Basset rescue dog adopted, scratching non-stop!

Wyatthebasset · 12-19-2011, 10:44 PM

We just adopted a basset from rescue 1 week ago, he's 5 years old. Didn't scratch at the foster home for the past 2 months, we get him home, bathe him (in people shampoo, all we had at the time, bad choice) and he starts itching. Okay, we figured it was shampoo, took him to the groomer 3 days later for oatmeal bath, nail trim, glands cleaning, etc:, still scratching, changed his food from Iam's special nature to Natural balance venison and sweet potato, still itching, worse throughout the week, non-stop itching, we thought maybe separation anxiety, but today very red belly, finally to the vet. Allergy of course, pred shot, came home with prednisone pills and hydroxicone. Any ideas out there?
Dennis and Pam

jaleely · 12-19-2011, 11:21 PM

My baby is on Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Soy Vegitarian dog food, because he is allergic to chicken, beef, wheat, corn...a lot of things. He's finally completely 100% stopped itching though. You can do a simple diet, cut out certain things, and introduce certain things to see if you can pinpoint it. Bowser has been on benadryl a couple times, but nothing stronger than that...and he loves his food and is doing amazing now so i'm keeping it the same! Good luck!

Soundtrack · 12-20-2011, 06:37 AM

What was he eating at the foster home?

Is the air in your house dry?

Did he recently get vaccinations or other medical treatment?

When my allergy dog was put on vegetarian food he got worse - he was allergic to grains and soy among many other things. I ended up having to make homemade food using fish as a base.

Oddly enough, he could eat ProPlan turkey and barley in a pinch (no more than a week or two) while other "hypoallergenic" foods would make him break out immediately.

Lucy&Millie · 12-20-2011, 08:02 AM

Also! I found Lucy was allergic to a detergent I washed thing in. Poor thing would lay in her dog bed after I washed the cover, and would be covered in a rash. I switched to a sensitive skin laudnry detergent and all was good.

However, Soundtrack has a great list. With an itchy dog, it really is trial and error to see what makes it better!

Good Luck and Welcome to the boards!

Lightning&Stomps · 12-20-2011, 11:49 AM

When I wash Lightning's blanket or anything else that comes near him, I use the detergent that has no perfumes, etc., and I don't use a dryer sheet, because I don't want to irritate his skin. Of course I would never do that for myself or a family member. Just another way to spoil the dog. But it is something to consider if the dog starts suddenly itching like that.

Kirska · 12-20-2011, 11:56 AM

Blue Buffalo makes a salmon/potato food that we feed. The fish might be a better alternative than venison? Not sure.

Barney'spal · 12-20-2011, 01:22 PM

Just guessing here...am learning myself...but if you've only had Wyatt for only 1 week and the itching just started, could it be something in the carpets, etc. Are you feeding him the same food that the foster did or did you change it? If it's a new food, Mikey should be able to tell you if the allergies could kick in with a time period of one week. Don't know if it could be stress related, new home new life, but someone on here should be able to.

bubbad · 12-20-2011, 02:49 PM

I'm thinking something in the house too.New carpet,cleaning solutions,detergent,could be any one of these things,bleach,even.Ruled out fleas?You can bring them in on your shoes or your yard may have them . Try to find out, you do not want him on those meds continusly they help with the irritation but hurt the dog in the long run.

12-19-2011, 10:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Wyatthebasset Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 2	Basset rescue dog adopted, scratching non-stop! We just adopted a basset from rescue 1 week ago, he's 5 years old. Didn't scratch at the foster home for the past 2 months, we get him home, bathe him (in people shampoo, all we had at the time, bad choice) and he starts itching. Okay, we figured it was shampoo, took him to the groomer 3 days later for oatmeal bath, nail trim, glands cleaning, etc:, still scratching, changed his food from Iam's special nature to Natural balance venison and sweet potato, still itching, worse throughout the week, non-stop itching, we thought maybe separation anxiety, but today very red belly, finally to the vet. Allergy of course, pred shot, came home with prednisone pills and hydroxicone. Any ideas out there? Dennis and Pam

12-19-2011, 11:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
jaleely Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 942	My baby is on Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Soy Vegitarian dog food, because he is allergic to chicken, beef, wheat, corn...a lot of things. He's finally completely 100% stopped itching though. You can do a simple diet, cut out certain things, and introduce certain things to see if you can pinpoint it. Bowser has been on benadryl a couple times, but nothing stronger than that...and he loves his food and is doing amazing now so i'm keeping it the same! Good luck! __________________ Baby Bowsah's Bwog

12-20-2011, 06:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Soundtrack Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,582	What was he eating at the foster home? Is the air in your house dry? Did he recently get vaccinations or other medical treatment? When my allergy dog was put on vegetarian food he got worse - he was allergic to grains and soy among many other things. I ended up having to make homemade food using fish as a base. Oddly enough, he could eat ProPlan turkey and barley in a pinch (no more than a week or two) while other "hypoallergenic" foods would make him break out immediately. __________________ Rosie-Ch Soundtrack Cracklin' Rose CGN AGN RA Am RN TT Melody-Ch Soundtrack Unchained Melody TT Sailor-Ch Soundtrack Expedition Sailor RN TT Chili-Ch Soundtrack Spice Up Your Life Curry-Ch Soundtrack Canadian Brass Pepper-Ch Pennieslogon Living La Vida Loca CGN Vina-Ch Soundtrack Grand Illusion Leila-Ch Soundtrack Almost Paradise Deela-Ch Soundtrack Wink Of An Eye Hermione - Soundtrack Spellbound Eowyn - Soundtrack Rain Dance Last edited by Soundtrack; 12-20-2011 at 06:44 AM.

12-20-2011, 08:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lucy&Millie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 270	Also! I found Lucy was allergic to a detergent I washed thing in. Poor thing would lay in her dog bed after I washed the cover, and would be covered in a rash. I switched to a sensitive skin laudnry detergent and all was good. However, Soundtrack has a great list. With an itchy dog, it really is trial and error to see what makes it better! Good Luck and Welcome to the boards! __________________ Lucy - Age 6? Millie - Age 2

12-20-2011, 11:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
Kirska Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 935	Blue Buffalo makes a salmon/potato food that we feed. The fish might be a better alternative than venison? Not sure. __________________ Mom to Anabelle and Lila, rescued ladies and Harley, Corgi/Beagle/Basset/?? mutt "Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

12-20-2011, 11:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Lightning&Stomps Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Versailles, Ky. Posts: 1,203	When I wash Lightning's blanket or anything else that comes near him, I use the detergent that has no perfumes, etc., and I don't use a dryer sheet, because I don't want to irritate his skin. Of course I would never do that for myself or a family member. Just another way to spoil the dog. But it is something to consider if the dog starts suddenly itching like that.

12-20-2011, 01:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Barney'spal Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: northern michigan Posts: 710	Just guessing here...am learning myself...but if you've only had Wyatt for only 1 week and the itching just started, could it be something in the carpets, etc. Are you feeding him the same food that the foster did or did you change it? If it's a new food, Mikey should be able to tell you if the allergies could kick in with a time period of one week. Don't know if it could be stress related, new home new life, but someone on here should be able to. __________________ Properly trained, a man can be a dog's best friend.

12-20-2011, 02:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
bubbad Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Boiling Springs,Pa Posts: 1,347	I'm thinking something in the house too.New carpet,cleaning solutions,detergent,could be any one of these things,bleach,even.Ruled out fleas?You can bring them in on your shoes or your yard may have them . Try to find out, you do not want him on those meds continusly they help with the irritation but hurt the dog in the long run.

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