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Food Allergy

Could be either, it really depends of the individual dog and how it reacts. Skin issues can raise their heads weeks and even months after going onto a food that does not agree with your dog, and digestive problems can be within a few days or sometimes a few weeks. It really depends. Just like humans, sometimes things just don't agree with your dog. The food may be of decent quality but it isn't right for your dog. Grains (wheat etc.) and protein sources (chicken etc.) are the most common allergy causing ingredients in foods. Many people find changing foods to a food with a different protein source helps while sometimes grain free is the way to go. Sadly, quite a bit of the time it can be trial and error. If you are worried about an allergy, consult your vet and perhaps change the dogs food.
 
Can be either/ or with an allergy and that allergy can change to an allergy to something else. Very strange things, allergies, and very hard to pinpoint.
Wonder if you might be dealing with an 'intolerance' to a certain food which can certainly build up over time.
I have two 6 year olds here who, at age 2 became intolerant to a dog food. Loose bowels constantly no matter what meds I tried. I changed them gradually to a new food and they have been on that ever since with no problems.
Elspeth
 
I ask because Lucky has been so itchy lately. We put him back on the fish oil because I thought maybe it was dry skin due to the weather and the fact that we always have the fire going. He started new food maybe 3 to 4 months ago so that's why I was wondering if it could be that. I was also thinking it could be biscuits that we started about a month ago because that's exactly when the itchiness started. He's got no fleas, no redness, no bumps, sores.....just itches his entire body all the time and also licks his paws.
 
Sounds like a possible food allergy. Can you switch back to the old food and remove the new biscuits, etc., for a month or two? That might give you the answer.
 
Definitely could come on quickly, or over time. (same for people -- usually what seems 'quickly' was actually over time til a tipping point was reached for the allergy). Are you working with a vet or specialist? He really needs a visit to the vets if not, as figuring out an allergy is often a very slow and careful (and often, tedious!) process -- not as simple usually as just stopping a single food. You would be most likely to have success by working closely with either your own vet or if this isn't an area they know a lot about, going to a specialist.

Unfortunately given the breed, and if you cannot find a specific reason for the scratching and paw chewing, I think you will need to also consider seeing someone with a good familiarity with syringomyelia as what you are describing would also be typical for dogs with SM. A lot of people waste months and years looking for causes of allergies when the problem is actually SM, and important time may then be lost, during which more neurological damage can be done. So it is important to for now, keep that possibility in the back of your mind as you seek some answers. Do not let a vet dismiss such concerns -- the board here has many people whose vets kept telling them the problem could not be SM. Exhaust all other options first, but realise you are describing something which in any case, whether allergies, a skin problem, or SM, really needs professional advice so you can carefully and methodically eliminate the possibilities and hopefully, find an answer.
 
OK so I took Lucky to the vet about 2 weeks ago....as I was giving the vet tech our story and she was taking his temp, she ran a flea comb down his rear.....how could it be as easy as fleas! I felt so stupid! So anyway, he gave Lucky a CapStar and told me to apply the Advantix when I got home. I did so and Lucky had relief within 24 to 48 hours. The itching, scratching and chewing was over.....well starting about 3 to 4 days ago it's back! The vet said he may just be extra sensitive to that so to apply the flea preventative every three weeks instead of four but I think 2 weeks is too soon. Any ideas??? Sigh......
 
Flea allergies or irritation caused by fleas can take a good while to clear up. Most topical flea treatments work by killing fleas when they bite, so your dog could still be getting bitten by them if they are hanging around your house or just in the general environment. Washing all beds and linen that the dog may have come into contact with biological powder at 60deg (Celsius) will kill off fleas, and vacuuming the entire house, including furniture, (some people use flea sprays around the house too) will help rid your house. Putting a flea collar into the vacuum cleaner will also help kill them off the the vacuum cleaner. You may not be able to get rid of all the fleas in the house but doing the above will reduce the number significantly.

Also, if there is irritation already there your dog is more likely to be sensitive to environmental stimulus (for example air fresheners, shampoos, general household cleaners etc.) which they may not have found irritating before.

Fleaing a dog more often than recommended seems a bit strange and it contains such harsh chemicals that it may cause even more itching etc. If you are worried about the treatment, talk to your vet about your concern and they may be able to come up with another solution that you are more content with.
 
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