Allergic to the great outdoors

[Jeni D]

I took Dudley to the vet this week because he had really been itching at his ears off and on for quite some time. Every time I thought to call the vet, he would be perfectly fine the next day. Well, I finally got sick of it, and scheduled an appointment at the vet. To the tune of $40, I learned that Dudley is allergic to something in the outdoors and I should give him Benadryl (25mg) when he starts to itch. She also mentioned Benadryl or Dramamine for his ongoing car sickness. (Apparently Benadryl is a miracle drug )
I think he must be allergic to something in my parents' yard because after I got home and started thinking about, I realized that it only happens after he is allowed to run free at their house.
I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem and if anyone has actually ever used the Benadryl before.
Thanks!
Jeni

[corgimom]

Jeni,

I have not used the Benadryl myself, but my vet had also told me that using Benadryl for itchiness is okay. Did your vet mention what she thought it could be that he would be allergic to outside?

[Jeni D]

She basically said it could be anything. My parents have alot of trees, but Dudley only plays in the wide open spaces. They also have lots of cats (can dogs be allergic to cats?) and they're surrounded by corn fields. Although at the time of his itchies, there was no corn. She made it seem like lots of dogs have this problem.

[Jespah]

Hi Jeni,

If it is an outdoor allergy, then it should be seasonal. Is there a certain time of year that he has more problems?

I'm not a big one for giving my dogs or cats drugs unless they really are in pain or uncomfortable, but it's a personal choice. How bad is the scratching -and the car sickness? I'd only use it when he's having a really bad time of it.

[Jeni D]

I completely agree Deb! His allergies haven't bothered him enough yet that I would even think about actually giving him the Benadryl. Like I said before, he'll only scratch at them for a day or so and then he goes back to normal life. I would only think about using it if he was really really scratching at them and seemed like he coudn't do anything else. Right now, we can distract him for the most part when they are bothering him. My concern is that the vet said that sometimes the scratching can lead to secondary infections so I really need to watch for that.

I only started noticing it around November, so hopefully it's something associated with the late fall. He did start to itch when we went home for Christmas, but the weather has been so unseasonably warm that I'm sure what was bothering him in November was still there in December (I hope I am making sense!)

The car sickness is another thing. He will throw up on nearly every long car trip. He is "normally" okay on shorter ones. This has been something we have battled since I brought him home (He was sick the entire time!). He really likes to go for car rides, and we love taking him places, but we don't want him to be sick all the time either. I'm just concerned about the effects benadryl could have on him. The vet said it would more than likely just make him go to sleep, but Benadryl makes my heart race, so that worries me a bit.

[Jespah]

They have been saying that a lot of people in North America that have fall allergies are still suffering because of our wonky winter. If he is having a really bad bout of scratching - you could get a cone for his collar so he won't break the skin and get an infection. I have a cone (Elizabethan collar) and I've used it for various things thoughout the years.

If Dud is okay on short car rides, then perhaps you could plan rest stops so he can get his balance back. Also, planning his meals ahead of a long trip so that he is as empty as possible is good. Does he ride in the back seat and able to see out the window?? Seeing the horizon or at least outside can help.

Deb

[Jeni D]

Thanks Deb
I might have to look into one of those collars if the itching continues. He only seems to develop the problem when we go to visit my parents, which is once a month at most.

We try not to feed him before we leave on a trip (depending on what time we leave of course) so his stomach is pretty empty; this doesn't stop him from throwing up bile. He rides in the back and can see out the window, but he normally just lays down, hangs his head over the seat, and stares at the ground. It's the weirdest thing to watch. The problem with taking frequent breaks is that he is normally okay on open road; it's when we have to stop at stop signs, to get gas, or to slow down for towns. He can't handle the stopping and going, no matter how smooth we try to make it. If we could stay on the interstate and never have to stop or go, he would be fine, I think. I don't get it!

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Jeni D

I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem and if anyone has actually ever used the Benadryl before.

Jeni, yes I've used the Benadryl. I had a precious little fluffy black headed tri foster girl once that was allergic to the "world" almost - food and environmental. When she came into the shelter she had open weeping sores, her pads bled when she walked. Changed her food, supplemented with things to build her system and Benadryl was a part of her medical treatment. It did help.

What trees, plants, etc are different at your parent's house than the one's at home? That will at least give you a base as to what the triggers might be.

The carsickness, I've used Dramamene (sp?) with some. Some have traveled better on empty stomachs, others do better with a little food on their tummies - like a dog biscuit. Old fashioned ginger snap cookies can also be helpful to keep tummies calm. Maybe keep a small bag handy and when out giving him an exercise break give him one. Won't hurt him, and hopefully will help keep his tummy settled stopping and going.

Debbie

[corgimom]

Originally Posted by Jeni D

Thanks Deb
I might have to look into one of those collars if the itching continues. He only seems to develop the problem when we go to visit my parents, which is once a month at most.

We try not to feed him before we leave on a trip (depending on what time we leave of course) so his stomach is pretty empty; this doesn't stop him from throwing up bile. He rides in the back and can see out the window, but he normally just lays down, hangs his head over the seat, and stares at the ground. It's the weirdest thing to watch. The problem with taking frequent breaks is that he is normally okay on open road; it's when we have to stop at stop signs, to get gas, or to slow down for towns. He can't handle the stopping and going, no matter how smooth we try to make it. If we could stay on the interstate and never have to stop or go, he would be fine, I think. I don't get it!

Jeni,

Personally, I am one that can get car sickness - especially while driving with my husband. If we as a family go somewhere, I will usually sit in the back with my daughter and I cannot read anything or I will feel like I have the flu for the rest of the day. However, my husbands, stopping and turning does make it worse for me(he drives to Chicago frequently on business and I think he has picked up some habits), but if it were just a straight shot on a freeway, I seem to do much better. Maybe I should get some gingersnaps.

[Jeni D]

Linda,
I am exactly the same way (except I don't ride in the backseat and still manage to get car sick.) I have to be driving or I'll get car sickness and have that same flu-like feeling as you. I think that's why I sympathize with Dudley a little better than hubby does--he can read, sleep, or spin circles and still not get sick in the car
We did try the gingersnaps with Dudley, but he was incredibly disinterested in them

[Dillydoodle]

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[Jeni D]

Sorry Debbie, I missed your post before. The plant life at my parents' is much different than here. For starters, we have zero trees and only a few very small bushes...that is the extent of the plant life aside from the grass. My parents have a variety--lilac bushes, big oaks, elms, maples, evergreens, I swear it looks like a mini-forest. So, I wouldn't even know where to begin to try and pinpoint one problem

Emilie--Dudley's itching is no where near as bad as poor Dillon's was. He'll itch at his ears enough to get them a little red and shake his head a bit, but he has never scratched off the hair. Hopefully it won't ever come to that. I'm glad to hear that the meds are working for Dillon.

[Jespah]

A dog that's disinterested in COOKIES!!! Now that calls for medication!!!

I get car sick too and need to sit in the front and cannot read or even look at a map. I do better with some simple food like plain crackers in my stomach rather than empty. Stopping, starting and turning can do me in too. Fresh air and cooler temps do help. It's not helping him laying over the edge staring at the floor as he isn't getting the perspective of movement. It's so hard with our pets as we can't explain things to them.

Yup, ginersnaps will help you too!!

[Dillydoodle]

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