Itchy dog.

Hi Dr Marie,

Recall my email a couple of weeks ago about Max and his itchiness.

Symptoms:
- Nips at fore arm, forelegs, thighs (1-2 x a day). Evidence of non-recent licking on front paw around outside toe on each leg.
- Began bum-skating 10 days ago. Anal glands expressed 7 days ago (moderately full). Since then it's been 1 per 2-3 days. Prior to 10 days ago stool was softish, but on new food, stool is not large but solid.
- Scratches around left ear with hind paw 1 x day, begining 3 days ago.
- while the nipping has been with him since 4 months old, the bum skating, ear scratching have started and overall nipping frequency increased.
The nipping occurs in the cage, but he will also stop chewing on a toy to nip his arm them go back.

Action taken:
Vet visit indicates:
- no redness or discharge near anus
- No visible skin irritation or loss of fur
- no redness of the conjunctiva
- no redness or smell around ear pinnas
- no sign of fleas
- fur appears very healthy.
- no evidence of inhaled allergy
- Started Revolution II yesturday.
- switched from chicken to "Skin Support" fish-based food 10 days ago.
- Max likes to chew on "bull penis". As per recommendation that will be eliminated so only food is dog food and peanutbutter and hypoallergenic treats from vet.

Overall it's not destructive but it seems to be increasing... I'd like to resolve this for Max.

Thanks,

Jay

I mentioned allergy testing but the vet said a) food allergy testing is unreliable (and I know that from experience) and b) environmental testing is best done in the fall.

Also Max was on Benadryl 50 mg BID for 4 days with no effect and then I switched him onto Claritin 1.5 Tab / day for the last 2 days. Hoping this will have an effect.

If it was an anal gland infection you'd see signs of licking, wouldn't you? No signs at all.

Jay

My previous dog went for food allergy testing. $400 later I found out he was allergic to chicken, pork, seafood, soy, venison, lamb, turkey. In truth he was only allergic to fish. Go figure.

Pred reminds me of his IBD treatments so I'm going to wait for now and see how the food trial and revolution go.

He is just 10 months. I'm hoping somehow it wont get worse by the time hes 5 years. In my notes at 4 months I wrote he began this arm biting routine.



Jay

His diet now consists of Skin Support food and peanut butter. I'm searching for something to substitute for his beef bones. He loves frozen cucumber. Is this alright to give him?
What about frozen bananas? I've tried frozen celery but it didn't go anywhere.
Thanks

Jay

Just no berries, tomatoes, onions, grapes or raisins.

My previous dog loved frozen pineapple.

Is it ok to give him cheeses such as cheesewiz on his diet?

because of the fat and salt content?

Thank You