One of the leading complaints that brings a pet into the vet is allergies. It is a complicated problem, and like all complicated problems, there are no easy answers. Some pets need special food, others respond to antihistamines, and some need very strong immune suppressants just to make it through the day.
Watching a pet lick and chew themselves raw is so sad and frustrating. All you want to do is help them get rid of that horrible, painful persistent itch. So you go to the vet, and lo and behold, you find out the diagnostic and treatment process is also a drawn out out and complicated deal. Allergies really stink.
If you’ve had the fun of having an allergic pet yourself, you know just how challenging and frustrating it is to go through the diagnostic process. Some vets like to be very stepwise in their approach- ok, first we do a 12 week elimination diet, then we do a 10 day antihistamine trial, etc, etc. Others toss the whole arsenal at the pet from the get go to get them some relief, and after that is accomplished take a step back and try to pinpoint the actual cause of the allergy. I tend to go for the latter approach myself, but I’ve done it both ways. It depends on a lot of things.
One time, while I was working with a holistic veterinarian, he told me he tells his patients with environmental allergies to take a tablespoon of local honey every day. It is basically a form of immunotherapy, introducing low levels of local allergens via the oral/sublingual route. He was pleased with its results, and I started mentioning it to clients with atopic dogs as an additional thing to try.
Healthy Goo, a product for dogs, takes this approach and brings it several steps further. It combines probiotics, a brewer’s yeast supplement, and 17 common allergens in a peanut butter vehicle. It was formulated by Dr. Kristin Holm, a board certified veterinary dermatologist (which, if you did not know, is the board specialty in veterinary medicine to which allergy cases are usually referred.)
The Healthy Goo website has an extensive explanation of the product, the theory behind it, and the ingredients list. It’s well worth a perusal if you have questions about the products or allergies in general. For example, although everyone likes to jump on the food allergy train when they have a pet with allergic disease, environmental allergies are by a large margin the more commonly diagnosed allergic culprit. Bummer, because they are so much harder to manage.
The Healthy Goo product is a little different than the standard allergy treatments, but as anyone who’s done Atopica, steroids or benadryl will tell you, those treatments have plenty of downsides too, be it cost, side effects, or simply that they don’t work. Can I guarantee this will work for your pet with allergies? No, but that goes for anything else you might try too. It’s an interesting concept, one that is appealing to many people who are on the verge of trying their dog on steroids or other immunosuppressants.
Now before you run to your vet and tell them I said to try this and you can stop what you’re currently using, remember the cardinal rule of the internet: if you have any questions about whether this is an appropriate product to try on your pet, please talk to your veterinarian and don’t make any changes in your pet’s treatment plan without letting them know! They are your ultimate resource for helping you determine what is right for your pet. We good? Good. Now onto the fun part:
Healthy Goo has offered three packages of Doggy Goo to readers who have an allergic pet (or if you have a healthy pet and would like to use it as a supplement). To enter, just leave a blog post comment with who you would like to give the Goo too and enter the Rafflecopter! Value: $69.95
In addition, Healthy Goo is offering a promotional code through next month that does two things:
- You get a $5 discount off a Goo purchase
- For every purchase using the code, Healthy Goo will donate $10 to a rescue that I designate. Hooray!
To use this code, just enter DrV$5GOO at checkout.
And to enter to win, here’s the widget!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I would give Healthy Goo to my cat Roza. She had an allergic reaction to a new food we had given her and now I’m terrified to try new things. Maybe the Healthy Goo could help her in general.
I’m not sure if it’s meant for cats. I can check.
Thanks Dr. V! I optimistically read phrases like “healthy pet” and “allergic pet” to mean it could be used on either.
GOO Hello > While Kitty GOO is on our GOO Radar …
We are presently “Kitty Lick Researching” various “Tastes” for our Kitty GOO.
But, to be Honest…
GOO Gut RESCUE / GOO SILVER and our GOO Glow Shampoo /Conditioner are Soon to GOO follow.
My poor baby Oscar gets allergy shots, but it still doesn’t seem to be enough. I frequently have to Benadryl him at night. He’s a picky eater, so I’ve been hesitant to try Healthy Goo, but it would be awesome to win some and be able to try it.
As GOO Dr Kristin & many Medical Professionals say..
The Best Therapy / Medicine in the World is Rendered UseLess…
If the Patient is Non-Compliant.
With GOO, Dr Kristin had TWO ” Compliance Patients” to consider …
#1) Your Animal.. Which is Why she choose Peanut Butter ( DOGs just Luv PB ).
#2) You, the Pet Parent.
Because if GOO is not Pet Parent Friendly..
The Animal will not have the chance to Enjoy their GOO.
Which is Why we say…
Sublingual Doggy GOO > Makes the Serious Business of Fighting Canine Allergies FUN ..
FUN for You ( Pet Parent )
GOO-Licious, Tasty Treat FUN for Your Dog.
SO…
In your GOO Research, make Sure your Animal Luvs to Lick UP Peanut Butter..
If so…
Pet & Pet Parent “Compliance” is Guarenteed !
Congrat’s Lisa > Your GOO will Ship tomorrow with ETC Thursday / Friday.
To your above comment ..
We are finding some Vet Derms supplement their Allergy SHOTs with GOO usage > Of Course, this is a DACVD call.
Benadryl > OK to provide animal Qulaity of Life .. but your Allergy SHOT ( with GOO ? ) may allow you to wean down in future.
Picky Eater = Dr. Kristin selected Peanut Butter for its SublingualDelivery and DOGs LUV PB > We hope your Dog does too.
Via our http://www.DoggyGOO.com Site, Pls send us your E Mail sowe can Keep you in the GOO Loop.
Stephen GOO
I would like to try it for my Rat Terrier, Neo. His allergies are really difficult to control. 🙁
I read about this from the ad on your site and am extremely interested in trying it on Clyde for his seasonal allergies that cause chronic ear infections. They always start up this time of the year when the trees start to bud. It seems like I am constantly cleaning and/or putting drops in his ears. We’d both like to find a better solution!
By the way, I’ve done the honey route for my own allergies, more or less. Instead of honey, I took local bee pollen on a daily basis. I gave up on it though because of the taste. Ick!
Would love to try this for our dog, Casey!
I would love to try this for my Oscar. He has had some skin issues, and I’m always looking to go the natural route first.
My bulldog, LBD, has terrible allergies to anything that is green a/o grows outside. My poor girl has to have her paws washed when we come in from any grass!
Pauley James would love to try Doggy Goo!
My poor old dog Rudy has allergies. I’m sure it’s environmental as she gets worse at the same time I do over the spring and summer. I do try to use a supplement called Dinovite which works well but i’m really bad at keeping up with it on a daily basis. I would love to try this also to see how she feels. And perhaps use it in conjunction with Dinovite.
My Pibble, Rufus. He’s allergic to daffodils (seriously) and grass and tree pollen, and grain in his food. We have figured this out through observation, not testing. My “big, mean, ferocious” Pibble turns pink every spring. The biggest threat from him is boogers! Would love to stop the injections every spring and the benadryl that makes him loopy.
I’d like to try it for mu cocker spaniel Wilson. He always has trouble with allergies in the spring.
Congrat’s Danielle > Your GOO will Ship tomorrow with ETA Thursday / Friday.
To your comments..
Yup > It is ALLERGY Season for Man & Dog..
You are GOO On Track .. to Pre-Emptively begin GOO before Spring ALLERGIES Really Kick In ..
Also, becasue GOO is a Progressive / Cumulative Chronic Disease > Typically Canine Allergy Itch , Skin & Ear Issues begin as a “Seasonal ” Issue .. but can /often do mitigate to Year-roundStatus unless GOO’ed.
That’s interesting. Isn’t this kind of a similar idea as behind the raw local honey approach?
I have a friend her dog Mia would really benefit from Healthy Goo. Mia rubs and rubs her face raw. Chews on her feet. Her eyes are always so red when she is having an problems. She can not eat dog food of any kind. Is allergic to every things this sounds like it would be perfect for Mia. I just feel so sorry for Mia…please give Mia a chance to try Healthy Goo to see if this is what will help Mia. Thanks
Our yorkie Lily has been on shots for her allergies, but we have had to stop them because of possible adverse reactions. I’d really like to try this stuff out for her.
My poor dog Tai is allergic to half the planet – anything that ever wore feathers, dairy, potatoes, pollen (grass pollen in the summer is a nightmare, even cortisone shots don’t give him much relief), flax seed, dust mites, bacteria……We manage to keep it moderately under control – he’s even got a full coat of fur right now, but I can tell by his energy level that we are barely ahead of it most of the time. THANK YOU for this post, I can’t wait to try this out for him.
My dog Mona’s fur has begun to thin. Had thyroid testing done and she is normal. My vet thinks it may be skin allergy related (she does scratch a bit very slowly). Have not changed her flea preventative. So this would be great to try. Thanks!
Hi Dr. V!
My shepherd-mutt, Hades (I swear he’s really sweet, just happens to be big and black), has seasonal allergies that leave his whole underside almost bare. We always do bi-weekly bathing with antifungal/microbial shampoo and short bouts of steroids when he’s really uncomfortable. We would be so happy to try out some Goo! Thanks!
As the proud mom to a 13 year old dog that has suffered from allergies her entire life (I’m certain she is allergic to the world!), I can empathize with anyone that has a dog with allergies. All you want to do is to help them STOP itching! I am always hopeful when there is something new that promises to help 🙂 Even if it just helps one dog, it’s worth it, right?
BTW, I gave you a Kreativ Blogger award . . I’m sure you may have already received it . . but I gave it to you anyways!!
I would love to have you donate mine (IF I win) to the rescue that you designate! Sounds like great stuff!
I would give the Doggy Goo to Hamlet, he has environmental allergies. We have a steroid spray that we use behind his ears (where he scratches most) and he takes an antihistamine. I’d love to try this instead!
Gus has been on prednisone for at least three years, possibly four. I hate it. My vet hates it. Luckily, all his bloodwork and levels looks good, however, I know that can change if we keep using it.
We’re preparing to go through the entire allergy gamut again – novel protein diet, antihistimines, etc. I would love to see if this could help.
If I may impose & take a GOO Moment of Your Time…
To Talk about the Serious Topic of Canine Atopy / Allergies.
As Dr. V correctly noted.. Canine Allergies ( to put it mildly ) “Stink” ..
Or to put it another way > ALLERGY is essentially the result of a Mis-Wired Immune System which responds with an Immune Response to Harmless Enviro & Food Sources which translate to Paw Chewing, Itching, Skin & Ear Issues.
But Allergy is much more than this …
While often Thought of as an UnImportant Trivial “Static” Disease whose Symptoms can be Medicated / Suppressed, it is actually a Cummulative / Progressive Chronic Disease which sets into Lifetime Motion an Allergy SnowBall that begins at Birth Rolling Down the Lifetime Hill > Gaining SPEED ( Frequency of Allergy Driven Diseases ) and MASS ( Severity of Allergy Driven Diseases ) creating a Slippery Slope of Multi Allergy Driven Diseases, recalcitrant Health Issues and compromised Quality of Life for Animal & Pet Parent.
But while an Animal’s Immune System is capable of Fighting Off most of What Life Throws at It EveryDay ..
Sometimes Mother Nature needs a little Extra Help…
Especially when it comes her Allergy Mis-Wiring against the Same Harmless Enviro Pollens, Dust Mites & Molds that We are Allergic To :((
So as Dr. V Corrrectly / Correctly / Correctly Noted !
Talk with your DVM about your Animal’s Allergy CARE Options …
And how possibly You can Leverage the Natural Adaptive Powers of your Animal’s Immune System Power to Build Immune Tolerance to these Allergy Sources.
My Thanks for your Time and GOO Patience…
And my GOO Apologies if I may have Over-Stepped by GOO Invitation.
Jack. We are actually currently saving up to have him allergy tested for immunotherapy, but if we win this and it works, it is a much better alternative to shots!
Any “Kitty Goo” on the horizon?
My 2 fur babies 🙂
Martha! Our puppy had pneumonia when we adopted her, and I feel like she needs a little help getting back to normal after three months on antibiotics!
i have 3 little 4 legged girls, all min. schnauzers. the oldest has allergeries. the middle child has never had too many problems, knock on wood, but the baby has her ups and downs. so i would split it b/t evie and harley.
On behalf of Dr. Kristin & Myself ..
We wish to Thank Dr. V for her Allergy InSight & Care Guidance, as well the Opportunity to build Canine ALLERGY / Atopy Awareness with her Paw Curious Pet Parents.
It is our hope, that by gaining more information, Pet Parents can be on “Allergy Alert” as to the first Signs of Canine Atopy. And to work with their DVM toward curtailing the progression of this Animal Health & Quality of Life compromising Disease.
At the End-of-the-GOO Day..
When our Animals are Healthy > They are Happy..
And when they are Healthy & Happy..
We Are Happy Too !
A WIN WIN for EveryWIN !
Congratulations to our Lucky GOO Winners ..
And Congratulations to Dr. V’s Lucky Animal Shelter.
GOO Friendly Reminder:
We have Begun the “Mother” of All > Allergy Seasons.
After FLEA is Ruled Out..
> 85% of our Itchy DOGs = Allergy > To the Same Pollens, Dust Mites & Molds that >We Are.
This Allergy Season begin Building Immune Tolerance to these Enviro FUN-Suckers…
Place your Animal Firmly on the Lifetime GOO Path to Enviro Immune Tolerance with a Daily GOO-Licious Lick / Lick / Lick Peanut Butter Tasty “Sublingual Doggy GOO” Treat.
A Healthy GOO Glow > Starts from WithIn.