Itchy Dog

[Eluder]

I have a 1 year old Lab mix that wont stop itching. We have tried different foods, that doesn't seem to do anything. Vet doesn't think its diet related and is suggesting a prescription (Apoquel). I'll do it it if I have to but this dude is 95 lbs of muscle and already costs me a lot of money in food every month so tacking on another $100+ in medication is less than ideal.

Any ideas to try before I dip into the new car fund to stop this itching?

Side note, I had to get my 17 year old cat a double enema Yesterday... At least he's being less of an asshole now that he isn't backed up so probably worth the $40.

[supermodel159]

Our basset it on Apoquel. It works really well, but she only needs it seasonally. I would start with it, then get the dog on flea/tick meds and just move on from there.

[Caucasian Asian]

Our pibble is on Apoquel. It sucks and is expensive, but she's much happier now.

[Danno]

We have had 2 dogs with itching/hot spot problems, the first one we went to the vet a number of times, tried food trials, etc. Finally, we got referred to a specialist, a veterinary dermatologist, who figured out very quickly that he had allergies and put him on a weekly injection regimen. It totally worked, but surely wasn't any cheaper than a prescription (but solved the problem).

Our young goldendoodle was having itching problems, so we didn't even bother with the regular vet and went straight to the dermatologist, and yes, again with the weekly injections, but it seems to work.

That's the route I would go; if you're in the front range of Colorado I can give you the guy's name.

[2bjenny]

My yellow lab is on Apoquel for seasonal allergies. Have no idea what it is out here that she’s allergic too. She does fine and is much happier for early spring and then the early fall. We did Benadryl for a while, but it didn’t really help much. There is a shot that can be given but the vet said for a large dog it didn’t really save any money and for us it didn’t work as well as the Apoquel. It was around $100 and would maybe last a month.

[Eluder]

My yellow lab is on Apoquel for seasonal allergies. Have no idea what it is out here that she’s allergic too. She does fine and is much happier for early spring and then the early fall. We did Benadryl for a while, but it didn’t really help much. There is a shot that can be given but the vet said for a large dog it didn’t really save any money and for us it didn’t work as well as the Apoquel. It was around $100 and would maybe last a month.

They gave me the shot option as well but the conclusion was same.

It seems like Apoquel is the answer... which I had a feeling it would be but hoped otherwise.

[BmillsSkier]

CADI Injection FTW.

Our Border Collie used to itch himself to pieces; like bald spots when we would find him in the morning.

Doggie dermatologist suggested the CADI injection and all it took was one shot and literally instantly he stopped. Some vets/dogs need a monthly booster. Ours is good once a year in spring when pollen season starts. Its lifechanging for the guy.

[Eluder]

Injection option is Cytopoint

[Danno]

ours is a cocktail brewed up by the doggie dermatologist, that he has adjusted slightly based on results, and we do it weekly. It has absolutely worked. With the current dog, we never saw any signs except a lot of itching that sent us back to this vet. But our old golden, RIP Norman, had vicious hotspots that would get antibiotics and steroids and go away, and come back as soon as he was off them. All of that went away with the weekly shot, which made us converts.

[Timberridge]

Would any of these remedies work for an itchy pussy?

[Danno]

Yours?

[Timberridge]

I don't have a cat. Asking for a friend.

[Eluder]

Would any of these remedies work for an itchy pussy?

Does the itch burn?

[2bjenny]

Injection option is Cytopoint

That's the one we tried - At best, it maybe worked two weeks.
The Apoquel works for my Zoe. Since I have figured out around when the allergies will kick in, I can keep her to 1 pill a day and then as things calm down, 1/2 pill. I usually stop giving it to her in the summer until the plants that fall bloom on the desert here start, and we do the same routine. If I had a doggie dermatologist within a reasonable driving distance, I would have maybe tried that route. Either way, it's not inexpensive and she was getting miserable. Oddly, they allergies didn't really start until she was around 7.

Keeping her brushed, wiping her paws after being outside, etc. helps a little since it gets the pollen/grass or whatever it is off her some. I try not to bathe her too much since she's a lab and that strips the oils from the coat.

[riser4]

All I got is this: Man who goes to bed with itchy butt awakes with smelly finger.

[Eluder]

That's the one we tried - At best, it maybe worked two weeks.
The Apoquel works for my Zoe. Since I have figured out around when the allergies will kick in, I can keep her to 1 pill a day and then as things calm down, 1/2 pill. I usually stop giving it to her in the summer until the plants that fall bloom on the desert here start, and we do the same routine. If I had a doggie dermatologist within a reasonable driving distance, I would have maybe tried that route. Either way, it's not inexpensive and she was getting miserable. Oddly, they allergies didn't really start until she was around 7.

Keeping her brushed, wiping her paws after being outside, etc. helps a little since it gets the pollen/grass or whatever it is off her some. I try not to bathe her too much since she's a lab and that strips the oils from the coat.

We might give the shot a try. It doesn't seem to get the same results as the pill but is way easier, plus I somehow have this lab not super food driven and really don't want to have to give him a treat every day. I know my luck though and am sure the easy solution wont be the final solution....

All I got is this: Man who goes to bed with itchy butt awakes with smelly finger.

Dropping knowledge

[PNWbrit]

Apoquel was the best solution for our last golden who tested allergic for everything. It is spendy but worth it to make him comfy in his own skin. One missed dose and you could see him suffering.

We tried several years of immunotherapy without much success.

I dont think the the cyto(?) shot was available back then but it sounds like a good option to try.

[2bjenny]

We might give the shot a try. It doesn't seem to get the same results as the pill but is way easier, plus I somehow have this lab not super food driven and really don't want to have to give him a treat every day. I know my luck though and am sure the easy solution wont be the final solution....




Dropping knowledge

Neither of my labs are food driven, thank god! They just know they get a treat after morning walk and after dinner walk and give me the stink eye if I forget. My yellow lab also has low thyroid so gets a daily pill anyways. It may be worth asking your vet about giving Benadryl with the shot? In the beginning Benadryl helped Zoe with the itching, but each season it just got progressively worse.

The snow is melting, so as soon as I start seeing snow mold and grass starting to green, she’ll start her spring Apoquel session.

[hutash]

Cheap antihistamines first, expensive ones third or fourth. Rule out parasites. I can't tell how many itchy dogs "who have never had a flea" are loaded with fleas. Sarcoptic mange is more common then even most vets think.

Allergy testing and desensitization is still the gold standard, and the only potential "cure". Everything else is just treating the symptoms. Assuming you have ruled out some of the above. All that said, Apoquel, Cytopoint, and others can help.