K9, Dog Allegy

Pollen count was extremely high in the past month, I didn't feel a thing because I am smarter now. To my dislike, I decided to take allergy medication regardless of having symptoms or not .

Dog suffers inhalant allergies too. To my surprise, the symptoms are different than the human kind. Dog chews on feet, scratches everywhere, instead of sneezing, or having running nose.


Vet tried to treat allergy symptoms as inhalant, and food/flea bite allergy.
1. Bath with right kind of shampoo - or use wet towel rub daily to remove pollens.
2. Flea control medication - I don't see flea, why take the medication? The vet checked sign of flea around feet, flanks, groin and armpits.
3. Corticosteroids - It reduce itching by reducing inflammation - bad for the dog. I was warned the side effects - increased thirst and appetite. Long term use - can cause diabetes, seizures.
4. Fish oil - (Omega-3, Omega-6 Fatty Acids) - improving the dogs natural anti-inflammatory defense.

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The standard treatment Corticosteroids is to take a high dosage for 4 days, and then cut back 1/2 for 4 days, and 1/2 the amount for the next 4 days etc. I don't think the Corticosteroids should be used to contain the symptoms because its side affects. But rather it shall be only used to suppress, keep the chewing and scratching to acceptable level.

I gave my dog a standard treatment as prescribed, and began to cut back on the medication as soon as the dog stops scratching and chewing feet.


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The follow up visit to vet office - 2 weeks after the "all-out treatment" -
The Corticosteroids treatment is replaced with antihistamines treatment.

5 Antihistamines - 25mg-50mg of Benadryl. (Tavist, Chlortrimeton, Seldane, Atarax). The drawback is sedation. As turnout Benadryl is commonly prescribed to dog to manage anxiety problems. I wonder whether Beneadryl can be used to control overly hyperactive dogs..