Animal Science

Try to make sure your animal is not eating any food with grains especially corn or soy as 98% of this crop is GMO and has a history of allergies and other insidious health issues. I would suggest a raw diet for a start and try for an organic fed source of raw food. Just in case the canine has parasites I suggest diatomaceous Earth as it is safe and effective. My cats appear to get 5 years younger in activity and appearance after I put them on this for parasites.

Some random thoughts here.

I would guess that you've thought about the shampoo you use when you bathe your dog, but you haven't mentioned it. So I'll ask - Are you using a product like Johnson's Baby Shampoo or some type of hypo-allergenic shampoo made for dogs?

You did mention an allergy to fleas, but you did not mention using a product like Frontline to control fleas. So I'll ask that also - What do you use to control fleas?

You briefly mentioned the outdoor environment. Does your dog have a well-controlled area of lawn to run in? Is it an area that is free of the allergens you mentioned, as well as being free of lawn-care products? Does she get plenty of exercise to burn off energy and to avoid stress and anxiety?

These are all great questions.

Shampoo: She's bathed about once a month with a shampoo like Zymox. We use Zymox lotion on her itchy areas, too.

Fleas: I use a flea-control product in the summer but she's never had any fleas that I noticed. Our cat is occasionally a carrier but he didn't have any this year, either; just ticks. The vet said that most dogs are allergic to fleas.

Outdoors: We have a small fenced yard that is half grass - untreated by chemicals. Next door are walnut trees that we cannot remove but we do regularly clear the leaves from our property. She's allowed to run in a field a couple of days a week and goes on several-mile walks other days but is always exposed to grass and leaves.

Stress: She is not kept in a crate so she can roam the house while we're out, has another dog as a companion, lots of toys and real bones, lots of attention when we're home, etc. She's a real watchdog and the only thing I can think of that may be stressing her out are all of the joggers and bicyclers that go by! Her attention to this has decreased as we keep the blinds and curtains closed.

I think some allergy cases (both in humans and animals) may be due to nutritional issues -- non-"norm" requirements, genetically expressed. A good starting point for analyzing possibilities is an article, also on WebMD. (Yes, it is for humans, but the mechanisms of many bodily functions are similar in humans and other mammals.)

My own experience with (Stinging) Nettle is that it works for some, me for sure. I developed allergic reactions to different pollens in the air within a year of moving to a new city because of work. I asked an associate who was also sneezing, coughing, and teary-eyed about it. She said it was multiple agents, as far as she could tell. I had known about Nettle and had used it before, but was not using it at the time. I started it and within a week or so the symptoms began to go away. I have continued to use it ever since then (2004) and do not have allergy problems here anymore. (In my experience, once allergies manifest, they recur every season.)

Disease can be a very stubborn nut to crack as far as linking it to nutrition. Just because certain "natural" remedies, or supplements, don't work, doesn't mean there isn't a "natural" (meaning nutritional, etc.) treatment that is effective. Finding or discovering it can outstrip one's patience. Looking at books about Toxicology, and how it can be difficult to set limits on exposure, etc., it dawned on me that the same perspective can be applied to the idea of nutrition. Or, I would say, it is equally logical thinking that individual responses to nutrients can be just as individual as response to toxins.

I'm sure you are aware that herbal extracts are sometimes "standardized" such that what has been determined as the "active" chemical in the plant is present in a certain concentration in the supplement. That may be or not. I prefer using the whole herb form and just take more, if needed. For my allergy symptoms, noted above, I take 2 capsules a day total -- typically, one from the leaf and one from the root, morning and evening. I do note that the WebMD article says the root affects prostrate issues and not allergies. At my age, that can be a plus.

There are articles about treating pet allergies naturally, just, usually, not nutritionally. I just came across a book listed at this site called "Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Dog Care." Since he is a practicing vet. one would hope he has cases to back up any recommended treatments. This seems to be an informative page about dog food.

If you have no desire to investigate and try such things, you could always consult with your vet. about using fractions of prescription meds. for symptomatic relief until you think the allergy shots will begin to take effect.

I hope your pet gets some relief from your efforts.