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!