Anyone do Allergy Shots?

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
Log in to reply
  • jys1011J

    Hello

    The vet has ordered shots to start my little boy on a desensitizing regimen for his many inhalant allergies (for food we are just modifying diet) especially his high sensitivity to house dust.

    I'm wondering if anyone has done this & whether it was effective & worth it. She says the shots will be daily for about a couple of weeks & then it would taper off to finally about 1x a month.

    Just a worried B parent ;)

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

    0
  • subaruthieS

    Cooper started shots this spring to desensitize him to dust mites and storage mites. He's severely allergic to both (we cleaned out a closet and one room in preparation for our move, and he's still covered in hives a week later!).

    He did really well through his first ramp-up vial, but we're nowhere near maintenance level yet. We've had a few setbacks, but we're optimistic (my husband has been on allergy shots for half his life and they make life bearable!).

    Be sure AHEAD OF TIME to ask your vet what to do if/when you hit your dog's threshold before reaching maintenance. How to step back a level, whether to give antihistamines and/or steroids, or to use any topical treatments.

    So far, it's been relatively cheap (we're still on our first set of serum), and we think we've figured out Cooper's dosing schedule.

    Also, as with any new experience, use treats! Cooper now sits automatically when he sees a syringe. At my parents' house, he always gets a treat for sitting quietly while my dad injects insulin. Now, he knows he gets chicken chips during and after his shot! But it takes my husband holding the treat and me handling the shot.

    Hope this helps.

    I'd be interested in hearing about other B allergy stories. We supplement with omega fatty acids, use ProPlan sensitive skin and stomach, use the mildest shampoos and conditioners recommended by our groomer, use Benadryl, and are constantly trying to wean him from prednisone.

    Ruth

    0
  • jys1011J

    Thanks Ruth!! This is great stuff…We started treating with Benadryl then the vet increased his dosage hydroxyzine & added steroid shots & pills for a week. We weaned him off quickly. Until we start with shots he's still on high dosage of hydroxyzine.

    We're also feeding simple diet for skin & stomach allergies, using supplements of brewers yeast & omega fatty acids (No Flax b/c he's allergic to that too! :eek:) and 2x a week he's bathed with oatmeal shampoo for the itching.

    My little girl Topaz is starting to show signs of itching but she's not nearly as bad as C3PO. So I just give a pill of benadryl & spray her paws with hydrocortisone which helps.

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

    0
  • luzmery928L

    Well Champ only had to get a cortizon shot the first time he developed allergies and now if we see him itching or biting his paws we give him a pill but honestly only had to do it twice (the pills). Good luck with your babies.

    0

Suggested Topics

  • C

    Apoquel for allergies

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    5k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    @Crla Gosh I usually give links but I found it several places. The quote above from here: http://www.theinternetpetvet.com/apoquel-alert-serious-side-effects-of-new-dog-allergy-medication/ Another site: http://www.drugs.com/vet/apoquel.html In the 283 dogs that received APOQUEL, the following additional clinical signs were reported after beginning APOQUEL (percentage of dogs with at least one report of the clinical sign as a non-pre-existing finding): pyoderma (12.0%), non-specified dermal lumps (12.0%), otitis (9.9%), vomiting (9.2%), diarrhea (6.0%), histiocytoma (3.9%), cystitis (3.5%), anorexia (3.2%), lethargy (2.8%), yeast skin infections (2.5%), pododermatitis (2.5%), lipoma (2.1%), polydipsia (1.4%), lymphadenopathy (1.1%), nausea (1.1%), increased appetite (1.1%), aggression (1.1%), and weight loss (0.7)...... After completing APOQUEL field studies, 239 dogs enrolled in an unmasked (no placebo control), continuation therapy study receiving APOQUEL for an unrestricted period of time. Mean time on this study was 372 days (range 1 to 610 days). Of these 239 dogs, one dog developed demodicosis following 273 days of APOQUEL administration. One dog developed dermal pigmented viral plaques following 266 days of APOQUEL administration. One dog developed a moderately severe bronchopneumonia after 272 days of APOQUEL administration; this infection resolved with antimicrobial treatment and temporary discontinuation of APOQUEL. One dog was euthanized after developing abdominal ascites and pleural effusion of unknown etiology after 450 days of APOQUEL administration. Six dogs were euthanized because of suspected malignant neoplasms: including thoracic metastatic, abdominal metastatic, splenic, frontal sinus, and intracranial neoplasms, and transitional cell carcinoma after 17, 120, 175, 49, 141, and 286 days of APOQUEL administration, respectively. Two dogs each developed a Grade II mast cell tumor after 52 and 91 days of APOQUEL administration, respectively. One dog developed low grade B-cell lymphoma after 392 days of APOQUEL administration. Two dogs each developed an apocrine gland adenocarcinoma (one dermal, one anal sac) after approximately 210 and 320 days of APOQUEL administration, respectively. One dog developed a low grade oral spindle cell sarcoma after 320 days of APOQUEL administration. To report suspected adverse events, for technical assistance or to obtain a copy of the MSDS, contact Zoetis Inc. at 1-888-963-8471 or www.zoetis.com.<< Finally: What are the side effects: Apoquel may increase susceptibility to infection, including demodicosis. It may also exacerbate neoplastic conditions. Adverse reactions reported in a masked field study included diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, new cutaneous or subcutaneous lumps, and lethargy. In most cases, diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, and lethargy spontaneously resolved with continued dosing.<< http://www.1800petmeds.com/Apoquel-prod11700.html
  • E

    Rabies shots

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    Shaye's MomS
    @tanza: Found this under Florida law on rabies (2) A dog or cat shall not be required to be vaccinated against rabies if a licensed veterinarian has examined the animal and has certified in writing that at such time vaccination would endanger the animal's health because of its age, infirmity, disability, illness, or other medical considerations. Such exempt animal shall be vaccinated against rabies as soon as its health permits. And it also seems in Florida, it can change from county to county on if required yearly or 3 yrs.. Good to know that about an animal with health issues - and yes, it does vary county to county. Hillsborough, where I live, requires it yearly.
  • L

    What works for allergies ?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    23
    0 Votes
    23 Posts
    9k Views
    BasenjimammaB
    I did have a Westie in the past that had severe allergies to….storagemites, which is in every dogfood that has been stored for a few weeks or more, i.e every food known to man, so he was on the raw diet, did great, he was also severly allergic to fleas, or the saliva from the fleas and to mold/mildew, which living in houston Tx there is a lot of. Poor guy was miserable, until we did the raw diet and decided to keep him inside all the time, when the other dogs went out to play he had to stay in..and it is funny he wanted to go out and the other dogs wanted to come in...figures. The few foods out there that are supposedly good for allergies according to my vet is grainfree ones, Dick Van Pattens sweet potatoe and duck, I believe was one of the ones he recommended. Try to keep the ingredients list as small as possible, cleaner food means less irritants. Just like our food, the less junk we eat the better we feel... Good Luck, I know how hard it is with a dog that clearly is bothered by something and you don't know how to help it. I do know that Petco and Petsmart here in Texas will take food back even though the bag has been opened, which is nice if you are having to try various/numerous different brands until you find what works. Basenjimamma
  • K

    Allergies!!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    17
    1 Votes
    17 Posts
    17k Views
    MDSPHOTOM
    @Vanessa: I was allergic to our basenji when he first came home. I would break out in a rash when he touched me. My eyes would water and become really itchy. Just wash your B and wipe him down a few days a week until you adjust. Also consider some allergy meds…Zyrtec works great and now you don't need a perscription. Agree, Zyrtec is a great drug for allergies, but can make some people very sleepy. There is a new prescription allergy treatment available called Xyzal that has shown equal symptom relief to Zyrtec in clinical trials, but has less sedation. However, I will warn you that it is very expensive!
  • Ninabeana26N

    Allergies

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    50
    0 Votes
    50 Posts
    22k Views
    E
    Both my sons have allergies diagnosed by a professional allergist and do fine with Basenjis. We have just got our 3rd B two weeks ago and no sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes. I think for you that it MUST be something the dog is bringing in or perhaps your dog is one that performs one particular way and my family lucked out with 3 of the other way. Maybe someday they will have a test like the Fanconi that shows the DNA of this family tree has more dander and the DNA of that heritage has less dander to near none. I do agree with the smart person that has posted on this site the best idea I have ever heard: rub a t-shirt all over the possible family addition, sleep with the t-shirt, and THEN decide. I know it is too late for you but a good thing to repost for readers. Good luck with your situation.
  • pelicanP

    Allergies

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    pelicanP
    Candle is eating Science Diet ZD Ultra. The vet said this is the lowest allergen food. Comments?