Update on Shoshone!

[urge to herd]

If the regulars remember Shoshone, (aka the Itchy Dog,) after more than 2 years of seeking help for her in many different ways, traditional and alternative, I think we may - keeping our fingers crossed - be close to a solution. I took her to a new vet dermatologist at the end of April, (he's the only one in the county.) He put her on cephelexin for a bacterial skin infection for 6 weeks, and an elimination diet to rule out food allergies.

Well, here we are, almost 7 weeks later, her itching is massively reduced, the skin that was so inflamed looks pretty normal, the hair on her legs is growing back, prednisone is down to 5 mg every other day, and we're almost ready to start challenging her diet to see if food allergies are really involved. I am so happy for her - just at the beginning of this week, her itching reduced again noticeably. The vet is very good - much better than the dermatologist I took her to in the next county 2 years ago, and for the first time, I think we may have this thing really under control.

I've been so busy with our new home and all the adjustments that entails, I realized I hadn't even been to this board in a long time. Good to catch up with you all and 'hear' all the news. Things are considerably calmer now than they were, so I'll be joining in more regularly.

And, it's great to see Roxie's picture up at the top again!

Ruth
Samantha, Shoshone, n Buzz

[davet]

nm

[momPaws]

That's good news...and I am curious to know about her diet ( I also have an itchy dog)

[urge to herd]

Davet - Shoshone normally weighs in at around 38 - 40 lbs. She's lost down to 34 right now - we've had a heck of a time getting her to eat her restricted diet. Does her weight make a difference in the pred dosage? Before we went to this vet dermatologist, she was on 10 mgs every other day and still chewing herself raw.

momPaws, right now, (and for another week or so,) Shonsone is getting homemade oatmeal or boiled potatoes. She was initially on a kangaroo/oats kibble from the vet - absolutely refused to eat a bit - she went without eating for 72 hours. He switched her to a vegetarian kibble, which she ate heartily till a couple weeks ago, then she started to refuse that, hence the oatmeal or potato, (at the vet's direction.) When we start to 'challenge', we'll add one food at a time to see what she reacts or doesn't react to. Hopefully, we'll find a protein source pretty soon that agrees with her.

Thanks for your interest!

Ruth