Itchy dog, what has worked for others?

[Itsjustmyusername]

We have a small breed dog that appears to have allergies and itches her skin a lot.

She is on daily apoquel which helps and has been on a special diet prescribed by the vet for nearly 3 months, I don’t think this has helped. She is bathed regularly in a special shampoo also prescribed by the vets. She is still itchy.

The vet has now suggested a blood test be taken and then a special vaccine can be created which would be given about every 6 months. This is apparently effective in about 70% of dogs.

Are there any other options that others have tried that have worked? I want to help our poor dog, but I’m not sure if my vet has just kept to the most expensive option or not!

Hypoallergenic dry food and no treats cleared our itchy dog up within a week.
What is the prescribed food and are you giving additional, non prescribed, treats?

I have 4 year old papillon so toy breed. She’s not neutered so twice a year before her periods she itches like hell. It’s hormonal.

once she’s had her period the itching stops.

I used to worry so much until I figured it out

Mine is allergic to grass / pollen as when we only walk on the sandy beach she is fine. I spent ££ on anti allergy food and ear infections treatment as her ears got yeasty with allergy symptoms and wish I had realised this earlier.

Mines on a low dose steroid all the time. I can’t give her beef or any of its derivitives. She eats Skinners Duck and Rice soaked in water. It works for her.

Colloidal silver (from Amazon) really made a difference
I gave her one of my hay fever tablets daily too and that seemed to help

How long has ddog been taking appoquel? And is it the correct dose for their weight?

At my vets they give you the option for an injection of something similar which should last the dog 3 months, or the appoquel tablets. Do you think you could try switching?
My ddog takes the tablets happily so we get her them and it is the only thing which helps her but vets do say they not perfect for all dogs

I don't know anything about Apoquel but when I took my itchy dog to the vet she gave him something to take for a month which stopped the itching and then suggested to try giving him Piriton which he has had now for several years. He has half a pill with his supper daily and no itching. Using the Tesco equivalent of Piriton the cost is about £1.50 per month.

We've had similar going on for years, dog is 15 now. He starts scratching around May/June and continues til September so we know it's allergies, we've done the specialist food, Apoquel, Antihistamines, specialist shampoo etc etc and found the only thing that works is a low dose of steroids for the months of summer. It works and is cheap, he's already on heart and blood pressure meds, specialist kibble for pancreatitis, the kibble is supplemented with overcooked chicken and rice, overcooked to be easier to digest!! He's a Dobermann and worth every cent spent on him.

Daily brushing and coconut oil massage 😅 safe for him to lick off any excess and seems to have sorted out his poor itchy skin.

Thank you to everyone who replied. She has Virbac hypoallergenic food, for those who asked. The vet has now suggested monthly Cytopoint injections alongside the apoquel, I think I will try that. She didnt mention steroid injections, I will ask her when I next speak to her.

I am determined to stop the itch for my poor dog!

Do you ever feed the dog chicken? Lots are allergic and I have found several of our dogs started madly itching after eating anything with chicken in it.