American Bulldog with Hives

Question
QUESTION: My American Bulldog who is 8 months old just recently started getting hives. The first time I thought it was a freak incident and that he possibly got into something. They were relatively small, about the size of a mesquito bite. Now this is the 2nd time he has gotten them, probably 2-3 weeks after the first incident. These are the size of golf balls and hit overnight. He is itching really bad and is starting to tear himself up. I've gave him benadryl for a few days the first time and they cleared up. Should I do this again or try to get him into the vet. I hear that hives are fairly common with Am. Bulldogs and that the cause is very hard and expensive to track down. I will start investigating possible triggers around the house, but what can I do in the meantime? Should I take him to the vet or try natural remedies?


I take my NuVET daily   ANSWER: Hi Kendra, yes, you are correct about american bulldogs and hives!  They get rashes and all kinds of skin problems.  You can call your vet if you would like.  I can't tell you what to do.
I can give you are few option to try .....But, again, I am not a vet, just a pet nurse.

The first thing you can do is use the Benadryl method again.
This boy may have an Environmental Allergy as that it is Spring in most of the USA...
For environmental allergies the following seems to work well:

1. * give this kid a good dosage of Omega 3 oil - here is one that we tend to use with my clients....
He could have 1 per day long term or just during the Spring and Summer.  ( 1 or 2 per day for his size)
http://www.mynsp.com/nuvetpetnurse/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=1515

2.  You can give him an Dog oatmeal Shampoo bath - NuVET sells a nice doggie oatmeal shampoo - ( link below)
YOU can give him a bath 2-3 x per month... ( more if need for the itchies...)

3.  NuVET allergy Blaster Wafers / Natural Canine Supplement - call them they are there until 5 pm Calif Time zone...
1-800-474-7044  ( This is a wonderful product and they guarantee it will work or your money back)
YOUR boy will need 2 per day all summer long.  In the winter he can go down to 1 per day/  GREAT for skin, coat , joints ,hips, Immune system and allergies.
( Tell them pet Nurse Marie Peppers sent you:  give order code 81098 for the 15% off on auto ship)
http://www.nuvet.com/81098

If you call Now- they may be able to send it out to your today.
This is only sold thru Holistic Vets and some breeders.


I hope this helps -  For tonight you can fill the tub 1/2 way with warm water and add 1/2 cup of PURE baking soda - mix and drop cups of this mix over him.  Then rinse and pat dry with a towel -don't rub.

Let me know how he does...
Marie Peppers
Ask the Pet Nurse
mtnmom@gci.net

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I took him into the vet first thing this morning - he had gotten worse (which with as bad as he was I didn't think worse was possible) and the benadryl was not working. The vet gave him a 2 part Steroid shot and sent me home with a prescription for Prednisone for emergency use in the future. They said to continue giving him the Benadryl in addition to the shot he received. He was absolutely miserable!

Since the shot he is doing much better, amazing how only a few hours makes a world of difference. I am going to try the baking soda bath to help soothe him tonight and I will be looking into the Omega 3 oils and the Nuvet allergy wafers.

My only concern is that the swelling around his eyes has not gone down even tho the hives around his body are shrinking. He is tearing and staining a lot more then usual and I'm not sure if I need to wait it out a few more days or give the vet a call. Is there anything I can do about his eyes?

ANSWER: Oh, boy - Poor kid!  Yes, it may take some time for the puffy eyes to reduce the swelling.  Just make sure he is able to breath without too much effort.  The eyes should be better tomorrow.  Don't let him miss a benadryl dosage.  He will need this until we can figure out what is setting him off.  
The NuVET will make a big difference, but it takes at least a week to kick in because it is all Natural .. The Steroids are fine for now but long term they are very bad for his liver.

Please call the NuVET folks and get the wafer asap....
1-800-474-7044  ( tell them Marie sent you/ 81098)
http://www.nuvet.com/81098


Also, he may like the baking soda bath.

Is there any more info you can give me so that I can figure out what is hitting this kid?

Marie Peppers LPN MA
ask the Pet Nurse
mtnmom@gci.net

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I am feeding him Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult and Nutro Adult Sensitive Stomach Biscuits. Both of these are new to him, but I want to say that he was eating them for almost a week before the second round of hives happened - the first round of hives (the mesquito sized ones from 2 1/2 weeks ago) he was eating Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula by Proplan. He had been on that particular food for a couple of months now with no problems. I've never tried the Nutro before. I've been investigating around the house and the only connection between this round and last round that I can possibly make is that I believe we cut the lawn a day or two before each round started. We also have a lot of bees in our yard and around our house.... so I'm not quite sure what it could be.

Answer
I bet it is Environmental to the grass, pollen and such.
( now this is a good guess on my part )...  
The Nutro is an ok food but down the road let's get him onto a grain free food like : Wellness, Innova, Or Merrick " Before Grain"-
If you do want to start adding one of the grain-free foods to the puppy nutro that would be fine.  You could do this for 4-5 months and then switch him to 100% grain free feeding.
His breed is very prone to all allergies / food and environmental.
Sorry!

Let's get him onto the supplements and hope he can drop the steroid treatments, Down the road.....  Your vet will be able to wean him off the steroids.


I know this must be awful for you all!  Keep up the good work.

Marie Peppers