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Allergies In A Dog

by taphorn - October 31, 2014 View Case Report

History of allergies progressively worse the past 3 year, worse May to September and initially only symptom was pruritus. Pet was treated with steroids and would improve but symptoms returned as soon as steroid wore off. This year has developed hot spots right hip one time, left flank a second time. Later in season developed rash, erythema and crusts primarily ventral abdomen and medial thighs and erythema dorsal spine. No prior history of respiratory, GI or urine issues. Started Cool the Blood (Qing Ying Tang) and pruritus improved initially. After several weeks of acupuncture and herb noted larger volumes of stool, softer with mucous and hair coat drier and thinner and return of rash ventral abdomen. Had client stop Cool the Blood and also the can food used that may have been too high a fat content and stools return to normal. Rash and pruritus persist but not worse without Cool the Blood. Unsure what direction to go with the herbs so I can help the pruritus, rash and thinning drier coat without making the stools worse.

by naturevet

November 5, 2014

Hi Cathy,

From a Chinese medical point of view, there seems to be some Damp Heat here, aggravated by the moistening agents in Qing Ying Tang. That same unrelenting Heat can damage Yin, creating coat dryness. A ventral abdominal rash is classic for Damp Heat, as are problems that come on in mid-summer

All told, I'd try Si Miao San first, given what you've mentioned. It's the first formula to consider in patients reliant upon corticosteroids

Steve

Si Miao San

by taphorn

November 6, 2014

Thanks Steve for the herbal guidance. Hoping this is appropriate to ask this follow up question on this forum. I was assuming damp heat was going to be the answer and either Si Miao San or San Ren Tang the next step. What confused me was the dog didn't have any other inflammation type symptoms in the past. He only had a hot spot one time right before I started to treat him otherwise he was just itchy and the owners treated him with steroids. His pulses were toned. So I chose the Qing Ying Tang which seemed to work at least for the first 4 weeks. What I want to understand is, did I create the damp with the Qing Ying Tang or do I assume there was a hidden damp heat weakness that the Qing Ying Tang exposed. Our Summer here was also cooler and wetter then normal and question if that is why many of my skin patients have had more trouble this year. Just trying to understand what I missed initially in not seeing Damp Heat and treating as a Wind Heat case. Thanks again for your help, Cathy

by naturevet

November 6, 2014

Hi Cathy,

I don't know that you did anything wrong at all. If QYT worked, then it was appropriate

I think a way to look at the situation is that the Blood Heat that eventually developed in the dog, and was addressed by QYT, is a 'branch'. Damp Heat, addressed by SMS, seems to be the root, and is to be addressed next.

Thus, it is actually a good sign if a formula works and then does not. It implies progression from branches to root, and from complicated to simple. Of course, all this is moot if the SMS doesn't work, but hopefully it will.

Steve

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