Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 3/17/2007

Question
Hi! I have a year and a half-old Golden Retriever named Tuesday. She's had allergy problems for most of her life; by six months, she was itchy everywhere and had chronic yeast infections in her ears and feet. We've been to a dermatologist, and a couple vets. She was on allergy shots for about eight months after testing positively allergic to just about every tree and grass out there, along with dust mites, cats and a couple molds. Eight months into the treatment, Tuesday was still itchy, still bright pink on her tummy, and still getting yeast infections everywhere it was possible TO get them. I've switched her to a premium food, (Orijen), which eradicated most grains from her diet. Her dermatologist said that we could probably rule out food allergies due to the high amount of skin allergies she tested positive for, which didn't make much sense to me; it may be that he didn't explain it in a manner I could grasp.

Lately I've been reading about these enzyme treatments (like on Nzyme.com) and although I'm skeptical about the results they claim, I'm also at my wit's end. My little girl is chewing her feet bloody, and I can't find a vet that will do more than advise that I dose her with Benadryl! (This reduces her itching by 50% for about an hour.) I just want to give her some relief!

Are these enzyme treatments worthwhile, or is this another "crazy hippie" solution that promises the impossible? Where should I look for more help?  

Answer
I don't believe that any of the enzymes are helpful in dog allergies.  If these allergies started early inthe dog's life, then an 8 week trial with a hypoallergenic food may help.  Allergies tend to be additive so food allergies, environmental allergies, contact allergies and flea allergies all add up to make the immune system work overtime to create the itchiness.

Ask your vet to try Atopica at 2.5 mg per pound (1/2 the regular dose) and Ketoconazole at a dose of 10 mg/kg together for a month. The Atopica reduces the itching and the ketoconazole reduces the yeast and allows a lower dose of the Atopica.  I have seen remarkable relief in dogs like yours with that combination.  The allergy shots take a year sometinmes before they will actually help.