2 1/2 yr old male "mongo"

[krunzer]

I don't know if anyone has asked this question yet….but how long have you had him for? Have you had him since he was a pup and this allergy just popped up? or did you get him just a few months ago and then this happened? If you got him just recently and there was no prior issue, that is something to consider....

[Mongo'smommy]

Yes we have tried Benadryl and it helped very little. We have had him since he was 12 weeks and it started shortly after. We had thought it was from the cold here (can be -30 celsius). The vet gave him keflex and prednisone then and it cleared up. Since last summer it had been getting progressively worse….his coat has thinned except along his spine where he can't reach. IMO this had to be a small part food allergy and a larger part environmental (which we have many environmental allergens).
The prednisone will have to do, despite it's long term side effects, as there is no way we can afford the Atopica. We will just wean him down when we can and try to control the flares.

[eeeefarm]

I assume he has been checked for demodectic or sarcoptic mange?

Sarcoptic mange is an extremely common infection and many cases have often been misdiagnosed as severe allergy to a certain type of dog food or environmental plants. In many parts of the US and Canada including all of North and South America, there are more dogs with sarcoptic mange than their are with ticks, fleas, lice, or even ear mites. For these reasons, any time I see a dog with severe itching, and no fleas or ticks are seen on the dog's skin, I have to automatically suspect sarcoptic mange as the culprit.

http://www.beaglesunlimited.com/health/sarcoptic-mange-and-inexpensive-treatment

[Mongo'smommy]

The vet gave me this medicine to apply in four spots down his spine once a month for three months. Does that sound like treatment for this?

[eeeefarm]

@Mongo'smommy:

The vet gave me this medicine to apply in four spots down his spine once a month for three months. Does that sound like treatment for this?

Maybe. What is the medication called? From the description of application I would guess it's Selamectin (Revolution)

[dcmclcm4]

What food were you feeding when he was a puppy and when he was an adult before going on the prescription diet? The foods might give a clue!

Jennifer

[krunzer]

@eeeefarm:

Maybe. What is the medication called? From the description of application I would guess it's Selamectin (Revolution)

Sounds like Revolution to me also, but is that a prescribed medication for Sarcoptic mange?

[eeeefarm]

@krunzer:

Sounds like Revolution to me also, but is that a prescribed medication for Sarcoptic mange?

Selamectin is an ivermectin derivative recently marketed in the dog for the control of fleas, ticks, heartworm, ear mites and sarcoptic mange mites. Normal monthly use of this product should prevent a sarcoptic mange problem but to clear an actual infection studies show an extra dose is usually needed after 2 weeks for reliable results.

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_sarcoptic_mange.html

Of course, you could use ivermectin off label:

IVERMECTIN - This is one of the most effective treatments against Sarcoptes scabei yet is off-label as far as the FDA is concerned. There are several protocols due to the very long activity of this drug in the body. Typically an injection is given either weekly or every two weeks in 1-4 doses. In most cases this treatment is safe and effective but some individuals have a mutation which makes ivermectin very toxic at the doses used to kill mites.

I would think for a Basenji it would be safe, Not for collie type dogs, however…..

[Patty]

I've just caught up with this thread as I've been off line for a while.
I see you just mention a holistic vet. Personally for an allergy I'd always go down this road. there are so many allergies and many chemical medicines to stop itching, loss of fur etcetera. If it is a food allergy and started when you changed to an adult food it would seem to be due to the feed you are now giving. As well as the holistic vet I'd also change to a raw diet.
In my experience I've never known a period of so many Basenjis with allergies!.

[clokatys]

I have a Basenji with IBD, I have her on Hills Z-D prescription hypoallergenic, but I am considering trying raw diet.
I am doing my homework now, and joined a raw diet support group on facebook.