Question:
My question is, is there anything I can do in the
meantime to provide topical relief for her,
particularly for the ear scratching?
Answer:
For my dog's ears I'm using Veterinarian's Best Natural Care
product. On the box, it says "Ear Relief Wash and Dry for Dogs and
Cats. A 2-step solution for ear problems" (odor and wax relief, ear
itching relief). I'm
really satisfied with the product and I'm especially glad that it does
not contain alcohol or steroids but only all-natural ingredients. I
got
it from Petsmart. It does stop itching if the ear problem hasn't gone
too far (I don't think it would help serious ear infections, but who
knows - the box says "even on animals with the toughest chronic ear
problems"). I use it after I wash my dog, which is once a week. It
says "repeat
daily" on the box, but I think once a week suffices in our case.
By the way, I use a hypoallergenic shampoo that my vet gave me
:"Allergroom." It also helps with scratching. Did the vet suggest any Benedryl for her? If he didn't I would call him and
ask if it's ok to dose her with it and what the proper dose would be for a
dog her size.
I know when Barney gets any type of flea bite or out of the blue developes a
new food allergy the vet has me increase his Benedryl by a 1/3rd to help
control the itch until we get things back under control. He takes Benedryl
daily for mast cell cancer but I have another dog who I give it to for plain
old allergies such as sneezing, runny eyes & scratching her chin across the
carpet.
Normally I wouldn't bother responding, but on the off chance that
someone is still reading your drivel... don't you DARE begin to
denigrate shelters and rescues. Save your disdain for the original
owners who brought her to the shelter to be put to sleep in the first
place. The SHELTER asked that they be allowed to place her in rescue, rather
than kill her like the owners wanted. The SHELTER put out a plea to
local rescue groups to please save this 12 year old girl whose owners
had brought her in to be killed. A RESCUE GROUP said "Yes, we'll take
her, even though she's a senior and she is unlikely to be adopted
because of her age." A RESCUE GROUP saved her life.
If it weren't for the SHELTER and the RESCUE GROUP, she'd be DEAD,
because the "perfectly good HOWEse" where she spent the first 12 years
of her life wanted her killed for suddenly becoming INCONVENIENT.
