Over the weekend Wurp had an extreme exacerbation of his allergies. It's all my fault, I wasn't on top of the game this fall. He takes his Zyrtec (been on it forever) for seasonal allergies, Pepcid 1/4 tab when he has GI upset related to all this, and I have a spray for his itchy spots, ear drops for his ears, etc.
I have him back on all his allergy meds--he only takes all of them during the times of the year when it is at the worst. I really didn't realize how bad things were getting until last week, and started him on Zyrtec again for the fall--but it always takes about a full week for him to show improvement. Well, while I had him up on the counter checking him out I saw a flea on the back of his neck. He has a severe flea allergy, and will break out horribly from a flea bite. I guess we are bringing them in to him and Shortstack, because they never ever go outside. I have used Advantage II all summer monthly on both of them, but apparently that one bit him and set things in motion. I dosed him again immediately, even though it had only been 2 weeks since the last dose. Cotton is also being picked all around us (and compacted and hauled up and down our road) and stuff is flying through the air like crazy, that affects his (and my) allergies pretty bad. I think the combo of it caused his exacerbation.
He was in a grooming frenzy from Wednesday night onward. Since he is VERY hairy, excess grooming = puking. He puked five or six times in two days, one hairball (sorry for the TMI) the size of a large-diameter cigar, other times small puffballs with the gooey slime sort of stuff. I brushed and brushed, combed, trimmed hair, and still he went back to it. By Saturday night he had scabs, some the size of a pencil eraser, all around his neck, at his tail base, up his back. I started his Pepcid Saturday night and at least we've had no more vomiting, and he is eating again. He got so bad Saturday morning he was just sitting over his water bowl but not drinking. He would howl at me for food (normally he is silent, since he is deaf) but then not eat. He would smell it, I guess it made him nauseated.
Yesterday he apparently felt better. He ate a LOT yesterday at both meals, and finished off Shortstack's food as well as his own. He still has itchy ears, neck, and on his back.
Is there anything I can do to provide some relief until I can get him in and they give him a shot? Should I bathe him in something like Aveeno oatmeal wash (I've heard others have good success with this). He allows me to bathe him--he doesn't like it, but he doesn't go all rowdy either. I'm up for anything to make my old dude feel better. I feel so bad--I blame myself for not getting him back on his meds sooner!
Our vet can't see him until Wednesday, and I just hate seeing him suffer with it. I'm up for any suggestions!
I have him back on all his allergy meds--he only takes all of them during the times of the year when it is at the worst. I really didn't realize how bad things were getting until last week, and started him on Zyrtec again for the fall--but it always takes about a full week for him to show improvement. Well, while I had him up on the counter checking him out I saw a flea on the back of his neck. He has a severe flea allergy, and will break out horribly from a flea bite. I guess we are bringing them in to him and Shortstack, because they never ever go outside. I have used Advantage II all summer monthly on both of them, but apparently that one bit him and set things in motion. I dosed him again immediately, even though it had only been 2 weeks since the last dose. Cotton is also being picked all around us (and compacted and hauled up and down our road) and stuff is flying through the air like crazy, that affects his (and my) allergies pretty bad. I think the combo of it caused his exacerbation.
He was in a grooming frenzy from Wednesday night onward. Since he is VERY hairy, excess grooming = puking. He puked five or six times in two days, one hairball (sorry for the TMI) the size of a large-diameter cigar, other times small puffballs with the gooey slime sort of stuff. I brushed and brushed, combed, trimmed hair, and still he went back to it. By Saturday night he had scabs, some the size of a pencil eraser, all around his neck, at his tail base, up his back. I started his Pepcid Saturday night and at least we've had no more vomiting, and he is eating again. He got so bad Saturday morning he was just sitting over his water bowl but not drinking. He would howl at me for food (normally he is silent, since he is deaf) but then not eat. He would smell it, I guess it made him nauseated.
Yesterday he apparently felt better. He ate a LOT yesterday at both meals, and finished off Shortstack's food as well as his own. He still has itchy ears, neck, and on his back.
Is there anything I can do to provide some relief until I can get him in and they give him a shot? Should I bathe him in something like Aveeno oatmeal wash (I've heard others have good success with this). He allows me to bathe him--he doesn't like it, but he doesn't go all rowdy either. I'm up for anything to make my old dude feel better. I feel so bad--I blame myself for not getting him back on his meds sooner!
Our vet can't see him until Wednesday, and I just hate seeing him suffer with it. I'm up for any suggestions!