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Rat-Terrier.com
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SHampton06
Rattie
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| 08/25/2008 2:13 PM |
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Ok I don't know what is wrong with her. The last 1-2w she has been very itchy and her underside is all pink.  She has no fleas. I gave her a bath today hoping maybe it was the dog wash I did a week or so ago that was irritating her. I did switch her food to Natural Balance, but it's grain-free so I am clueless right now.  Is there anything like Gold Bond that I can put on her? I feel so bad for her. |
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Stacey, Mom to 2yo Lilly. |
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ivy
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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| 08/25/2008 4:04 PM |
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| How long ago was the food switch? What kind of shampoo did you use? If she has localized itchy spots you can put lanacain on them as long as she is just itching with paws I wouldn't want her to get it in her mouth. One more question, has anything been put on the lawn like fertilizer or new beauty bark that can cause irritations I am just trying to figure out why. Hope this helps. |
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SuzieRedhead
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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| 08/25/2008 4:07 PM |
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You can use a little OTC hydrocortisone cream - and try Benadryl... maybe it's the protein in the food... |
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Sue Carello, Scotia, NY (near Albany)
Ratbone Rescues Fostermom, etc...
www.ratbonerescues.com
Fostermom to Oh Mickey and Prince Ratbone
Who do YOU GoodSearch/GoodShop for? Go to www.goodsearch.com and type in Ratbone Rescues! |
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SHampton06
Rattie
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| 08/25/2008 4:16 PM |
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The food switch was maybe 4-5 days ago. I didn't think that was it since it's grain-free. I used an oatmeal bath on her. It doesn't seen to be localized. We haven't used any new fertilizer but DH mowed the back lawn (last time was before we got her) and it's been raining on and off over the last week. |
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Stacey, Mom to 2yo Lilly. |
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ivy
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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| 08/25/2008 4:30 PM |
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| I would try a hypo shampoo or one with Aloe in it on her next time because I am a groomer and have noticed some dogs get dryer skin after an oatmeal bath I dont know why because it usually helps with the dry skin. Sometimes it can take a while for the food switch to make a difference so if it has just been a few days then I expect her skin will get better and better. |
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tiggarat
Bratty Ratty
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| 08/25/2008 4:33 PM |
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was the food change gradual, mixing in the new stuff with the old or was it a complete change to the new stuff (one day the old and the next day the new)? have you changed anything other than the food? new detergent? sometimes that can cause problems...my brother's boxer is allergic to one kind of detergent...they found out after they washed his bedding and he broke out in a rash.  |
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Lisabeth
furbabies: Lucy and Molly (1 1/2 yr old decker ratties), and Rosie (3 yr old dobie)
Buddy - gone but never forgotten.
"I don't think he has any idea he's a dog, really. Of course, he thinks he has a rather odd figure for a man" - Dodie Smith |
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Philo
Terrier Terror
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| 08/25/2008 4:48 PM |
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| Benadryl will almost certainly give some temporary relief for the itches, but be careful. Our vet told us to give one childrens tablet to 12 pound Zipper to help with his allergies, but I swear I thought I killed the little guy. He wasn't moving or responding to voice or even mild nudges. He was just plain loopy, but I was sure for a few minutes until he responded. We've since cut it back to 1/2 a childrens tablet which he handles fine. |
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Rattie Daddy to Cameo, Nala Belle, Cutter & Rattagan
Foster Dad to Cricket
(aka Philo)
"Beauty such as this is a gift, and I'm often in awe of this world we've been given." Mrs Bonnie |
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SHampton06
Rattie
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| 08/25/2008 4:49 PM |
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Yes the change was gradual and I haven't washed anything that she would come in contact with. |
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Stacey, Mom to 2yo Lilly. |
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storm
Ratterific
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| 08/27/2008 5:56 AM |
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OK, so here's a checklist of major things she would come in contact with: hands, shoes, clothes, furniture, carpet, floor tile, bedding, grass, toys. Start with anything you may have done with these things you haven't done before with her there or have used a new or not-oft-used product on. Culprits can include: lotion, perfume, nail polish remover, shoe polish or cleaner, (you said you washed nothing she would come in contact with, so we can skip clothes and bedding), Febreze, furniture of carpet cleaner, carpet "shake," floor cleaner, insect sprays or fertilizers (even overspray from neighbors), and if you haven't washed toys, no worry there. The itchies are usually started by something we completely take for granted. A friend's dog was allergic to her hand lotion!
I really hope you find what is causing Lilly's problem. It's so hard to see them uncomfortable and not be able to do much for them! Good luck! |
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Puppy pics at http://stormcarver.com/Family/Dogs.html
"There are essential and inessential insanities." ~Tom Robbins |
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 08/27/2008 7:27 AM |
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| Could be anything she came into contact with, especially since you say it is her belly that is the worst. As far as food, if it was that it can take 2 weeks or more for her to start to get better on the new food. Jack is crazy itchy now too and I think it was a food change. So now we too are back to grainless. In the meantime you can give her Benadryl to help her. If she gets worse or breaks skin, you may want to call the vet. Secondary bacterial skin infections can occur from all the scratching. |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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garyjena
Terrier Terror
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| 08/27/2008 7:35 AM |
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| The guide for Benadryl is 1mg per pound. Also use the children's benadryl. |
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www.newrattitude.org
Pet Publicist, Adopt A Pet
Volunteer Coordinator
Database Maintenance
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Ollie's Mom
Ratterific
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| 08/27/2008 2:30 PM |
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| I have also read on here that ratties tend to have corn allergies too. I have the right food but I am noticing that I have to be really careful with treats. They are very hard to find corn free... |
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singingpilgrim
Ratastic
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| 08/27/2008 6:41 PM |
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Also, Lilly could be allergic to fleas... and while she doesn't "have" fleas, if a dog is really allergic, even ONE biting her and then jumping away or dying will cause the reaction. Now, I mean, if you never take her outside (like people tend to do with puppies until their done with their vaccines) then she probably hasn't come in contact with any, but they often hang around in grass this time of year, so she might come in contact with them outside, but not actually HAVE them. We had a dog that was that allergic once. If you have your own yard, you can flea bomb it though. We used to do that, but now we have the goats and the flea stuff all over the grass would kill the goats, so the dogs just have to put up with the fleas they pick up outside until the flea protection kills them. It's irritating.
BUT this is just one of a bizillion possibilities-- it might be a hand lotion or something like that... I'm just suggesting that you can't necessarily discount a flea allergy, even if she doesn't have fleas...
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Pamela
~Sophia Abigail's Mom~
Ratbones Rescue Volunteer |
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Minniezmomma
Obsessed
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| 08/30/2008 9:48 AM |
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| have you washed any of her clothes in a new laundry soap? I would def. do benadryl childrens, give her 1 mg per pound every 8-12 hours. cut back after one full day to half dose. then second day to half that til, no more. it will help! i asked my good vet a few minutes ago, and thats what he said, also he said to try a bath with baking soda in it, to help soothe the skin. never heard of that before?? make sure you rinse well |
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Yoda's mom
Newbie
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| 09/03/2008 12:17 AM |
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My Yoda has been exactly the same! And Im searching for answers! Its been a few weeks, so i changed his flea treatment, gave him a bath with conditioning shampoo, washed all his bedding etc. I havent changed ANYTHING! All i can think of from reading these forums is maybe the new jacket i bought him ( that he has only tried on in the store ) had chemicals on it. He is itching and shedding sooooo much! I brush him a few times a week, and bath him every other week, he has always been on the same food and he gets either flax oil or olive oil in his dinner a few times a week. He never shed this way.... Its getting pretty disgusting, the white hair all over the house. I examine his lil body all the time searching for answers, and he has no fleas, no bites, no hot spots, his lil armpits seem a little bit rashy, but still light pink, and since we live in southern california i was thinking heat rash? He really doesnt seem to be bothered by it with the exception of his occasional itching n chewing, and his hair loss is general and not localized.... Im so confused.... .... He is my first ratty and i know that they are prone to allergies and such.... |
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