Help my boy is Atopical

[paula792 View paula792's Profile Find paula792's Posts Find paula792's Threads Send paula792 a message E-Mail paula792]

Hi can anyone help my lovely boy has had a diagnosis of A topical allergy for the past three years. Iam now struggling with the cost of constant vet treatments and cant bare the thought of having him put to sleep.Do you know any herbal treatments that work,I have tried starfish tablets but they didnt seem to help him

[Andy View Andy's Profile Find Andy's Posts Find Andy's Threads Send Andy a message E-Mail Andy]

Hi welcome to lab-lovers.
Do you know exactly what he is allergic to, i'm not going to be able to offer much advice as I'm not to familiar with the condition.
Have you searched around the internet for the medication he is currently on, as you may find it cheaper than buying through you vets. as an example one of my dogs used to have lypex for a condition and it was £60 from the vets, and here http://www.petmeds.co.uk/nsearch.aspx?keywords=lypex it is £50 but that £10 saving could make the difference.
Also try this website http://www.petdispensary.co.uk/ as they are a bit cheaper, but certain meds may require you get a prescription off your vet.
As you say your struggling with vet costs I'm assuming he is not insured, not sure where you are based, but have you tried getting in touch with a pet charity like the rspca to try and get some help.

[paula792 View paula792's Profile Find paula792's Posts Find paula792's Threads Send paula792 a message E-Mail paula792]

Hi thanks for your reply. Jake is Atopical which means he is allergic to lots and lots of things ie house dust mite, pollens. additives in some dog foods the list goes on. He is on prednisalone steroids, antihistermines and when his skin is really bad cefalexin atibiotics,as well as eardrops. I will look on the web sites but I do think most of his meds are prescription only

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I dont think the RSPCA would help as I work and dont get any benifits.

[Andy View Andy's Profile Find Andy's Posts Find Andy's Threads Send Andy a message E-Mail Andy]

(13-03-2011 03:39 PM)paula792 Wrote:  Hi thanks for your reply. Jake is Atopical which means he is allergic to lots and lots of things ie house dust mite, pollens. additives in some dog foods the list goes on. He is on prednisalone steroids, antihistermines and when his skin is really bad cefalexin atibiotics,as well as eardrops. I will look on the web sites but I do think most of his meds are prescription only

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I dont think the RSPCA would help as I work and dont get any benifits.

No problem even if they are prscription as long as you can get you vet to sign a prescription you can order them off the site.
or see if there is any alternaive treatments on there.
I'll try and find out some more info and will post it up if i find anything useful.

[Andy View Andy's Profile Find Andy's Posts Find Andy's Threads Send Andy a message E-Mail Andy]

Have you had your boy tested at all to finds out what exactly is causing the allergy, blood and skin tests and then the vets could offer vaccines wich are longer lasting and probably going to be cheaper over time. Another suggestion i had when asking about this is to give him piriton and i'm assuming that this is the type you buy over the counter.
Is he currently on any special diet hypoallegenic/cereal free any thing like that
And here is another site you can look at for meds http://www.vet-medic.com/

[Andy View Andy's Profile Find Andy's Posts Find Andy's Threads Send Andy a message E-Mail Andy]

Can you give us more details about his exact symptons when he has a reaction? itchy skin etc.
Also something called gla is good for allergys which is found in evening primrose oil.
Maybe something like this http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/p...prodid=584 as cod liver oil is also good for their coats.
also here are a few sites you might want to read,
http://www.entirelypets.com/dermapetallergy.html
http://www.dermapet.com/articles/essential_fatty.htm
http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/acvfordogs.html
hope this helps.

[paula792 View paula792's Profile Find paula792's Posts Find paula792's Threads Send paula792 a message E-Mail paula792]

It starts with his ears becoming red and inflamed and they produce black waxy stuff. His skin goes a black purple colour and he itches all over, he bites himself until he bleeds. This usually starts with a month of him coming off steriods. Has for pritton they dont help him much he is on them all the time and the injections you have mentioned in your previous message I have discussed with my vet and they are £60 every week and they treat the symptoms but do not cure this illness. Has I live alone and only have the one wage then an average of £240 a month on vet bills is just not possible. I will look on the web sites you have recommended and see what is available

Thanks

[Andy View Andy's Profile Find Andy's Posts Find Andy's Threads Send Andy a message E-Mail Andy]

Just a thought has he been flea treated lately?
try him on some evening primrose as well as i looked and the gla is higher in that then the starflower, also i found cod liver oil to be good for their coat and skin so maybe have a combination of the 2.
The injections do seem very expensive.
I'll keep researching and let you know if i find anything else out.

[Dante View Dante's Profile Find Dante's Posts Find Dante's Threads Send Dante a message E-Mail Dante]

You probably have read all of these but thought i would link them anyway,
http://priory.com/vet/vetatop1.htm
http://www.dogchatforum.com/atopy-dogs.htm
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?...87&aid=503

[Andy View Andy's Profile Find Andy's Posts Find Andy's Threads Send Andy a message E-Mail Andy]

And here is a few more i was told about.
http://allaboutlabradors.blogspot.com/20...iever.html
http://www.petcarenaturally.com/articles...ements.php
http://www.ehow.com/about_6694018_skin-r...iever.html