Treating atopic dermatitis

Hi everyone, Thanks for your replies. Yes, it’s such a shame; this illness is really ruining his life. I actually knew about BARF but hadn’t remembered the name. It’s just too much for me to manage, though... I’d never stay organised, and my husband can’t touch a meat mincer because he’s a haemophiliac. As for me, I’m not great at faffing about with raw meat... so I’ve opted for home-cooked meals with veg, starch, and meat, and I just add a little bit of raw meat when I serve it up. I had a blood test done but nothing showed up... I also tried an elimination diet by cutting out certain foods for a few weeks, but it didn’t lead to anything. I’ve tried several brands of dry food, each more expensive than the last, but that made it worse... the poor dog cries and scratches all night long. My vet says it’s called "atopic" specifically because the cause is unknown... probably genetic. Growing up on a farm, we always had dogs but they never scratched like my Léon—and he’s not the only one! It’s likely some kind of issue caused by selective breeding... As for essential oils, I don’t know much about them... I’m going to see my vet again, but she’s fixed on the Apoquel. I asked her if we could find something less expensive because at about £1.70 a pill (and he needs one or two a day!!!), I won’t be able to keep it up for long. To be honest, I cheat a bit and stop or reduce the treatment every now and then... but the itching comes back quickly. Regarding stress, I don’t think that’s the issue. My Léon is a happy dog who gets plenty of exercise; we walk a lot, and he has a large garden to run around in several times a day (he’s so funny when he does zoomies around the house at full speed!). He’s sociable with everyone, both dogs and people; he loves playing and is very, very cuddly. He’s got a strong personality, but I think that’s just a Cocker thing... Maybe I need to see another vet who is a bit more understanding. In the meantime, I’d really like to find cheaper Apoquel. I asked another clinic about 25 miles away, but they told me I’d have to book an appointment with their vet (typical, another £50 for a consultation)... it’s definitely a bit of a money-making scheme since I already have a prescription! I was wondering if it might be cheaper abroad... do you have an email address or a site where I could order some while I look for another solution? Apoquel does have the benefit of calming the itching immediately. Best regards, Attached is a photo of my Léon...

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition linked to allergies. It’s actually the second most common allergic skin disease found in dogs. These allergic reactions can be triggered by normally harmless things like grass, mould spores, house dust mites, fleas, and other environmental allergens, but diet is also a factor. Stress and anxiety can also trigger atopic dermatitis if a dog is dealing with them long-term or repeatedly. Early onset is often linked to a family history of skin allergies. Apoquel reduces the itching, and ciclosporin also helps cut down the scratching. However, these meds only treat the symptoms, not the cause. To truly resolve the issue, you’d need to know exactly which allergens are affecting your dog, but unfortunately, there are thousands of them, making it very hard—if not impossible—to find the root cause. That said, there are effective long-term treatments using certain combinations of essential oils. You should have a word with your vet about it, as the cost is often quite low for a treatment that’s just as effective as conventional medicine. I must warn you, though: don’t try to do this yourself. Essential oils used for humans aren't all safe for animals; many can be toxic to a dog's kidneys, liver, and nervous system if they aren't used in very specific dosages.

Hello Atopic dermatitis since he was a pup... I'll be back on later this evening. Poor little thing... it's heartbreaking to read this, he's not getting to enjoy his youth at all. 😔 In the meantime, while waiting to chat... if you can, have a look at my Pinterest for raw feeding. This diet would be much better for helping him. And regarding the Apoquel, I'll be perfectly honest (maybe it's okay for a short while... to stop the itching and give some relief) but definitely not for the long term... you really need to try and taper it off and eventually get him off it altogether... (I'm not a vet, but after having two dogs with allergies, I've done a lot of reading and searched everywhere for natural options.) It brings relief, but on the other hand, if it's used too much, it "messes with the system" which won't help your dog. It's a never-ending cycle... https://www.pinterest.fr/Doudou229/le-barf-pour-chien/ http://www.b-a-r-f.com On the BARF forum, Ruju, the admin, knows more than I do about Apoquel... and Viggo will be able to explain the BARF diet for atopic dermatitis. But I'll be back this evening... Hi Sky Thanks for thinking of me for Llucciole. I'll do everything I can to help them. Because of that, I haven't even made it out to do the shopping for Oxane yet... See you tonight. Regarding Gandy, I've replied about the spirulina... 😌

Hi, I’m sure when @Doudou pops in, she’ll tell you about a different kind of diet: BARF. It’ll likely help your dog feel much better, and she really knows her stuff. :)