Our Remedy to Rowans Allergies

So, we decided to try changing the food and some herbal things.

Rowan just today turned 8-years-old and has had allergies for a few years. Each time we took something away that triggered him it got a little better, but it was a journey! Personally, it was difficult starting an herbal protocol for my fur baby when I know dosage can make or break an herbs benefit.

It started with either ticks or fleas. We were on a trip somewhere in Colorado and Rowan needed a bath. We stopped and picked up a random flea shampoo and got a nice bath. Not but a couple hours later he got sick. After a few tries, we found out that a small percentage of Australian Shepherds have a problem with certain chemicals in a lot of flea treatments. The worst was after the internal treatment. The rashes and patches of fur falling off for a long time. We tried the veterinarian who had him on antibiotics every time something happened. Don't get me wrong, they have been there for a lot of things needed. It was just this one that they had no secure point of reference to base the allergic reactions off from.

After attempting conventional medications for the boy, we started trying different herbs and eliminating possible allergies.

Our first attempt was chicken. He really flared up after eating chicken. So, we switched his diet to beef. The rashes got a little better, so we had high hopes. After a month we knew it only was a little better and needed to keep trying. The next was Black Cumin Seed Oil, and this is where we noticed the beginning of getting better the most.

His fur started growing back and the skin reactions calmed down almost completely. It was about a year later that the rashes came back a little bit. Then he stopped eating his crispy food bought from a reputable company. We would spend really good money on a solely beef recipe that was gentle for his tummy, but he refused one day. It was a slow boil too, he had refused so many times in the past. That one day he just would not whatsoever. This is when we started cooking their entire meals. This will be the next blog.

I used to call him my pudgy little sausage, he had a bulge to him that was pretty obvious. When you looked at him from above or when bathing he looked well overweight but was not

by the vet's scales. After the switching to making his food, this changed in 2 days.

I am sure it's hard to tell if you don't know but the left pic is an older one where he has inflammation, the right is a more recent one.

He lost all his bulge and even his face looked thinner. Now if you see him you can see that aussie form, and he has soooooo much energy.

Still, some of the rashes remained and nipping at the top of his paws. So he also has a grass allergy when it is in certain phases of life. He'll come home and just nibble on the tops of his paws, nothing horrible but it must be uncomfortable.

That's when we started using Nettle and Licorice Root in tea form. For Rowan specifically we added a pinch of Red Clover for the Liver heat he was presenting. As dogs get older and if they still have their testies they can get too much Testosterone and become a little more agressive. This was an observation in Rowan as we were trying to introduce Darby into our lives.

Equal Weight:

Nettle

Licorice Root

Half of the two above herbs together in weight:

Red Clover

2 tsp / Cup with a long steep

We use 1/4 cup per day in his food. He is 45 lbs.

After starting the tea blend his paw nibbling and remaining rashes have all gone. You can really tell if we forget to give him his tea because the nibbling comes back. The rashes are all gone so far. We only give him Black Cumin Seed Oil every so often, but have to be regular with the tea.