Sassy – New thread

[Vally]

Alyssa, you poor thing. Why do they do this ???

Mary has just gone through using a course of prednisone for her Mable. See what the others say, but that’s what it so often used for. Is she leaving it alone now?

It’s great her numbers are all good.

Big hugs,
Vally & Bingo (who has a spot on his foot that always needs biting too)

[Patrice]

Alyssa,
So sorry to read this.

Chance had terrible allergies starting at 1.5 years old. He was like this 24/7 for months at a time. We did put him on allergy shots, but we knew those would take a full year of administration before they would be effective.

To give him a break, allow his skin to heal and get some sleep we used short term use of Temaril-P which is Antipruritic-Antitussive-Anti-inflammatory. In other words it combines two medications to not only reduce itching but also reduce the local inflammation. It contains two drugs. 5mg trimeprazine tartrate and 2mg prednisone.
http://www.drugs.com/vet/temaril-p-tablets.html

Combined they provide just the right amount of relief. I would recommend a 10-14 day regimen. I am sure your vet will also agree this is a good use of this drug right now, containing a minimal amount of prednisone. It is often used for this purpose.

I used pantyhose to keep Chance out of his legs and chest. I have a picture of him somewhere with dangling stockings. It works…. So try a set of pantyhose over her butt with the crotch cut to accommodate “needs.” Dogs don’t like the texture and taste of pantyhose.
my best
patrice

[Alyssa]

Thank you ladies. I am just so down, I feel like I let her do this to herself :(

Patrice: the vet gave me a spray that sounds similar though I don’t think it has prednisone. Here is the ingredient list:

gentamicin sulfate equivalent to 0.57 mg gentamicin base, betamethasone valerate equivalent to 0.284 mg betamethasone, 163 mg isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, methylparaben and propylparaben as preservatives, purified water

And the description:
“GentaSpray Topical Spray is used for canine infected superficial lesions. It features strong anti-inflammatory and antipruitic action. Gentamicin is highly effective in controlling canine dermatologic infections and it rapidly reduces inflammation and itching.”

To me, this, couple with steroid injection, oral prednisone and shaving her tail – I just worry it’s excessive IF it’s a reaction to bug bites and not allergies.

She has been better since shaving the tail. I don’t know if it’s the hair being gone (I imagine that feels better), or the lidocaine, but she hasn’t been obsessive over it. Of course, as soon as she is alone, she tries to get at it, but if someone is around she doesn’t really try. I bought an inflatable cone, it’s sleeping I don’t know how to handle – she did this while I was asleep!

[Alyssa]

Her tail looks very good this morning! And I put her bed directly under me and watched her all night. She only sort of tried to itch one time. Didn’t have to come her thank goodness.

But the redness is gone and it doesn’t look nearly as bad as yesterday. I’ve been spraying it with that stuff, seems to be a miracle worker. I honesty don’t think I’m going to be giving her the oral prednisone.

[admin]

Hi Alyssa

Ooooh poor Sassy – nothing worse than itching – but you seem to have got this sorted out with the spray. I love Patrice’s pantyhose idea – I will remember that when necessary! I’m so happy to hear her numbers are good too.

Love Sheena & the boys xxxxx

[Vally]

I’m glad it’s looking better.

Vally & Bingo
xxx

[Alyssa]

So we’re stopping meds today..

I’m a huge ball of emotions! So relieved, grateful, happy, terrified, nervous, sick, anxious!!

She was 47%. Been holding steady there for months. Last night was her last set of pills. We’ll recheck in two weeks to see if it’s okay, one week if I get too nervous.

[Alyssa]

Gosh, it’s been 227 days.