My puppy has a contact allergy and no vet is available. What can I do?

Hi there and thank you for using PetCoach to address your concern. Based on your description and the pictures you provided, it appears as though Brody is having an allergic reaction. I would recommend using Benadryl, which you can read about at this link ( https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/benadryl/ ). If there is no improvement, then I would seek an emergency veterinary hospital that is open 24 hours so you can get him seen sooner rather than later. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. You can also use artificial tears to help cleanse the eyes.

Poor Keisha! Please keep in mind that without seeing her in person, I can't say what is causing her symptoms and legally cannot say what treatments to use. My best guess from your description is that she could be suffering from an allergic reaction. The problem with allergic reactions is that they could cause her face and muzzle to swell, leading to breathing difficulties and respiratory distress. This can be fatal, and so she does need treatment from a vet now. I would check to see if there is an ER vet clinic in your area to bring her into now. If not, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Poor Pancake! I recommend to call the veterinarian again. Sometimes these pets need oral antihistamines as well as oral steroids. Your veterinarian will advise you what the best course of action is. An omega-3 fatty acid supplement for pets may also help to decrease the inflammation. I hope she starts feeling better quickly.

Hope needs to see a vet now, this is a medical emergency. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

Yes, it does sound like Cozi may be suffering from an allergic reaction. More than likely, it's a contact allergy from something in the environment. I would take her into an ER vet or find a vet on call to see her now. She will need antihistamines or steroids to stop the reaction, and a vet can prescribe them for her.

Oh no, that's not good at all! Her eyes are extremely swollen and unfortunately without seeing her in person, I can't say what is causing it. Any eye problem is an emergency because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. I would take her into a vet immediately to get this diagnosed and treated. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. I hope this helps!

Hello! Canine allergies can be a really difficult problem to manage, so I sympathize! There are two main classes of allergies- environmental and food. If allergy testing hasn't been done, it is an expensive investment, but it can give you a report of the most common environmental allergies. Most environments that are colder and snowier tend to have less pollens, allergens, and insects overall and many allergic dogs may cope better in colder climates for that reason. Dogs with environmental allergies benefit from regular baths and having their feet wiped down with hypoallergenic baby wipes after they go outdoors to mechanically remove any possible pollens, etc that may be stuck to the feet and triggering a reaction. Dogs that are primarily allergic to ingredients of their food may do much better on a different diet. Dogs tend to be allergic to proteins in their diet, such as beef or chicken. Grain allergies are possible but exceedingly rare- grain free diets are widely considered a marketing ploy by vets and not actually helpful. My own dog has a beef allergy and does just fine on over the counter food with no beef products, for example. It takes 8-12 weeks after exposure to the food allergen for the reaction to completely go away- for this reason, many people get frustrated with new diets too early and give up. The diet also will not work if she is being fed any outside table scraps or treats, so compliance is key. Trying a diet with a new protein she has not had before, such as fish or kangaroo, for an entire 12 weeks may be a beneficial idea to discuss with your dermatologist. If you do this, transition the food slowly over 7 days to let her GI flora adjust and make sure if you have a dog food bin, you clean it well between the two foods as to not contaminate the new food. The most important thing to remember with allergies is that she is likely constantly being exposed to them, so treatment needs to be just as constant to battle it. I hope this is helpful! Let us know if you have any more questions after your dermatology appointment!