dog:allergies??

Question
Hi, I just recently took in a dog for a girl who seemed sencier about his care etc said he was healthy she just could not handle him etc. He is a 1 year old american bulldog and boxer mix. AWSOME dog! very well behaved but.... his health  I think she lied about he is sctratching his ears and it makes him cry =( and he chews his paw alt the fur in between his pads is reddish too I washed the foot and dreid it and thed only got lighter in color. I have seen no flees but he has a patch under his arm thats red and he itches it sometimes and looks like his fur is thinner there. I can not get to vet for two weeks what can I do for him until then?

Answer
Hi Lou Ann,

Unfortunately, it sounds like your dog may indeed have some form of allergy, though there are parasites other than fleas that should be ruled out. Some of these parasites can't be seen with the naked eye. Many times, because of the constant chewing and scratching a dog will have a secondary yeast or bacterial infection that also has to be treated.

Be persistent in trying to identify the cause and then pursuing a treatment. And do not be bashful about requesting referral to a specialist in Veterinary Dermatology. These experts work with severely affected patients on a daily basis and can be an excellent resource for treating your poor dog. If you can't get a referral, you can find a Veterinary Dermatologist here:

http://www.acvd.org/site/view/66076_FindaDermatologist.pml;jsessionid=70ikqlii8g...

Until you can be seen by your vet, call your vet and get the correct dose for an over the counter antihistamine. Antihistamines can make a dog drowsy (just like it can in people), so keep your dog away from the stairs, if you have any.
There are also products made especially for pets that can be helpful in controlling the itching. One product to look for is called Veterinarian's Best Hot Spot Itch Relief Spray (available at PetCo).

Ask your vet about using a fatty acid supplement. It's something that can help itching and poor skin condition. It has anti-inflammatory effects, but it needs to be given daily, and you might not see any improvement for at least a month. Fatty acid supplement brands to look for are: DermCaps, OmegaDerm, EFA-Z, or 3V Capsules. Omega fatty acids by themselves probably won't stop the itching, but it can help with the condition of the skin and fur.

If your dog's bedding is a fiber such as wool or cotton, you might want to switch to something like vinyl, which won't hold allergens. Keeping a HEPA air purifier near where your dog spends a lot of time indoors might help too. It would filter viruses, pollen, dust mites, mold spores, odors, and bacteria.

Best of luck,
Patti