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Hi, I have a 6 year old Masstif/Dogue de Bordeau mix. He weighs about 100 pounds and has seasonal allergies to ragweed. In the past we have given him cortisone exclusively but we never seem to be able to reduce the dosage enough to both stop the scratching and protect his liver. We have recently started giving Benadryl to alleviate some of the discomfort. What I want to know is, at the beginning of the season, how much cortisone should he be receiving and how much Benadryl? We have left over pills from last year and I would prefer not to pay a vet bill for nothing. ThanksJessica
Optional Information: Pet's Gender: Female Pet's Age: 6 Type of Animal: Masstif/Dogue de Bordeau Name of Animal: Samson Already Tried: This year we have only given Benadryl.
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The dosage for benadryl starts at 1mg per pound every 8 hours but can be increased to 2mg per pound every 8 hours. I can tell you that plain benadryl can be given with prednisone. I can not advise you to give any prescription drug to your dog. However, you should have the dosage information on the medication that was previously prescribed and your vet should talk to you on the phone since you have an ongoing relationship.
The following sites go over dosages for cortisol and prednisone.
http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/hydrocortisone/page1.aspx
http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/prednisone-prednisolone/page1.aspx
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Since there have been recalls on certain foods, please check the following site to be sure the food your animals eat is not affected. If it is affected, contact your vet as soon as possible. Have your dog seen if they have any symptoms.
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/RecallsWithdrawals/
What is Prednisone? Is it an alternative to cortisone?
JaCustomer,Prednisone is another medication frequently used for allergies. I was also thinking that given it is a season allergy that you might want to consider atopica. It would require that you go to your vet to get a prescription but is very effective and worth asking your vet about. Read about atopic dermatitis here:http://www.itchfreepet.com/Atopic-dermatitis-in-dogshttp://www.petplace.com/drug-library/cyclosporine-atopica-optimmune/page1.aspxYou didn't mention using shampoos but they can also help with itch skin as well. Shampoo containing Chlorhexiderm and/or Oatmeal can help with itching related to staph dermatitis and general itchiness. Yeast typically shows as a greasy area that has a sweet musty odor. Sometimes the skin can become inflamed, darker and thickened due to itching. Yeast likes areas such as between toes, armpits and ears. Selsun Blue Shampoo can help with Yeast dermatitis. When shampooing, lather and leave on 15 minutes before rinsing. These shampoos are not meant to be a cure, just a relief .
Experience: Former vol Vet Assistant.Breeder 16+ years Dog trainer / behaviorist
Hi,I'm just following up on our conversation about Samson. How is everything going?Jane Lefler