Saturday, October 23, 2010

Update on Mack and his Allergies

Kathy here-Minnie and Mack are busy getting ready to go on a hike this morning.  Mack is finally off his antibiotic.  His forehead has healed nicely and the scabs are finally gone.  There is a dark discoloration where the scabs were but hopefully they will fade.  Mack said he just calls them his battle scars.

If you look in the area on the top of his head where his ears hook on, Just to the right of center, you can see a dark area and next to his brown area where his folds start - above his right eye, you can see the dark spots.  In person you can really see all the dark spots.  I should have taken pictures when it was bloody and raw.  Pretty disgusting....

So the vet and I had a nice talk.  Mack is going to continue on steriods in a very low dose until the fall allergy season has diminished.  I guess Northern Virginia has very high allergens in the spring and fall in addition of the usual allergens in the air. He will also start taking Hydrozyzine again through mid November as well.  If he continues to have itchy spots, etc., then we might go with the blood tests for allergens.  (I can't remember what it's called.) Our vet's, Dr. Erwin, main goal is to provide a "wholistic" approach to veterinary medicine and helps to keep her patients fit and healthy by providing excellent preventative medicine, appropriate diagnostics, nutritional counseling, and necessary supportive therapies such as rehabilitation medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dr. Erwin became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2009. She also became a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) in 2008.  She is constantly doing research into new frontiers of veterinary medicine and is always open to suggestions from her patients!   We travel about 20 miles to use this practice, having used more local vets in the past.  She has helped me make sure the raw diet that Minnie and Mack are on is balanced and has the nutrients they need.  We feel that she gives us the best care! and the doggies love her!  (She gives out lots of treats.)

This is the time of year through February work gets really busy, so I might not be able to blog as often as I would want! 

Mack has decided he isn't going hiking and will stay home with Hu-dad.  (Just as well,  if Mack decides he has had enough walking, he puts on his brakes and won't go another step.  Many times, I've ended up carrying him.) 

Have a great weekend!  Looking forward to seeing pictures and stories on blogs!


7 comments:

Salinger The Pug said...

Mom and I send Mack a big ***KISS*** for his sweet itchy face!

We're glad the Vet seems to be able to help.

Dude...I don't blame you for not wanting to go hiking. I'd rather stay in bed with my hu-dad too!

Love,
S-dog

The Slimmer Pugs, Kitties, and Mama said...

It's called VARL antigen. I will do a posty later about it. I highly reccommend it when all else fails (and that's when we went with it for Toby...everything else just wasn't working).
Much luvums,
Mindy, The Slimmer Puggums Mama #2

houndstooth said...

I'm glad Mack's feeling better! Hopefully he won't have any more allergy attacks and the medicine will keep doing the trick for him!

Bunny

Maddy and Owen said...

We are so glad to hear that Mack is doing better! I hope that the medicine regiment is going to continue to work for him. I'm so glad you have found a vet that is so caring and knowledgeable. We love our vet too!
Wags,
Maddy and Owen

Chewy said...

Glad to hear that Mack is feeling better!

Chewy

Unknown said...

Oh, it sounds like you're under the care of a very good vet, Mack! Glad your scabs are healing and you're feeling better!

Slobbers,
Honey the Great Dane

Bruschi said...

Oh Mack, your head looks so itchy! But from the sounds of it, you are well on your way to no more itchies! It's great that you have a vet so willing to take the extra step to make sure you are itch and allergy free! Good luck!!!

Hugs and Licks, Bruschi