[Dailydrool] Itchy flews

[Elizabeth Lindsey]

> The trouble with Pred is that everything tends to come right back  
> once it is stopped. It can also be tough on the liver, so use it  
> cautiously. Don't let your Vet just keep giving it to control the  
> itching.

I'm with Bev--prednisone generally shouldn't be turned into a  
maintenance medication. Usually when this is the case, only the  
symptoms of the problem are being treated and not the problem itself.  
Any time itchiness lingers on and doesn't calm down after a few days  
of prednisone, it's time to start looking for the cause of the  
problem. Especially because the more a dog itches, the more it  
scratches, and the more it scratches, the more it increases its  
chances of developing a secondary infection caused by bacteria from  
its tongue or toenails being transferred into the openings it's  
creating in its skin. In my experience, veterinary dermatologists/ 
allergist are a good resource for diagnostic help when our regular  
vet appears to have fallen into a pattern of reactively treating  
recurring symptoms of itchiness.

Elizabeth