Dog question

[Newfygirl]

I noticed that a lot of people on this thread are as passionate about their dogs as they are of their horses. I have a supplement question. Both our German Shepherd and Newfoundland get 2000 mg of Glucosamine and 2000 of Chondroitin a day, a multi-vitamin, fish oil, a scoop of pumpkin and of course, their regular food. I am considering adding a brewers yeast supplement. Both these dogs tend to have skin allergies in the spring and I have heard that brewers yeast can help. Any opinions on this?

[noblesseoblige]

but I am using Flax Oil and it works well for my dog.
Of course not knowing the reason for your dogs skin allergies it might not work for you but it has so many other health benefits.
Also, I had to take Rusty off dog food that has wheat based by products.

[Chrisnstar]

My black Lab, Bubba, had a terrible skin condition when he was a youngster. We tried everything. The vet tried everything. Then I read somewhere that many dog allergies are related to corn or corn by products in their food. We searched and found some corn-free dog food (it's a challenge to find)... voila.. no more itchy skin! He's now got a shiny coat and feels much better.

chris

[Kit]

If they were my dogs, I would try to find out what they were allergic too. It might be something as simple as a minor food allergy, or more serious that allergy injections would be needed, or anything in between.

My old dog had skin allergies. The first vet we took her to was treating the symptoms instead of trying to find the cause. We changed vets and he found the cause. It was food allergies.

BF has one with horrible allergies. Cedar was tested and found she is allergic to about 18 different types of trees and grasses. She gets Avoderm Skin & Coat formula, allergy shots and TeaTree ointment on any bare spots. He was using Horsemans Dream, and recently switched to a TeaTree ointment. It has made a HUGE difference.

[mandy]

I think that the addition of brewers yeast would be redundant- it's basically a b complex vitamin with protein and omega fatty acids, and since you're already giving a multivitamin and fish oil, you should be covered. Wild salmon oil is a great skin and coat supplement and has the correct omega 3 to 6 ratio. I don't think it would hurt, however. Some dogs have allergies to the brewers yeast as well as to flax oil- that's why salmon oil is more often recommended. I agree that it would be helpful to find out what they're allergic to, whether it's inhalant allegies or food allergies... but since you said it was seasonal, I'd guess inhalant. If they really drive you & themselves nuts, you can use an antihistimine or even go for desensetization shots. HTH!
Mandy

[Chrisnstar]

I learned that dogs can take Benadryl. Bubba once got some kind of sneezing fit and would sneeze so hard that he'd bang his chin on the ground and made his chin bloody!

I called the vet and he said to give Bubba a child's dose of Benadryl. It worked!!

chris

[Newfygirl]

Oops! I should clarify - both of our dogs are allergic to pollens in the spring. Mostly April and May. We've been through all the allergy stuff. They'll get occassional hot spots, and they do get benadryl every day (the Newf gets 4 at a time). Dogs can also take Claritin. We have given (at the vets suggestion) one of the 24 hour claritin 2X a day. I just wondered about the health benefits, if any of Brewers yeast.

[linda]

You can also give dogs benedryl if they get into a yellowjacket nest.... Obviously, something you would prefer to avoid, but sometimes dogs do things like that.... Linda

[Mary Ann]

Linda, why do I get the feeling there's a story here?

[linda]

What do you mean? Do you think I am the kind of dog mommy that would let my shaved dog aggravate some yellow jackets? Do you think I am the type that would watch in amazement as my dog ran towards me with bees hanging all over his body? By the way, it is 4--25mg tablets for a 65 pound dog--and can be repeated in a couple of hours if necessary. It worked great--no swelling at all. This dog loves to kill yellow jackets--maybe he learned that it is best to take them on one at a time from now on.
Linda

[Mary Ann]

ROFLMBO!!! I'm so sorry that this happened to your poor dog, really! But you do paint a picture.... ;D ;D ;D

[Newfygirl]

Benadryl is wonderful! Our German Shepherd also has his own bottle of Pepto Bismol in the closet, along with a turkey baster to medicate him with! That does paint quite the picture - the dog and the yellow jackets! Poor puppy!