sas

Also this one I came across a few years ago: http://www.holisticanimalmedicines.com/pla...ver-remedy.html It is an Australian site.

I haven't tried these myself but had seen them around: http://www.naturalpaws.com.au/grooming-tee...roduct-360.html http://www.cactuscanyon.com/dog-teethcleaning.htm I believe your Vet can order a cleansing gel as well that you may like to try. (Maxiguard Oral Cleansing Gel)

Sounds good. How come you allow your dogs to graze?

Sorry to hear that, Sas. Try the Calendula 'tea' bath/wash next time you have a flair up of secondary skin infection. Worked for my boy (to rid infection - not a cure for the allergy itself) which meant I didn't need to resort to medication. I should instantly try your suggestion though eh....you're a funny lady! As I said Homepathy works fine for us, beaten every secondary skin infection he's had since he's been on it

Yeah that's cool, just saying what the manufactor has tested. My boy has lived in constant secondary skin infections since he was 4 months old so I understand that, although if I had the budget I'd be happy to try it, not a great deal to loose and the worse that could happen would be a course of anti-biotics (for us). Sometimes gotta stick ya foot into the optimistic side even if it's to be confirmed incorrect later on LOL I personaly know homepathic treatments work wonderfully for my dog but I know a tonne of people wouldn't even let their minds comprehend that, their loss I figure LOL Try try try....my allergic dog motto LOL

Heya, There is text there that addressess your concerns, the material is breathable. They also have another product called 'top coat' that is anti-bacterial. Wearing a suit doesn't allow the owner to neglect their duties to wash and brush their dog, without a suit on my dog has plenty of dead skin cells sitting through his coat. Don't think you'll find many people who have used them as they're not in Australia, you have to buy them from America, one of those things you have to take a chance on and see how it goes, when you have an allergic dog you've already tried 1,000 things before In many allergic dog cases owners never find out the true cause, so finding out the underlaying cause may not be realistic. I've had my dog tested and we still don't know the real causes or there are 100 causes that you have little control over. Sometimes ya gotta try rather than just finding all the reasons not too

Dante had car sickness as a young dog but outgrew it. Depends on the reason for the car sickness, is it because the dog has aniexty or just because the dog is prone to car sickness? Ginger biscuits and Ginger Tablets work well. I have heard of people giving car sickness tablets to dogs as well, best to check with the vet on that one.

I know a Dane who had this as a puppy but was diagnosed very quickly, in his case I don't think he would have reached adulthood without diagnosis. I can't remember the correct term for it but it's where this is a pocket or something like that in the throat and not much food can pass through and it just gets held in this pocket and they end up throwing it up.

Kavik, I'm not sure if you're interested or whether it's in the budget but I came across these suits made for allergic dogs that have been clinically tested that the dogs won't overheat in them.... I first came across this one which I think would be better with the long legs, this one isn't the tested one though I don't think, although I have sent an e-mail asking: http://www.k9topcoat.com/product.asp?specific=96 This is their tested one: http://www.k9topcoat.com/pilot.asp?pg=comfort-coat

For a growing Dane that is normal.

I know this might sound odd but lick lipping is a calming signal, do you think it could have something to do with that?

Electronic bark collars are illegal...

I find a homeopathy stress relief works better for us. Rescue Remedy and other drops like homeopathy is only for mild aniexty, so anything above that it's likely you need to seek medical intervention.

Ditto 3 dogs actually tried to attack my young dog in the space of 10 minutes the first time we went to a dog park and my dog was on a lead walking beside me.

You may find walks boring but they are not for the dog, they are a primal aspect to be a dog, please encourage people to get their dogs off their property and for a walk! Not many people have a park that backs onto their property. I think it's extremely irresponsible not taking your dog off your property until they are adults, dogs need socialisation. It's unlikely that the OP will over excercise their puppy from going aroung the block, they just have to watch their puppy to see how they are managing it and alter the walk accordingly. OP, Speak to your breeder or someone who actually knows something about your breed. If you go to the breed sub forums you'll find a thread for GSD's.

We get our treats from here: http://www.callicoma.com.au/treats1.htm#Sheep_ears_ They tell you where the item comes from and process it has had.

I think we shouldbe encouraging Vet treatment yeah?

Do you think that the black in the pores that you're seeing is like something that could be squeezed out ot you think it's pigmentation change? Folicilitis in my boy you can see the black/brown in the pore and this works it's way out, it is effectively clogging the pore. However we have also had what appears to be hyper pigmentation where you get spots and areas of Black. It's not neccessary a sign a thyroid as my boy has been tested and cleared twice, it could be an onset of general allergic skin disease. Bald patches could also be a staph infection. Best to head to your vets.

If you give Fish Oil you should also give Vit E, you can get Fish Oil that has Vit E added. Fish Oil is typically dosed at 1 x Fish Oil Caps per 10 kgs of dog and then 1 x Vit E Cap (If not in the Fish Oil Cap) every 2nd Day.

Yeah that's a good point too. Not the situation for my own dog but I can completely understand the notion!

Thanks for responding Trust wasn't something I had thought of when I was initially posting, more of the affection bond humans have with dogs.

Looks like the situation may just be a cowince-dinkee!

Thanks but that kind was straying away from the question? The topic of why dogs have allergies is an never ending one hehehe So at this stage I'm just interested in hearing peoples answers to the poll and their experiences bonding with allergic dogs (regardless of why they are allergic). Thank you though, you posted some interesting opinions

Yeah, that's another thing to factor in, whether it is just the dogs personality that affects a bonding process. Although I think now seeing a healthier dog and a better bond, I 'think' the two would go hand in hand.

Hi Everyone, You don't have to reply if you don't want to expand upon your experience, however I would like to touch base with people who wouldn't mind be potenitaly used in an article on this topic in a breed club journal. Although I'm not going to go into a huge amount of details as we'd be here forever but my dog become an allergic dog as a young dog, I had numerious issues with him behavioural wise, I found it very hard to bond with him and train him, in addition he wasn't very affectionate - wasn't the biggest fan of being touched either. At just over 2 years of age we are making great headway treating his allergies and he's become a different dog and we're starting to really bond so it's been really interesting to see the difference! I recently spoke to another DOLer who had a young allergic dog who reported similar issues and I thought it would be worth investigating it further. Also would like to hear from those whose dogs became allergic as Adults and if you saw any change to their personality. Please feel free to post any of your comments below in addition to the above poll. Thanks heaps!