user8503492
Banned
In the spirit of pet threads lately I too have an issue with my dog I hope some of you might be able to help with.
Its an itchy dog problem, not me itching, the dog itching herself.
Quick back story: Over the last year she became started itching herself more and more, started out as me thinking it fleas or her diet but got really bad. At first when it started I made sure fleas werent an issue, kept her on Frontline/routinely checked her for the slightest bit of fleas etc.. so that wasnt the issue...changed her food to a "Skin and Coat" mix, didnt help.
Then the last 3-5 months it got BAD, really bad. She had visable wounds from her scratching, scabby ears, a smell etc.. This prompted me to drastically change her food to a no grain/no poultry diet and scheduled an appointment for a trip to the vet to finally get it sorted out.
Spending $70 on a bag of dog food every 2 weeks (other dog has no problem, but they "communal" eat so the food goes fast)
Paid $400 for meds, shampoo and ear drops also last month.
So after 3 weeks of meds (steroid+anitbiotic) and weekly baths the skin problem vanished in days. She was back to 100% skin color, zero itching, and looking better then ever.
Flash forward to this week, her second week off meds, and not being washed with medicated shampoo (vet said wash her once monthly now, not weekly) she has slowly but surely reverted to itching again and licking her paws/legs. Not as bad as it was but clearly started to look how she was 6 months ago when the problem started...almost like I know what will happen in the next few months if I dont do something now.
Vet suggested I try start a food program, basically buying specialty food with crazy ingrdients I wont find in basic pet stores (things like Kangaroo meat or some shit) to radically change her diet and monitor changes. Vet said this will be costly, especially since I will have my other dog eating it too so it will go faster.
Second option, which I thought would be better, medication.
2 pills once a day, sounds easy right....nope...1 pill will cost me $20 a month the other pill $160!!!
I love my dog to death but $180 a month on meds is just INSANE! Sure she says over time I will be able to reduce the needed amount of pills, maybe only needing half that, but thats still about $100 a month on top of specialty food/washes etc..Not to mention the Vet said these meds can take a toll on her liver (they are a steroid) which scares me even more..I'd rather have an itchy dg then a dog that will die in a few years due to liver problems
Now I know I can jump thru the hoops and start playign the allergy game. Changing clothes detergent, running trials with foods, changing cleanign products etc.. the basic things you do when seeing what dietary or environmental factors might be effecting her...but its hard when you have other dogs who are fine, kids who drop french frys or chips, etc.. not to mention cost after cost this can accumulate.
So anyone have any tips? Experience with these kid of problems? Home remedies etc.. anything?
My wife swears the vet is trying to swindle us, trying to make us spend money of expensive food or pricey meds, and is strongly opposed to me spending any more large amounts of money on the dog...this dog is kind of mine and our other one is hers, her dog has been a shining example of health since we got him and mine has been to the vet for some sickness at least once a year costing us an arm and a leg. She honestly said to me.
I'm at running out of ideas and shelling out hundreds of dollars a month isnt going to fly anymore
Its an itchy dog problem, not me itching, the dog itching herself.
Quick back story: Over the last year she became started itching herself more and more, started out as me thinking it fleas or her diet but got really bad. At first when it started I made sure fleas werent an issue, kept her on Frontline/routinely checked her for the slightest bit of fleas etc.. so that wasnt the issue...changed her food to a "Skin and Coat" mix, didnt help.
Then the last 3-5 months it got BAD, really bad. She had visable wounds from her scratching, scabby ears, a smell etc.. This prompted me to drastically change her food to a no grain/no poultry diet and scheduled an appointment for a trip to the vet to finally get it sorted out.
Spending $70 on a bag of dog food every 2 weeks (other dog has no problem, but they "communal" eat so the food goes fast)
Paid $400 for meds, shampoo and ear drops also last month.
So after 3 weeks of meds (steroid+anitbiotic) and weekly baths the skin problem vanished in days. She was back to 100% skin color, zero itching, and looking better then ever.
Flash forward to this week, her second week off meds, and not being washed with medicated shampoo (vet said wash her once monthly now, not weekly) she has slowly but surely reverted to itching again and licking her paws/legs. Not as bad as it was but clearly started to look how she was 6 months ago when the problem started...almost like I know what will happen in the next few months if I dont do something now.
Vet suggested I try start a food program, basically buying specialty food with crazy ingrdients I wont find in basic pet stores (things like Kangaroo meat or some shit) to radically change her diet and monitor changes. Vet said this will be costly, especially since I will have my other dog eating it too so it will go faster.
Second option, which I thought would be better, medication.
2 pills once a day, sounds easy right....nope...1 pill will cost me $20 a month the other pill $160!!!
I love my dog to death but $180 a month on meds is just INSANE! Sure she says over time I will be able to reduce the needed amount of pills, maybe only needing half that, but thats still about $100 a month on top of specialty food/washes etc..Not to mention the Vet said these meds can take a toll on her liver (they are a steroid) which scares me even more..I'd rather have an itchy dg then a dog that will die in a few years due to liver problems
Now I know I can jump thru the hoops and start playign the allergy game. Changing clothes detergent, running trials with foods, changing cleanign products etc.. the basic things you do when seeing what dietary or environmental factors might be effecting her...but its hard when you have other dogs who are fine, kids who drop french frys or chips, etc.. not to mention cost after cost this can accumulate.
So anyone have any tips? Experience with these kid of problems? Home remedies etc.. anything?
My wife swears the vet is trying to swindle us, trying to make us spend money of expensive food or pricey meds, and is strongly opposed to me spending any more large amounts of money on the dog...this dog is kind of mine and our other one is hers, her dog has been a shining example of health since we got him and mine has been to the vet for some sickness at least once a year costing us an arm and a leg. She honestly said to me.
I'm at running out of ideas and shelling out hundreds of dollars a month isnt going to fly anymore