Article: French Bulldog Allergy Treatments and Prevention

Jessburgos · Mar 19, 2014

Found it. Thank goodness. I loved this post and want to keep it handy.

Anouska · May 1, 2014

My Frenchie has been suffering from interdigital cysts since he was born, he is 2 now and we have tried everything. Changed his diet, shampoo etc,. her's been on antibiotics and atopica and none of it works. The specialist dermatology vet says that he should undergo laser therapy. Basically the laser heats the skin protein filling the cysts to extreme temperatures causing the cysts to vaporize and disrupting many other cysts. Has anyone heard of this or had this done? It sounds drastic to me and I'm quite concerned.

MaplesMommy · May 1, 2014

Anouska said:
My Frenchie has been suffering from interdigital cysts since he was born, he is 2 now and we have tried everything. Changed his diet, shampoo etc,. her's been on antibiotics and atopica and none of it works. The specialist dermatology vet says that he should undergo laser therapy. Basically the laser heats the skin protein filling the cysts to extreme temperatures causing the cysts to vaporize and disrupting many other cysts. Has anyone heard of this or had this done? It sounds drastic to me and I'm quite concerned.

When you say you changed his diet, have you also tried a raw diet with herbal/homeopathic supplements?
I would stay away from antibiotics /laser therapy etc as much as possible. Of course if this is the last option you feel obligated to do so but sometimes going the 'natural' way helps.

Anouska · May 1, 2014

We've had him on special food for allergy prone dogs, we've tried bathing his foot etc., nothing has worked. I also don't like him being on antibiotics, but they are better than the steroids (which are the alternative). He's had to go on new antibiotics as the old ones stopped working. The atopica reduced them for a little while and reduced the recurrence, but then they continued to come back. I'm just wondering if anyone has heard about this laser therapy/had it done.

Cbrugs · May 2, 2014

Kris Thomas LaBounty said:
Allergy Treatment Update: Sarge saw the dermatologist yesterday and she said he looks "good". She thinks the injections are working and I can tell you he does not smell bad anymore. We continue his vial and then return before we reorder in about 3/1/2-4 more months. I hate giving the injections but I am getting used to it. Last one he got a lump at the injection site about the size of a quarter and I was freaking out of course but I put a warm compress on it and the lump went away so I am not sure what cause that since I did the same thing I have done each time I have had to inject him. Nonetheless, he's alive, I am alive and he smells just perfect! :w00t::w00t:

Just wondering how the allergy shots are going. Jax had an allergy test last week and is allergic to trees, grass, weeds, molds and I gave him his first injection on Tuesday and he gets another one tonight. He gets them every 3 days for awhile and then every 7 days, etc. and eventually he will get one every 21 days. On Wednesday, the day after his first shot, he was a bit itchy and his ears were red but he is also on Apoquel to help out until the shots (hopefully) start working which I know can be 6 - 10 months before there is an enormous improvement.

Mavis · Feb 16, 2015

Alice Kable said:
Great information, Lisa! Thanks for posting this well written article!

Hello, just curious as to why apple cider vinegar is recommended over white vinegar. I would think that apple c.v . had sugar? Also, what is a.c.v. "from the Mother"? Is this different than what you can get at the grocery store? Thank you!

Kalee · Jul 18, 2015

My frenchie has extreme hive , he has been to the vet 3 time and the give antibiotics and the temryl p ( steroid) . it helps until he is off the meds and the day after it comes right back . he isn't outside at all only to.use the bathroom . he is new to Iowa where it is humid . I'm not sure if that can be a contribution . nothing seems to help long ter . Any ideas ??

Cbrugs · Jul 18, 2015

Kalee said:
View attachment 6493
View attachment 6494
My frenchie has extreme hive , he has been to the vet 3 time and the give antibiotics and the temryl p ( steroid) . it helps until he is off the meds and the day after it comes right back . he isn't outside at all only to.use the bathroom . he is new to Iowa where it is humid . I'm not sure if that can be a contribution . nothing seems to help long ter . Any ideas ??

Do you know what he is allergic too? My boy was so bad he was on Temeril P too but it isn't good for long term use. I had finally decided to take Jax to a dermatologist and have an allergy test done. He is allergic to everything green outside. He is now on biweekly allergy shots and gets daily Apoquel.

You can give Benadryl for the hives but I definitely suggest finding out what he is allergic too so you know what you're dealing with.

Kalee · Jul 18, 2015

Cbrugs said:
Do you know what he is allergic too? My boy was so bad he was on Temeril P too but it isn't good for long term use. I had finally decided to take Jax to a dermatologist and have an allergy test done. He is allergic to everything green outside. He is now on biweekly allergy shots and gets daily Apoquel.

You can give Benadryl for the hives but I definitely suggest finding out what he is allergic too so you know what you're dealing with.

Thank you for responding ! I've been trying benadryl and its not helping , his paws are extremely swollen and red ! An allergy test is my next step . what is the apoquel for ?
We recently moved from NM to IA I'm thinking something different out here has to be affecting him he's never had anything like this before ! Do you happen to know what an allergy test runs $ ?

Cbrugs · Jul 18, 2015

You can try soaking his paws in apple cider vinegar. I don't know the ratio to water off the top of my head but you can find it online. You can also try soaking them in povidone iodine. That one you mix with water until it's the color of iced tea and soak for 5 minutes. I know some people wipe down the paws every time they come inside.

The Apoquel helps with the itching. I paid a little over $600 for Jax's first dermatologist appointment which included the office visit, intradermal allergy test, anesthesia, first batch of allergy serum and the Apoquel. The serum runs about $250 and it lasts about 6 months.

Have you tried changing food? What are you currently feeding?

2bullymama · Jul 19, 2015

Kalee said:
View attachment 6493
View attachment 6494
My frenchie has extreme hive , he has been to the vet 3 time and the give antibiotics and the temryl p ( steroid) . it helps until he is off the meds and the day after it comes right back . he isn't outside at all only to.use the bathroom . he is new to Iowa where it is humid . I'm not sure if that can be a contribution . nothing seems to help long ter . Any ideas ??

Could something in food or house changed since the hives started? My Bulldog would get hives from chicken, salmon and something else that we never could figure out

Kalee · Jul 19, 2015

2bullymama said:
Could something in food or house changed since the hives started? My Bulldog would get hives from chicken, salmon and something else that we never could figure out

His food did change , he went from just a plain chicken no wheat no soy . to a high grade food with just no grain. So I've changed him back to his old food to see if that help . The only other thing I can think of is , I bought him a new bed , its 100% poly and got it from tj max. So.I've thrown that and have him sleeping on a pillow with cotton pilow case . still really bad hives and swollen paws.

2bullymama · Jul 19, 2015

Kalee said:
His food did change , he went from just a plain chicken no wheat no soy . to a high grade food with just no grain. So I've changed him back to his old food to see if that help . The only other thing I can think of is , I bought him a new bed , its 100% poly and got it from tj max. So.I've thrown that and have him sleeping on a pillow with cotton pilow case . still really bad hives and swollen paws.

You can give Benedryl. 1 mg per pound

Jakeyjake · Jul 20, 2015

Poor guy...that looks awfully miserable. If the Benadryl is not helping you can try Claritin or Zyrtec to give him some relief until you figure out what he is allergic to. I would also try a soothing oatmeal bath. Did you switch proteins in his food?

cynthiaoldham · Mar 25, 2016

can someone help me identifying this skin problem on my french bulldog? the vet has given her all what he thinks she needs but it seems not to stop, will get better a day or two and it reappears worsened. She has even got ozone therapy. She´s had it for more than 6 months. I´ve followed all recomendations given by vet about food, cleaning, bathing, etc

2bullymama · Mar 25, 2016

cynthiaoldham said:
View attachment 8336

can someone help me identifying this skin problem on my french bulldog? the vet has given her all what he thinks she needs but it seems not to stop, will get better a day or two and it reappears worsened. She has even got ozone therapy. She´s had it for more than 6 months. I´ve followed all recomendations given by vet about food, cleaning, bathing, etc

that looks like staph infection, but not totally sure. Has your vet done an allergy test of any type or just giving steroids and prescription foods? we just had this done for our Bulldog... full panel blood test, it is not 100% accurate, but damn close and gives a good baseline to know what to avoid and how to treat, instead of always guessing and hoping it works.

The blood panel costs 200.00, but you have to make sure he is off all steroids and other allergy meds (not Benedryl or Claritin type... he can have those) for a full 30 dyas before the blood is taken, otherwise you will get false results because those meds suppress the allergens

cynthiaoldham · Mar 26, 2016

hi! thanks for replying; he´s done a skin fungus culture...he thought it was a staph infection at first but gave her antibiotics and didn´t work...I don´t live in the US, I live in Colombia and probably don´t have as many products as you do there for treating these conditions, but I know he´s done his best...she´s not on steroids, they are bathing her with a special shampoo, she´s getting ozone therapy, and she´s taking an antialergic...we clean the spots with baxidin twice a day ...I had to separate her from the rest of my dogs because she loves to get licked over and over and all over...we thought that the licking thing was the reason for this condition, but she´s been apart like for three months now....then we thought it might be stress....ughh....don´t know what to do...

thanks again

2bullymama · Mar 27, 2016

cynthiaoldham said:
hi! thanks for replying; he´s done a skin fungus culture...he thought it was a staph infection at first but gave her antibiotics and didn´t work...I don´t live in the US, I live in Colombia and probably don´t have as many products as you do there for treating these conditions, but I know he´s done his best...she´s not on steroids, they are bathing her with a special shampoo, she´s getting ozone therapy, and she´s taking an antialergic...we clean the spots with baxidin twice a day ...I had to separate her from the rest of my dogs because she loves to get licked over and over and all over...we thought that the licking thing was the reason for this condition, but she´s been apart like for three months now....then we thought it might be stress....ughh....don´t know what to do... thanks again

If it is staph only certain antibiotics will work on it... Have to find the right one. If you have plain yogurt give that with meals to help strengthen immune system... And coconut oil rub on the skin to help heal too, staph is usually from weaken immune which is weakened by allergies so you have to strengthen the system to fight the allergen or find the allergen and remove/avoid it.

As for the other pups licking ... Sweet babies are trying to help the healing [emoji8]

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Timtam2010 · Jul 1, 2017

When we got Beaux, his skin and hair were severely affected by his allergies, he's allergic to fleas and in Texas, depending on your area, it's a fact that sometimes your animal will come in contact with them. It was so bad that he was scratching himself raw over 60% of his body but our wonderful vet knew right away what it was and he's on a pill that he takes every 3 months and his skin and hair look great!! I'm grateful that it wasn't anything more severe!!

Maryannmas · Oct 28, 2018

I wish I would’ve seen your post months ago. My Frenchie patch has every symptom. He’s been on 3 different ear medications and cleansers. Vet recommended changing his food. Do you have any recommendations?