Mountain Dogs > Bernese Mountain Dog Discussions

Allergies?

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MarleyPyr:
Any one have a berner with allergies? I have read that it isn't a "typical" breed traite...howev er what is "typical" right? I think my little girl is allergic to something outside...gras s, ragweed..?? when I bring her in from her nightly play time (where she plays in the yard not her pen) her left eye is sometimes really red, half closed and she is always trying to paw at it... anyone else ever experience this? Not necessarily breed specific - I am trying to diagnose what could be the cause.

sc.trojans:

Absolutely Carolyn - That's Allergies!  I am not sure where you are seeing that this isn't a common issue in the breed, since actually, it is.  Allergies are an immune issue - and anything immune related is very common in Berners.

On my NaturalBerner list, I would say that 90% of the folks that come to join do so because of the severe allergies or GI Tract issues they are experiencing.  I see everything from immune systems so hypersensitive (the definition of allergies) that they are pulling their hair out, and clawing their eyes raw to very mild immune responses involving congestion and red eyes.

Your guess about the trigger - environmental - is probably accurate.  But I see so many Berners with allergies because as I have posted before, we vaccinate them far more than they can handle and it is the vaccines that initially heighten the immune response (they are designed to stimulate the immune system) so far that the system starts over-reacting to everything.  Its a fragile thing.

The best treatments that I have seen work in the breed include chinese herbs, homeopathy, a natural diet to strengthen digestion (70% of the immune system is in the GI Tract), and a few supplements such as BHI Allergy (homeopathic) and Beta-Thym...sometimes Quercitin helps, as does wild salmon oil for its anti-inflammatory benefits.

You can get natural eye drops - such as Similasan or Boiron to put in her eyes before she goes out, to soothe and help keep her from irritating them.  Watch out for further symptoms however including congestion, the "gulps", itching, gunky ears, paw licking, and face rubbing.

Good luck!

marypyrs:
Rainbow is 5 1/2 and for the last 4 years ~ each and every end of summer/start of fall ~ 'we' have gone through three to almost four weeks of allergies. My Vet is fantastic & we worked together to solve the quandary. As it turns out ~ it's airborne allergens. There's tons of ragweed, goldenrod, & other nasties out here in the country and this is when the pollen starts to 'fly".

It started again yesterday. Her eyes get weepy & itchy. Poor Babe ~ her feet sometimes get itchy too. She scratches her face with her paws.

SC Trojans is "My Guru"  :) and I've been following her guidelines from her first post on this topic. It gives my girl a LOT of relief.

Hope your Baby is feeling better soon. (Rain is 'milking' it right now & her little Brother is Oh So Sorry for his Sis.)

patrick:
If it is only one eye that is bothering her I would take her in for an eye exam.  Although not common in Berners she could have entropion- a turning in of the eyelid or even just a small corneal scratch.  Allergies should be affecting both eyes.

sc.trojans:
Ahhh...Patrick raises a good point.  Actually, entropian is very common in Berners and is a congenital issue in the breed.  We see it however only with poor breeding and those who are not adhering the breed standard.  The petstore and backyard bred ones almost always have it.

So, the last three fosters I have had have had it to some degree.  The boy I had last year had it very severe, and couldn't even hold his eyes open.  I did two eyes surgeries on him to fix it.

So I trust the original description of the issue - having just been outdoors, redness AND a drooping eyelid/or half closed and think this is most consistent with irritation and allergies.

BUT - to Patricks point - I also believe in health certifications and every good breeder I know requires their buyers to get their dogs CERFed (eye certification).  My Berner is getting her second CERF next week and think it is important to do to rule these things out.  Even distichiasis will not be detected without an eye exam.  So something to keep in mind.....

P.S. Thanks MaryPyr - Guru?  Not really, but thanks for the complement

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