Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi All,
I figured with the collective wisdom here someone might have experienced this before (God Shelby was low-maintenance until she was sick!!!).
As you know, Jasper was at the vet for about a week. She had a bath prior to coming home (and a mani/pedi) and she has been biting at her booty / back ever since. She's on flea meds (confortis via pill) and isn't due for another 2 weeks. I have used a flea comb on her and nothing. No fleas to be seen.
I think she's allergic (or was allergic) to the soap they used to bathe her (sigh). I called the vet and they told me to give her 1 benadryl and a cool bath so I plopped her in the kitchen sink and rinsed her.
That was about 2 - 3 hours ago and she's still nipping at her booty/hips/back. I can't see anything on her but I feel so bad for her. I know how awful a constant itch is. Maybe she had a food allergy to the food they served her? I don't know what it was but I am sure it was fancy, expensive wet vet cuisine....
Anyone had a dog with itchyness? any thoughts? The benedryl isn't making her sleepy but I don't want to drug my dog. I don't think this warrents a trip to the vet (ER or other)...Maybe it will ease up?
Her normal food didn't seem to cause this. She scratched before w/her legs but this is a full on biting at her backside (like they would with fleas which I've dealt with before). But her normal meals include eggs, kibble (grain-free ) and some coconut oil since she's had dry skin in the past...
My poor little Jasper ...
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Normally I would look for fleas first but it sounds like you have that covered. It could be a reaction to soap or clippers or even an infected anal gland. If the Benadryl does not work I would call your vet and ask about hot-spot spray or possibly a stronger anthistamine such as hydroxyzine.
Pam
WOW... thank you Pam! Jasper's not even a Tripawd and you weighed in! Thank you! 
She doesn't get a haircut so no clippers and it's not any where near her anal glands so I am guessing it was the soap. 
I'll have to remember this the next time she gets a bath there. And I thought she was rubbing herself on all the furniture when she got home because she was so happy! She was trying to itch herself!
I'll see how she feels tomorrow... and call our vet if need be. But for now she's put herself to bed for tonight!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Hi Alison,
I was thinking, if Jasper was allergic to the shampoo they used, she would probably be scratching everywhere.....but most shampoos that are used are usually very easy on dogs skin. When I worked at my vet hospital, I helped out in grooming often bathing dogs and when one would be itchy after a bath, it was because they were either sensitive all over to the shampoo, (which really did not happen very often) or that they were not thoroughly rinsed of the shampoo. (This mostly happened with long haired dogs.) Can you find any irritated spots on her, or like Dr Pam said, hot spots?
On the food thing, if she were allergic to something they fed her at your vets, it would have happened sooner than this I would think. See how she is in the morning and if no better I would take her in and have her looked at by your vet.
I don't know if this helped much, but just wanted to share my thought process. I do hope Jasper will be feeling better soon, and hope this itchiness is resolved.
Much Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Yeah, seems like ite related to somethng from her spa vacation
It could be that she did endure a flea bite or two there and, if highly allergic, is having a severe reaction..iIt only takes one bite for their saliva to cause havoc and itch all over like crazy. But it just sounds like the shampoo.
Glad she's put herself to bed.....what does that look like when Jasper Lilh "puts herself to bed" Cant wait to hear this!!!!!!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Good points Bonnie
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Hi there. not sure about the full details of tour dog, but what food does he eat and have you tried turmeric?
I know it may sound strange but it has been found to be very effective with itchy dogs and for allot of other ailments as well.
My cousins dog had been itcing most of her life, she was on 3 steroid tablets a day and had been so for years. She was very stressy and constantly bit herself. her skin was like elephant skin, the smell was just awful.
She changer her diet to chicken and rice and started with the turmeric, a week later she was down to one tablet, she hadnt itched she was calmer and it just arried on from there really.
She rang me and told me that she had never seen her dog so calm and happy since she was a pup,pretty amazing stuff.
benny55 said
Yeah, seems like ite related to somethng from her spa vacationIt could be that she did endure a flea bite or two there and, if highly allergic, is having a severe reaction..iIt only takes one bite for their saliva to cause havoc and itch all over like crazy. But it just sounds like the shampoo.
Glad she's put herself to bed.....what does that look like when Jasper Lilh "puts herself to bed" Cant wait to hear this!!!!!!
That actually seems the most plausible ... that she got a bite and it's bugging her - severely. I don't know if she was itching the whole time she was there or not. They didn't tell me.
I have looked ALL over her booty/backside (her back) and I can't find any bumps or hot spots. Nothing. I just feel sooooooo bad for her and she seems rather blue and sad herself. She isn't as playful.
That makes sense, Bonnie, that if it was the shampoo, she would be itchy ALL over and not just her booty (but I did see her nipping at her front paws this a.m.).
@ Gilda's mom - I've only had Jasper about 5 months... she's always been rather itchy - but not as bad as this. She's a black short haired dog and when I have brushed her, I saw dandruff. But we fixed that w/adding some coconut oil to her dinner. She eats grain free blue wilderness dog food (chicken flavor) and her limited treats are grain-free . This is a recent and more obsessive scratching. I guess I can take her into the vet tomorrow. I can try tumeric though. See if that helps her.
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
benny55 said
Glad she's put herself to bed.....what does that look like when Jasper Lilh "puts herself to bed" Cant wait to hear this!!!!!!
PS - Oh when I got her, her rescue said that usually around 8/8:30, Jasper would go to her crate and settle down for the night. Well since her crate is in my living room, she usually goes into my bedroom where it is darker and lays on either the rug or under my bed (for some odd reason, she wouldn't come out last night). So that is what I call 'putting herself to bed'.
Shelby did the same thing! Would simply put herself to bed in her bed in my bedroom ... however, Shelby used to 'pop out' to check on me to see when/if I was coming. It's odd ... as much as I miss Shelby and missed having a dog pre-Jasper, nothing has really changed since Shelby passed since I am still watching TV by myself at night! LOL Maybe Jasper doesn't like the programming I chose!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Awwww....so sweet! It is funny how Jasper and Shelby share so many of the same little idiosyncrasies........cutie pies!!!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Gerry's always been an itchy boy, but it's spiked a few times in the last couple years so that now he's on Zyrtec and an Omega 3 fatty acid supplement (which apparently helps it work better). It's much better, but even on those, he has gotten a hot spot once or twice (sometimes a booty itch, sometimes inner thigh - anywhere is possible, I think) and I have had to stick the cone on him for a few days, cause he broke skin from licking. Haven't had to go to harder core meds yet though (paws crossed!). Good luck to you and Jasper!
My friend's dog (Gerry's best dog friend) tucks himself in, without fail, no later than 9:30 p.m. every night. Just because. It's adorable. "Hey, where's Biggie? Oh, duh, it's after 9."
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
Alison, I agree with Gerrysmom.....I was going to suggest the Omega 3 fatty acid/fish oil for Jasper, and the Zyrtec makes perfect sense too. I have given most of my Labs the Omega 3 supplements because they all have had a tendency to be itchy as well, plus it is supposed to be beneficial for other things. It also gives them a beautiful, shiny coat.
Of course it would be best to have your vet evaluate her first if all this itchiness continues, could be just her being sensitive to something in the California air....especially if you have been near any wildfires in the last couple of weeks.
{{{{{Hugs}}}}}
B & AP
Alison,
Is she pooping normal or dragging her butt? Sometimes their anal glands get blocked up. Maybe Jasper Lily is just a delicate flower (no pun intended) and any change sets her off. Since you haven't had her for 4 seasons, maybe she has seasonal allergies. I know you are a hyper vigilant mom, but try not to worry too much. Also don't institute to many changes at once, it will be difficult to tell what is working. Benadryl will stop the allergic reaction, but if it is just itching from dry skin Benadryl has an anticholinergic effect (dries up things). Maybe she wasn't petted and scratched as much as you would do. This encourages the oils in the skin to be produced. Pet Pet Pet, rub, rub, rub, scratch scratch scratch- good thing you don't have too much surface area to cover. I agree with the Omega 3 fish oil but some can cause allergic reactions even in people, they made me itch like I was on fire. Did she get the egg while you were away. Keep us posted.
Laurie
Laurie - LOL @ delicate flower... where Shelby was chillax, Jasper definitely demands routine. I thought the rescue was kidding about that but nope. she demands meals at certain times and play at certain times and of course , her bedtime. So it makes sense about a change in her routine.
Her itching has gotten better but she still has moments where she will nip at her butt / hips. She's off the benedrly but I guess it could be allergies. I have them something severe.
It's not her anal glands (thankfully). She isn't scootching or any of that stuff. I thought I found a hot spot on her back leg but then I couldn't see it through the fur.
I am going to try the Omegas since those are good for her in general since she does indeed have dry skin (as I noticed when I first got her). She also gets about 1 tsp of coconut oil in her kibble. And of course, no eggs at the vet! I really don't know what they fed her but I know it was wet.
And I am sure she didn't get nearly as many scratches, snuggles, cuddles as she does here. She loves to rub her whole body on my carpet and roll around as if to itch herself.
I do wish the spot on her nose that she rubbed off on the cage would go back again. It's like skin that's been peeled ... At least it's not as red as it was before. I am tempted to color it in w/a sharpie (kidding)!
Thank you everyone for the advice... I think my girl is on the mend... She's playing more which is good to see.
And Bonnie - so true about the fires and the winds.... my throat has been mega itchy lately too. Maybe that is just what Jasper is experiencing...
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
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