Itchy eyes and face

[Dunkyn's Mommy]

This is our baby, Dunkyn.



She's 9 months old. We got her at 8 weeks from a breeder (in May). She has always had lips that were a little red- mentioned it to the vet on her first visit and he said it was nothing to be worried about as puppies have very sensitive skin. We quickly transitioned her from whatever the breeder was giving her (Purina Puppy Chow, I think) to Blue Buffalo Chicken flavored puppy food. We noticed red bumps on her belly and she was always itching her stomach.

The vet suggested that we switch her to a different food and recommended a fish-based food as the Omega-3's in fish can help with skin issues/itchiness. We switched her to Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream and (literally) overnight her belly was no longer red or bumpy or itchy! This was mid-September.

However, over the months, the small areas of redness on her lips have gotten worse- not sure if it's a separate issue, or the same issue getting worse/spreading. The underside of her top lips are pink/red and a little puffy. Her snout gets pink (almost looks like sun-burn) and she itches her eyes and ears and snout almost constantly some days. More than once she has itched her face to the point where she's bleeding.

We've been to our regular for this- he thought she had been stung by a bee (I didn't think so) and was having a reaction so he prescribed prednisone. The prednisone did seem to help but as soon as she was off of it she started itching again. I know prednisone can be dangerous so I absoultely refuse to put her back on it.

For the last week or so the itching has been really bad. We started her on 25mg of benedryl (she weighs about 22 lbs) and it's hard to tell if it's helping- it's definitely not helping in any significant way.

We decided to bite the bullet so to speak, and call the dog allergist in our area. They are booked until the end of January. In the meantime, we have to put her donut (like a cone, from after she was spayed) on her every time we leave the house to stop her from itching her face.

If you look really closely the area around her eyes is losing some hair/fur, I think from her itching so much. We live in Connecticut, so the seasons/weather definitely changes- we were hoping that it was an environmental allergy and that once the weather got cold and the ground froze her symptoms would ease up, but that isn't the case at all. It's the worst right now that it's ever been. She also licks/bites her legs at times, and scratches her belly with her back legs. At this point it's hard to tell what's "normal itching" and what' excessive.

So, in the meantime while we wait for our appointment with her allergist, we just don't know what to do:
- Increase the dosage of benadryl?
- Change her food (to what, I don't know... just figure it can't hurt!?)
- Keep the donut on her all the time..?

We also have a parakeet, but I don't necessarily think that has anything to do with it. None of her brothers and sisters have similar issues, so we're totally at a loss.

I'm just hoping SO badly that SOMEONE hears this story and thinks it sounds familiar and can offer us some advice?

Tried to cover everything, but if there is any information I'm forgetting, just ask.

Thanks for reading, and thank you so much for any help anyone can offer us!

[ee61re]

A random thought:

Her bedding - when you wash it, what detergent or softener do you use?

[Dunkyn's Mommy]

Originally Posted by ee61re

A random thought:

Her bedding - when you wash it, what detergent or softener do you use?

We use dye and fragrance-free detergent and softener - Arm and Hammer.

[Dawna]

It does sound like an allergy of some kind. If the areas were on other parts of her body I would suspect mange, but I've never heard of it being only on the face. I've not experienced that with my dogs but they have a problem with gunky eye drainage that's been going on since early fall. I took them to the vets and got medicated eye drops initially, but it keeps flaring up and clearing up on both dogs. I would think that was an allergy but not when they BOTH have it and they are not related. Allergies are very tricky. I have a neighbor that takes 3 of her dogs to an allergy specialist on a regular asis. She swears that it helps but the prices are outrageous.

[Dawna]

PS I just remembered years ago one of my friends had a cat who was allergic to his food dish. I believe she had been using a plastic dish. He had what looked like acne pimples on his face. She switched bowls and I believe it cleared up.

[ee61re]

Originally Posted by Dunkyn's Mommy

We use dye and fragrance-free detergent and softener - Arm and Hammer.

What about towels, if used to rub her down?

Also, does the softener have Lanolin in it?

[Dunkyn's Mommy]

Originally Posted by ee61re

What about towels, if used to rub her down?

Also, does the softener have Lanolin in it?

The towels are washed in the same detergent, with HOT water (is that what you were asking?)

I'm not sure about the Lanolin... I'll have to check when I get home. Why do you ask? Is that something that can cause a reaction?

[Dunkyn's Mommy]

Originally Posted by Dawna

PS I just remembered years ago one of my friends had a cat who was allergic to his food dish. I believe she had been using a plastic dish. He had what looked like acne pimples on his face. She switched bowls and I believe it cleared up.

She eats out of stainless steal bowls (or ceramic once in a while if her's are being cleaned).

[epoh]

Poor thing. I can only offer up a suggestion to pick up some anti-itch spray from the pet store. We used some on our old bulldog when he had skin issues.. it didn't get rid of the problem, but it seemed to help reduce the scratching.

[Dunkyn's Mommy]

Originally Posted by epoh

Poor thing. I can only offer up a suggestion to pick up some anti-itch spray from the pet store. We used some on our old bulldog when he had skin issues.. it didn't get rid of the problem, but it seemed to help reduce the scratching.

We have some, but of course, it says not to use near her eyes (and that's her itchiest area)