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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hello Droolers. Director Ruger has asked me
to put out a public drool notice that the squirrelistans have kicked off their
2012 Itchiecyde campaign. On Sunday after a bath the boys started to
itch. Colt is blaming this on the bath...that we washed off his dirt body
armor to protect them from the itchies. So I started decon procedures but Monday
morning after the boyz had only been outside for 15 minutes Ruger came in with a
horrible contact dermitis reaction...whelt upon whelt, upon whelt. His whole
belly and chest. Colt had some irritations but not as bad. So busted
out the benadryle and the Gold bond powder. After 3 doses of benadyle four
hours apart I finally got Rugers down to a dull roar, next morning after walking
him into the back yard on a leashh to ensure that he didn't lay down he
still ended up with a bad reaction to whatever it is in the yard that he is
allergic to. So went to the vet and got a dexamethasone injection and a
small dose of prednisone. Ruger is doing much better but is not happy that
his outdoor time is extremely limited and confined to a leash. This
year the itchies came much earlier then normal...3 months early. Last year I
started the boyz on zyrtec and decon procedures in May to try to get ahead of
the itchies in hopes to make it less of an issue for the boyz. This hit us by
total surprise.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>So for any hounds out there that has an issue with
the summer allergies, I suggest start them on preventatives now. This is
what we do.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>1. Generic Zyrtec; Cetirizine 10mg (you can get
this at SAMS Club for a lot less then the name brand Zyrtec...I got 400 tablets
for I think $35.) Given after breakfast in a pill pocket</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>2. Very Limited time outside</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>3. Everytime they come in from outside they get
wiped down with a wet wash cloth. EVERYTIME! This is 75% of the
battle. Get the contaminate off of them ASAP. Less time on the skin
the less time for a reaction.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>4. When skin irritations do break out I powder
them with Gold Bond Body Powder - Extra strength/triple action (in the green
container)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>5. When the skin irritations get to bad I take them
to the vet for a shot of dexamethasone to cool down the irritations before they
end up scratching it into an infection. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>6. I have also added a teaspoon of coconut oil to
their meals...Read a lot of research about it, supposed to help prevent
allergies, and protect the skin & coat along with a laundry list of other
heatlh benifits. Does anyone else use coconut oil??? DH & I have
also incorperated it into our diet as well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>My vet did mention that if Ruger had another bad
breakout or if Colt broke out that we would try a new treatment.
Appearently they found a good side effect to a medication that is given to
Kidney transplant patients to prevent their bodies not to reject the
kidney. If the patient had allergies before the transplant then the medication
helped relieve their allergy symptoms with out the drowsiness effects of other
allergy meds like Hydroxine. So the medication: Atopicia (I don't think that is
spelled right) has just been cleared for treating dogs with allergies.
Unfortunetly it has now gotten expensive but they found that used with another
med....sorry can't remember the name. That you could use 1/2 the dose of the
Atopicia...making it a lot cheaper. Two years ago Colt spent the summer as
a Hydroxizine zombie! I really don't want that for either of my boyz, so
the news of this new treatment is good news to me if we need it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>If anyone is interested in the new medications for
alleries just let me know and I'll be more then happy to call my vet and ask for
the correct names & spellings of the 2 drugs so that you can ask your vets
about it for your dogs.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I am also entertaining the suggestion of my vet
tech...to buy the boyz t-shirts and shorts and cut out appropriate holes so that
they can go outside and enjoy thier yard and the nice weather.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Good Luck! </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Love & Drool </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Michele Momma to the Bad Ass Basset
Brothers</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Colt "momma here's my belly wash me and powder
me"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Ruger "I WANT TO GO OUTSIDE!!!!"<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Women are Angels...And when someone breaks their
wings..They simply continue to fly....on a broomstick...They are flexible like
that...<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>