Search Results for: blog pet first aid allergy attack

Treating Flatulence in Pets

For the last week or so, my German shepherd mix Moose has been extremely gassy. I used to think my dog Miko had bad gas (he would toot when he was nervous — even the vet had to open a window) but this is pretty awful. In Moose’s case, I don’t think nerves are the problem. He’s a pretty laid-back dog most of the time. Since his encounter with Giardia over the summer, he’s been a little more sensitive in the stomach. I wonder if the irritation hasn’t developed into some form of inflammatory bowel disease. The first thing I’m … Continue reading →

Pet Chin Acne

A few years ago, I discovered that Lally had a plastic allergy when I saw pet chin acne. She started breaking out in little red bumps all over her muzzle. After ruling out a food allergy, the vet suggested that she might be allergic to the plastic in her bowl. We switched to a ceramic bowl and she hasn’t had any trouble since! Acne is a relatively common skin problem in cats and dogs. The problem can start at any age, and looks a lot like acne in humans — red bumps, often on the chin and lower lip. The … Continue reading →

It Must Be Fall Allergy Time…

I don’t need to look out the window or test the temperature to know that the seasons are changing. I have two dogs with seasonal allergies! Moose’s allergies are milder. He tends to get itchy all over — I’ll catch him rolling on the floor on his back much more often when the seasons change to spring or fall. That’s when I break out the Benadryl to help ease his symptoms. Lally is my problem child when it comes to allergies. You may remember the large sore she scratched into her neck last year? She’s up to it again, and … Continue reading →

Pet Reactions to Medication

Around the first of the month, it is time for Moose and Lally to get their heartworm and flea and tick preventatives. The routine is much the same every time: they both love chowing down on the chewy heartworm preventative. Moose tolerates getting the liquid flea and tick medication on his back; Lally hates it. She tries to run away, she grumbles and meeps at me, but in the end, she suffers through it. This month, we tried switching from Frontline to a different flea and tick preventative. As far as I can tell, it works as well. (The vet … Continue reading →

What Fall Means to Your Pet: The Good, the Bad, and the Sniffly

Just like many of us humans, animals rejoice in fall’s coming too. The milder weather lends to more outdoor time, which is good, but it can also be not so good. The Good: Outdoor Time My Murph likes fall because it means more time sitting on the back deck, longer walks, and more frequent trips to the park. It’s easy to both sneak in more exercise and relaxation at this time of year. The cooler weather also often revives Murph, making him a bit more perky and frisky. He’s more inclined to play tugga-tugga with his shaky ball in the … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Sept 17–23

We bade adieu to summer and Bienvenue! to Fall last week, but that wasn’t all. What else did Aimee and I write about? If you happened to miss a day or two, here’s your handy dandy WIR to catch you up. Monday, September 17 There’s a difference between a good pet owner and a bad one. For example, responsible owners can prevent attacks. There’s also a difference between being a good animal loving citizen and a bad one. Regrettably and shamefully I confess I was the latter and did nothing to save a dead dog walking. Tuesday, September 18 I … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Allergy Attack!

As I’m sitting here at the computer, merrily tapping away, Lally is cramming her left hind foot into her mouth. She does this from time to time; I figure she’s got an itch on her paw pad or between her toes and the best way to take care of it is with her teeth. Over the last few days, she’s been really attacking her feet. She’s been chewing and licking them relentlessly, which makes me thing she’s having some allergy trouble. Lally has had problems with allergies in the past — she’s sensitive to plastic, and can’t eat from a … Continue reading →

The Difference a Day Makes

Spring is… well… springing, and that usually means allergy trouble for my dogs Moose and Lally. Lally is more sensitive than Moose is — especially as she ages. A few years ago, the vet suggested giving the dogs Benadryl when they need it for allergy problems. I’ve almost always got a bottle on hand and can dole out doses with dinner as needed. It’s worked really well for my furry pals. Lally’s been itching like crazy for the last week or so — especially on her face. She’s been rubbing her head and muzzle against everything for relief: the couch, … Continue reading →

Supersuits for Dogs with Severe Allergies

Look! Out on the sidewalk! It’s a bird… It’s a plane… No, it’s a dog in a spandex bodysuit. This isn’t a Halloween costume in the making — it is an actual treatment to relieve itching in dogs with severe allergies. I recently read about the K9 Top Coat — a spandex suit that might be able to help pets who suffer from severe allergies. Many pets who have severe allergy problems end up on a lifetime of steroids that can stop the itching but in the long term is bad for your pet’s health. The K9 Top Coat is … Continue reading →

It’s Itching Season Again!

Ah spring. I go through this every year with Moose (my German shepherd mix) and Lally (my boxer/shar-pei mix). Moose starts to gnaw on his forearms. He ends up chewing calluses and bald spots into his legs if I don’t catch it quickly enough. Lally just itches all over. She crams her feet into her mouth to chew. She scratches her stomach until it’s red and irritated. And with the extremely mild weather we’ve been having in the Portland, Oregon area lately — we’ve been in the fifties all week — it seems that the itchies are arriving earlier than … Continue reading →