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I have a Jack Russel with severe allergies. She has been allergy tested and the things she was allergic to were all strange plants that I had never heard of. I have done EVERYTHING my vet and the allergy specialist has told me. Nothing helps. I am now giving her 1/2 Zyrtex in the morning and 1/2 at night just so she doesn't chew her feet off. I am afraid I may one day have to put her down if I can't find something to help this poor little dog. Any suggestions, anyone?

I’ve found that foot chewing is more a symptom of boredom than anything physical.

Jacks are seriously high energy, high maintenance dogs who need constant stimulation.

Just a thought.

I use a topical product called “revolution” that seems to work well with my dogs, and the cat.

I haven’t had any problems so far, and have been using this product since it came out.

She has been allergy tested and the things she was allergic to were all strange plants that I had never heard of. I have done EVERYTHING my vet and the allergy specialist has told me. Nothing helps. I am now giving her 1/2 Zyrtex in the morning and 1/2 at night just so she doesn't chew her feet off. I am afraid I may one day have to put her down if I can't find something to help this poor little dog. Any suggestions, anyone?

I'm sorry your poor girl is suffering so much. Allergies are hard to deal with. I only have cat experience at this, however. Two of mine have ended up allergic to their food. One ended up with severe skin problems - steriods helped her temporarily. Changing her diet was a permanent fix. The other has gastrointestinal problems from her allergies. When I put them both on Natural Balance Allergy formula (available at Petco), they clear right up. They have a dog formula too - it has one protein and one carbohydrate from a source most animals haven't been sensitized to. There's other allergy formua foods out there as well - just have to read the labels.

Did her allergy tests show she was allergic to any foods or just plants?

I’ve been through the ringer with my German Shepherd, and the dermatologist (that’s right, we have a specialist nearby; not just “a vet”) despairs and calls her the worst dog he’s ever seen.

She looks BEAUTIFUL - people don’t believe she can be bad (perhaps it’s because we do spend so much effort on her), but she is highly resistant to drugs and foods and is just itchy all the time. She is going to be 7 soon, and it’s been ALL her life.

I don’t think you can “test” for food allergies; it’s an experimental thing of trying foods for 3 months, etc. Our dog is vegetarian because she cannot stand animal protein, which was the 1st thing we found out (gradually, of course). She has inhalant allergies to about everything (I am serious; like 50% of 64 tests - mostly indoor-type stuff) and has been tested 2x with somewhat different results.

Anyway, I’ve been there and done that. PM me if you have any questions.