tried it on the pom when he start an itchfest.  Within 3 days we had one horrible mess on our hands. He lost a lot of hair and was miserable. The vet gave me all kinds of crap for using people shampoo.

Hopefully it won't happen to Willow, but I would keep my eyes peeled.

ORIGINAL: willowchow

Thank you.  I'll give her another bath tonight.  I didn't blow dry her at all.  It's funny a lot of people think they take forever to dry.  In weather like this it's not long at all.

I just finished the bland diet, boiled turkey breast and rice.  And, she's waiting so that's good. 

Thanks!

Ben's seasonal allergies do stuff like this to him. He's having an excellent year so far but it's not over yet. He gets extremely ill, and not the classic symptoms of breathing distress, etc.

I give Ben colloidial oatmeal baths for the itchies. I rinse him well in cool water (gets the allergens off his coat), then run cool water and the oatmeal and use a whisk to stir it really well. I stand him in that and (this is really fun) soak him and keep pouring it over him for at least fifteen minutes, thirty is even better.

Ben gets hot spots so I apply a tea tree oil ointment to those (Cut Heal is my favorite).

It makes a huge, huge difference.

Anithistamines are processed really fast in a dog's system. Ben gets two chlorpheniramine tabs, twice the human adult dose, when he's really bad or I know he's gotten into something. Benedryl doesn't even touch his allergies.

Hope Willow's feeling better soon!

Willow, this is Prancer - I hope you feel better real soon.  Our mommy's get so scared when we're sick.    My mommy said that she's going to send you extra big well wishes and say a prayer for you.   
 
Lori - it's JoAnn - My heart goes out to you.   You're such a great mom to Willow - I know you'll get this resolved soon.   Hang in there !