Itchy's

[Chip's Mom]

Chip itches quite often. He has no fleas or ticks. The vet said that his skin and fur are healthy. She suggested bathing more often to twice a week and give him benedryl. I hesitate to give him benedryl because it will make him sleepy and I am hoping the itchy's will pass. I am thinking maybe allergies. Any ideas.

[corgimom]

Chips mom,

Did you think of maybe trying to switch his food to a different protein
source - he may be allergic to something in his food and you may have
to try something else; I think I have read that adding Omega 6 to their
diets can help with skin problems?

I have a cat with skin problems and itching, and he eats the Waltham(originally Royal Canin) Green Pea and Duck. I have to get this from the vet; can't just buy this at the pet store. The only thing is when animals have to eat these diets, they can't be given treats on the side because the skin problems will then continue.

Have you washed his bedding with some new laundry detergent or fabric
softener.

I don't think a vet should just automatically suggest giving benedryl
without considering that his food could be the source of his itching.

Linda

[Chip's Mom]

I hadn't thought of food - he has been itching off and on since he fell into the pond so I originally thought it was that. He stopped for awhile so I thought maybe now it is grass. However, I just changed laundry detergent and he sleeps on my bed so I might switch back and see if that helps. I didn't like the benedryl suggestion either. I hate to change his dog food because I have switched him 3 times and he is doing so well on this one but I may have too.

[corgimom]

Chips mom,

Make one change at a time - like go back to your original laundry detergent
if you think that is what it could be and give it about a week to 10 days
and see if he still itches - if so, it could possibly be his food. I suppose he
could be allergic to grass and the vet could address that. How long ago did
he fall into the pond?

I know they have different food for dogs and cats with skin problems or itching that would only be 1 protein source, like duck, venison or lamb; things that usually do not cause skin problems like chicken beef and turkey can sometimes do. However, try the detergent first and see what happens.

linda

[Chip's Mom]

The first time he fell in the pond, he was about 8 - 9 weeks old. I should have given him a bath but it was cold and all I could think of was getting him dry and warm. He was in the pond for maybe 5 seconds (my husband was right with him) but he was scared and cold. A few days later, his ears were red and itchy along with a spot on his side that he itched so I took him to the Vet's. She gave him some bacterial shampoo and drops for his ears. It cleared up right away. The second time he fell in the pond, I gave him a bath with the shampoo and he was fine. Now he stays away from the pond. He usually itches more when the grass is wet and it has been raining. I gave him another bath yesterday and he hasn't itched since I have been home tonight. He doesn't itch all the time, just sometimes so there must be something that is causing him to itch. I am thinking if it was the detergent, he would itch at night in bed and he doesn't seem too. His skin is a normal color with no rash, etc and his fur is soft. Just itches sometimes. I have started giving him the pupperoni treats too.

[corgimom]

Maybe you should eliminate those puperoni treats and see what happens -
hard not to treat our dogs, right? Could be just some strange ingredient that
is setting him off when he eats it.

linda

[Michael Romanos]

I wouldn't bath my Corgi twice weekly for a period of time- no matter what the vet says.
Corgis can pick up lots of allergies than can make then scratch and bite themselves and it is a matter of investigating the more common causes so as to carry out an elimination process.
Plants and food are the most usual.
With food the top things that come to my mind are cow's milk, dairy rpoducts, wheat and beef. Wheat and beef are very common to processed dry and wet food but there are products within brands that specifically eliminate both these - especially wheat.
With plants there are dozens of them in gardens and even in public parks interspersed with normal grass. The most common plant that dogs easily develop allergies from are the plants than are ivy/vine-like. Vets can give you for your Corgi little pink tablets that can nullify the effects of plants that annoy a dog's skin.
That's for a kick off anyway.

[Chip's Mom]

Thanks Michael - I am leaning toward the outside as that is when he seems to itch the most. We have a crop of poison ivy in our side yard growing on the fence and after reading your post, am wondering if that maybe the culprit. I tried to get rid of it 2 weeks ago and came down with a nasty rash. I will fence that area off so Chip can't get in there and quit the pupperonis too and we will see what happens.

[PocketsMom]

My Belle had itching problems and I was told it was allergies then that it wasn't. Finally I was told most dogs are allergic to proteins in the food. I found Puriina One for sensitive systems. It is made with Salmon and the only one I have found without chicken beef or lamb that I don't need a prescription for. Belle has been much better since I switched a year ago. Her ears were bad because of it, always red and frequent infections. She has not had an ear infection since I switched. A lot of times it can be the dye in treats as well. We also had to do benadryl for a long time. It did make her tired too. Just my experience so there is something to try.

[Michael Romanos]

Chip's Mom - Poison Ivy is aply named. If that is not the source of your fellow's discomfort I will hand write out a hundred times "I am a fairy and I ride on my Corgi's back."
How come the vet you paid big dollars to, didn't quizz you about that?

PicketsMom - Protein is a funny thing. Nortmally high protein food is great for dogs so I wouldn't take too much notice of someone saying the opposite. I suspect among all the additives in processed dry or wet food there are items that had affected your fellow. But as I have said wheat and beef can affect dogs detrimentally - not lamb or chicken. In fact chicken is becoming so much more popular as a food for dogs, it is outpacing lamb.

[corgimom]

Michael,

yes, protein is good for Dogs and Cats, but Chicken can most definitely cause
allergies in dogs and cats - it is one of the most common proteins used. Wheat, corn, and beef can also cause allergies - lamb is more of a better option and there is also venison and duck that are becoming popular protein alternatives for animals with skin allergies and Gastro intestinal problems.

I was told this by the skin specialist doctor that I went to see for my cat -
but it applies to both cats and dogs.

Linda

[Michael Romanos]

Corn is not something I give to dogs so that has never been a worry but I'm sure glad that Taylor has no food allergies. Dogs just don't suddenly develop allergies - they are there from the onset. But they can build an immunity to things that cause allergies so that something that affects your dog now may not at another time in the future. As a developing pup, Taylor got excema from a kind of ivy and was treated for it. The ivy grew back again but Taylor has never had any further problems from it. He had built up an immunity thank goodness because ivy grows like a liar's nose.

[corgimom]

dogs and cats, like people, can develop a sensitivity to any food or additive at any time which can cause itchy skin or other symptoms and corn is not something you would just feed to your dog by itself, but is found in commercial dog food.

linda