I am going to try and focus on boosting her immune system. I don't think the first infection ever completely cleared up because she continued to scratch her chin daily.
When I ran out of the Omega 3V supplement, I didn't run right out and buy another bottle and, during that time, her itching got even worse and I didn't realize the importance of those in her diet.
I'm going to get her off the Iams completely. My last dog did very well on the canned Iams, but I think this one may need a higher quality.
Allergic Doberman
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ShelbysMom
- Posts: 613
- Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 10:28 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Re: Allergic Doberman
I can understand why your vet didn't opt for further testing, as he probably wanted to keep costs reduced for you and take a wait and see approach in the event it was a one-time incident. However, since the problem isn't resolved, he should be working with you toward other diagnostics.
I don't think you should put too much stock into what your breeder "thinks". She may be a good breeder and know the breed, but she doesn't know Crystal or her health problems (obviously), and despite her knowledge of the breed, she can't assume all of her dogs are going to be in perfect health.
As for who to trust, I would trust your vet over the breeder, since he is the one who is developing her health history, treatment, observations and will be involved with her life-long veterinary needs. If your breeder has a holisitc approach, feeds raw, etc etc, that doesn't mean what is good for one or more of her dogs is good for your dog. From experience, it is usually the holistic breeder (or other proponent of such) that usually screams "immune-system" related problems to everything under the sun, that is, everything outside of a holistic approach. If you have a good working/trusting relationship with your vet, he can dispell some of those myths and fears with you, and work out a reasonable treatment approach.
When considering dietary approaches, you have to give it time...most approaches need to be given up to 6 weeks to hope for improvement or changes noted. It's a process of elimination that can take time. During that time, treatment of the symptoms is often necessary to prevent worsening conditions....so if your vet prescribes antibiotics based on his suspicions or findings, he probably has good reason to. However, cultures may need to be done periodically to determine the correct antibiotic approach. Further testing for fungal disease, etc may come into the picture if other methods, treatment, dietary approach fails.
I don't think you should put too much stock into what your breeder "thinks". She may be a good breeder and know the breed, but she doesn't know Crystal or her health problems (obviously), and despite her knowledge of the breed, she can't assume all of her dogs are going to be in perfect health.
As for who to trust, I would trust your vet over the breeder, since he is the one who is developing her health history, treatment, observations and will be involved with her life-long veterinary needs. If your breeder has a holisitc approach, feeds raw, etc etc, that doesn't mean what is good for one or more of her dogs is good for your dog. From experience, it is usually the holistic breeder (or other proponent of such) that usually screams "immune-system" related problems to everything under the sun, that is, everything outside of a holistic approach. If you have a good working/trusting relationship with your vet, he can dispell some of those myths and fears with you, and work out a reasonable treatment approach.
When considering dietary approaches, you have to give it time...most approaches need to be given up to 6 weeks to hope for improvement or changes noted. It's a process of elimination that can take time. During that time, treatment of the symptoms is often necessary to prevent worsening conditions....so if your vet prescribes antibiotics based on his suspicions or findings, he probably has good reason to. However, cultures may need to be done periodically to determine the correct antibiotic approach. Further testing for fungal disease, etc may come into the picture if other methods, treatment, dietary approach fails.
..........Traci
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Guest
Re: Allergic Doberman
I am glad the youngster is doing better. My large breed, high maintenance pooch had various problems in her first year but I don't remember what was what now... she outgrew it. But she has always had a somewhat sensitive digestive system, and at one point here you said:
Another plus is that this KMart is fairly close by.
I don't usually get into feeding discussions but for what it's worth: I just switched Win from chicken and rice chow to salmon based chow and so far it is working fine. Win has been on Purina One lamb and rice or chicken and rice most of her life - kibble that is - except for times she had fancy stuff like California Natural, which was just too, too hard to find in my suburb. Late on New Year's Day, Son and a ladyfriend and I happened to stop at a KMart and I noticed Purina One salmon kibble... hadn't heard of it before. That was only 2 weeks ago, but as I say, it seems to be okay... she likes it (moistened and nuked for 15 seconds) and has had only one tummy episode, which was because the silly thing ate a paper towelI'm wondering if I should switch to a Salmon protein kibble instead of the lamb.
Another plus is that this KMart is fairly close by.
Shelby's Mom- I couldn't believe your original post as I have had almost same kind of probs with Honey. I also switched her to Iam's Lamb & Rice.
Your probs with Crystal may be diff, but Honey also has had the bumps on her chin (and itching them) and ear probs.
Thankfully Karen helped immensely with her ears by telling me about :
Zymox ( for the treatment of acute and chronic otitis externa due to bacterial, viral and yeast infections). I tried everything and this is the only one that truly works and for a long time period. AND...one thing I observed- her chin itching seems to decrease when her ears are clear. So- maybe those 2 are related- as she might have been scratching her chin more when her ears were itchy either as a reflex or because of a relationship between the 2 problems - don't know.
Anyway- since her ears cleared up and virtually stay that way she is much better. Vet also told me to give her Benadryl when she does get a little itchy.
I hope you can get things cleared up for Crystal as I understand how awful those 2 problems are for the poor pooch and the owner. Good luck!
oops-ps- also I agree- the Omega oil supplementation also helps.
Your probs with Crystal may be diff, but Honey also has had the bumps on her chin (and itching them) and ear probs.
Thankfully Karen helped immensely with her ears by telling me about :
Zymox ( for the treatment of acute and chronic otitis externa due to bacterial, viral and yeast infections). I tried everything and this is the only one that truly works and for a long time period. AND...one thing I observed- her chin itching seems to decrease when her ears are clear. So- maybe those 2 are related- as she might have been scratching her chin more when her ears were itchy either as a reflex or because of a relationship between the 2 problems - don't know.
Anyway- since her ears cleared up and virtually stay that way she is much better. Vet also told me to give her Benadryl when she does get a little itchy.
I hope you can get things cleared up for Crystal as I understand how awful those 2 problems are for the poor pooch and the owner. Good luck!
oops-ps- also I agree- the Omega oil supplementation also helps.
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ShelbysMom
- Posts: 613
- Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 10:28 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Re: Allergic Doberman
After 5 days on the antibiotics, the chin is clearing up really nice and the hair is starting to fill in. Her paws are better (the redness has subsided), but the fluid filled blisters haven't popped and drained...they are still fluid filled. The thing that really has me stumped is that only her back paws are blistered.
She was licking the front paws when this all came about, and they obviously bothered her ~ but the back paws are the ones that have the vesicles and the redness.
I decided to go with Eagle Pack Natural kibble. It's not terribly expensive but it is hard to get around here. It's high in Omega 3 and has acidophilus in it. I've never fed my dogs anything glamorous and have always bought off the shelf in the grocery store.
I do see a dramatic difference in her coat in the last 2 weeks just from adding a small amount of olive oil to her meal, but I'll have to wait another month to see if the food makes any difference at all.
She was licking the front paws when this all came about, and they obviously bothered her ~ but the back paws are the ones that have the vesicles and the redness.
I decided to go with Eagle Pack Natural kibble. It's not terribly expensive but it is hard to get around here. It's high in Omega 3 and has acidophilus in it. I've never fed my dogs anything glamorous and have always bought off the shelf in the grocery store.
I do see a dramatic difference in her coat in the last 2 weeks just from adding a small amount of olive oil to her meal, but I'll have to wait another month to see if the food makes any difference at all.
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CinderFinder
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 12:12 am
Re: Allergic Doberman
Go here, and read. The answers to your questions are here.
www.volhard.com/holistic/artbywv.htm
Or just try vollhard.com
Let me know what you think.
www.volhard.com/holistic/artbywv.htm
Or just try vollhard.com
Let me know what you think.