Dog advice

[Facehugger]

As well as the advice others have given, I would also say speak to your vet because they might be able to recommend something to calm her down a bit. I know people use plug ins and things when it's firework night.

My friend has Dobermanns and they are always on the alert and noisy. She was trying some electronic anti barking devices out last time I saw her pre Covid, not sure how she's got on with them. Good luck, I hope you can find a way forward for you all

 

[KathDayKnight]

Just thought I'd offer my good luck - let us know how you get on! I have a dog with issues (also a Lab - seems to be a theme!!) and some days it really gets you down doesn't it? We've tried a Behaviourist but unfortunately it hasn't really worked for us - they usually encourage positive re-enforcement which involved giving treats which is counter-productive. Labs are too clever and ours realises they can behave badly then looks at us for treats

 

[Snippysnips]

Resurrecting an old thread - sorry!

Does anyone have any advice for an itchy dog? My poor boy suffers awful with allergies. Ideally we’d like to allergy test him, but the truth of it is we just can’t afford to do that.

Any help is very much appreciated from a worried pug mummy x

Have you tried different foods? To see if maybe its that

My mates dog was the exact same an turned out she was allergic to wheat so they had to get food that didn't contain it an it all cleared up for her, she's apparently allergic to grass as well so she couldn't let her into the garden

My boy used to be on bakers till we got told it was basically junk food, so we started paying for the more expensive brands like wainwright's an well beloved an omg his fur literally started coming out in clumps an he was constantly scratching, so we thought nah an went back to bakers but got the no preservatives one an he complete cleared up

 

[101d]

Resurrecting an old thread - sorry!

Does anyone have any advice for an itchy dog? My poor boy suffers awful with allergies. Ideally we’d like to allergy test him, but the truth of it is we just can’t afford to do that.

Any help is very much appreciated from a worried pug mummy x

 

[KathDayKnight]

Eugh almost had a breakdown today with my dog growling at someone on a walk, get so fed up of it some days

 

[101d]

My wee boy had his first Cytopoint injection today. £116 down (and can’t claim, FML) but hope he starts to feel better from here

 

[Saddlesoap]

Yes, we’ve been through the same with our Bedlington. It took years to learn all of the below, so hopefully I’ve saved some leg work!

Firstly, ask your vet to ensure it’s allergies and not a fungal or bacterial infection on the skin. Malaseb is a good shampoo for fungal issues, or the vet can help with bacterial.

I’d also suggest adding Complederm to the dog’s food, as it helps strengthen their skin barrier. It’s a liquid a bit like olive oil and most dogs love it!

Also, don’t bother allergy testing. All dogs are allergic to loads of stuff, so it’s pointless (advice from a consultant veterinary dermatologist). A better way is to try eliminating things one at a time - I’d start with diet (including treats) as the most common allergens are proteins and grains. A lot of dog food says it’s good for allergies but in reality it’s not - I’d suggest Purina HA for six weeks to see if that helps, as it’s truly hypoallergenic.

You could also try changing the washing powder used on their bedding, shampoo, grooming products, etc and see if any of that makes a difference. You can also eliminate dust as an allergen, by using a spray called Indorex on your carpets and soft furnishings - it’s about £13 from Amazon and you do it once every six months.

If none of that helps, I’d suggest you try to get Cytopoint injections for the dog - they block the itch receptors and they’re honestly absolutely miraculous for most dogs.They solved our dog’s itching problems after years of stress, and they work within 24 hours. They do need to be given monthly tho, and it’s around £60-90 per injection, so one for your insurance if you have it!

Your vet will most likely suggest Apoquel, but it’s a horrible steroid which, if used long term, can lead to blindness, deafness, organ failure and all sorts of other nasty things. It also makes the dog drink and pee a lot - sometimes uncontrollably. You can just flat refuse it and ask for Cytopoint instead as it has no known side effects.

Sorry for the essay, but I hope that helps. It can be horrible to watch your dog suffer, but there is hope - ours used to make himself bleed with scratching but now he has no issues at all (largely down to Cytopoint - it really is amazing). xx

Apoquel is NOT a steroid or an immunosuppressive. It is oclacitinib and it 'blocks' the itch receptors.
Cytopoint is a monoclonal antibody which neutralises the itch.

All drugs have side effects, Cytopoint is no different. Both are great, safe drugs. Personally my dog didn't benefit from Cytopoint, but her atopy was successfully managed for many years on Apoquel. Dying of old age at a bit over 15years.

 

[Taythomlau]

How are yoy getting on OP?

 

[Serious_Susan]

Hi,

Long story short - we rescued our lab two years ago when she was 6 months old. We weren’t given a lot of background information but knew she had come from a family with three young children and was locked away when visitors came. She is very large for her age - not so much weight but in build, and was very exciteable.

This was August 2019 - we had 6 months before lockdown where it was impossible to have anyone round to the house. She jumps, barks and tries to climb onto any visitor who comes. We assumed this was because she was young and still adapting so we held back having visitors to allow her to settle in.

Then of course Covid happened, we found that we cannot all sit down without her barking (mainly at my partner) and when we all sit at the table to eat dinner. She reacts badly to video calls or when she can hear other voices in the house which has been a nightmare WFH. The only way to placate her is to feed her, and this feels counter productive.

Now we’re obviously able to have people round again we have tried, but it’s unbareable with her. She barks persititantly at any guest who comes into our home or garden - to the extent we no longer have people round or get her looked after if we do.

She’s also started to bark at us constantly in the house, what ever we are doing - we recently purchased a hot tub and we cannot all sit in this without her barking.

I’m not really sure the best option - she is walked every day amply and has plenty of toys and engaging things to play with.

I don’t know if it’s really awful of me to be considering re-homing her but at the moment I can’t tolerate the restrictions on our lives within our own home.

Thank you.

 

[Kim Mild]

I have dog who is a barker too.
My dog usually is barking at us , to communicate something. Is she barking to communicate excitement/ a want or need / aggression? Or a mix of emotions?

 

[pingpingpie]

Resurrecting an old thread - sorry!

Does anyone have any advice for an itchy dog? My poor boy suffers awful with allergies. Ideally we’d like to allergy test him, but the truth of it is we just can’t afford to do that.

Any help is very much appreciated from a worried pug mummy x

Yes, we’ve been through the same with our Bedlington. It took years to learn all of the below, so hopefully I’ve saved some leg work!

Firstly, ask your vet to ensure it’s allergies and not a fungal or bacterial infection on the skin. Malaseb is a good shampoo for fungal issues, or the vet can help with bacterial.

I’d also suggest adding Complederm to the dog’s food, as it helps strengthen their skin barrier. It’s a liquid a bit like olive oil and most dogs love it!

Also, don’t bother allergy testing. All dogs are allergic to loads of stuff, so it’s pointless (advice from a consultant veterinary dermatologist). A better way is to try eliminating things one at a time - I’d start with diet (including treats) as the most common allergens are proteins and grains. A lot of dog food says it’s good for allergies but in reality it’s not - I’d suggest Purina HA for six weeks to see if that helps, as it’s truly hypoallergenic.

You could also try changing the washing powder used on their bedding, shampoo, grooming products, etc and see if any of that makes a difference. You can also eliminate dust as an allergen, by using a spray called Indorex on your carpets and soft furnishings - it’s about £13 from Amazon and you do it once every six months.

If none of that helps, I’d suggest you try to get Cytopoint injections for the dog - they block the itch receptors and they’re honestly absolutely miraculous for most dogs.They solved our dog’s itching problems after years of stress, and they work within 24 hours. They do need to be given monthly tho, and it’s around £60-90 per injection, so one for your insurance if you have it!

Your vet will most likely suggest Apoquel, but it’s a horrible steroid which, if used long term, can lead to blindness, deafness, organ failure and all sorts of other nasty things. It also makes the dog drink and pee a lot - sometimes uncontrollably. You can just flat refuse it and ask for Cytopoint instead as it has no known side effects.

Sorry for the essay, but I hope that helps. It can be horrible to watch your dog suffer, but there is hope - ours used to make himself bleed with scratching but now he has no issues at all (largely down to Cytopoint - it really is amazing). xx

 

[Lalalaand]

Does anyone have any tips on preparing a dog for a new baby (ours, not his) I’m worried he will feel left out or jealous. He’s a spoilt German Shepherd who’s 2 years old, he’s very protective of us both, especially my partner who he lived with before me. I’m only 15 weeks but I think he knows something is up as he keeps sniffing my belly and has been putting his paw on my thigh a lot and staring at my belly, and dropping his bone in to my lap so I’ve been telling him that our baby is in me and that he has to help look after it (I know he doesn’t really know what I’m saying but it feels right to explain to him) I’ve done some googling and got some ideas but any really life tips really appreciated

Interested in any advice on this too. We have a 6 year old Border Collie who’s such a brilliant and loving dog, but I’m so worried she’ll feel left out when our baby comes. Trouble is we never thought we were able to have kids so she’s been our baby, we absolutely dote on her and I think she sometimes thinks she is a baby I get the feeling she knows something is up too she’s been very whiny and needy around me and literally won’t leave my side (l didn’t think it was possible for her to be any more needy than she was!) we will do everything we can to make sure she knows she’s still very much loved and part of the family but would love to hear what anyone else recommends to do that

 

[Captainmouse]

I’m not sure if you’ve already tried but when my puppy used to go crazy and not settle id shake a bottle filled with stones and he’d stop or at least calm down significantly. It definitely sounds like you need a trainer/behaviourist long term but short term that might help?

You can buy dog discs that you can shake or drop