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My senior black lab has skin allergies and itchy, swollen eyes. Help!

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | spayed | 85 lbs

my 14 yr old black lab has had many skin issues in the last 3 yrs weve have taken antibiotics bathe in oatmeal shampoo apple cider vinegar topical and ingested the list goes on and on I try and keep her clean and comfortable I can only afford so many vet bills my problem now is her eyes get runny and itchy and when I cant be there to stop her she rubs her face and eyes on whatever she can find furniture outside plants the chainlink fence which we end up with swollen ,bloody eyes

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 29th, 2017

I can certainly understand your frustrations here. Canine atopic dermatitis is one of the most frustrating disease processes to diagnose and manage. I see you have listed a bunch of topical alternative treatments here and antibiotics; however there is not one magic bullet when dealing with canine allergies, and there are definitely many more options for you. I will list them here 1) Immune mediated medication- Apoquel has become very popular in the last few years for managing pets with atopic dermatitis. It stops the itch, in most cases, within 24 hrs and can be used long term in pets with few side effects. It actually prevents the itch pathway on the skin. 2) Topical medicated shampoos - there are many options here, but I particularly like the Duoxo calm shampoo for dogs with allergies. Your pet may also need a specific medicated shampoo depending on the current condition of the skin (bacterial infections, yeast infections, etc). 3) Food trial- if your pet has not already done a food trial, then I highly recommend considering this. This can rule out the all to common food allergies. This is a rigorous and very strict diet that your pet has to be on for 3 months duration. Here is more information on how this is done http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2499 I would recommend getting her starting on either steroids or the immune mediated drug Apoquel right away to stop her from injuring her eyes further. You can also go to your local pet store and purchase an e-collar (cone) to place on her to prevent her from rubbing her eyes sore. Best of luck with your pet and remember that this is a commitment that you have to have towards your pet to get her feeling better, and that canine allergies are not managed overnight. This can take months and sometimes even years of dedication and treatment, so work with your vet and educate yourself about how best to manage your pet's allergies. We are here to help you along the way. Canine Allergies- http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1535

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Other Answers

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    When she starts doing that you must put an e-collar around her neck right away and keep it on her until it gets better, this will avoid any further damage inflicted by her. i assume the eye problem is also related to the allergies, you should consider having her put permanently on a medication called apoquel, it usually resolve any allergy issues. for the eyes there is also a topical steroidal prescription eye drops that your vet can provide you.

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    Answered By Jacqueline Nobles, DVM, DACVECC

    Veterinarian, Board-Certified Emergency/Critical Care Specialist

    Published on

    Hi! I am so sorry to hear about Babygirl's long term struggle with allergies. Labs are one the breeds that truly struggles with allergies or what we refer to as atopy. In most cases of dogs with long term issues, I find that they have multiple allergies which include: fleas, dusts, pollens, grasses and some foods. The excessive scratching leads to breakdown in the skin and secondary bacterial and yeast infections occur. In the ideal world, you would take your pet to a veterinary dermatologist who would perform an intradermal skin test and make a vaccine against the allergens your pet reacts to the most. This type of immunotherapy desensitizes the patient and helps prevent outbreaks. Unfortunately, we have to get the secondary infection under control first. Often times, the infection requires antibiotics and steroids. You can try bathing her in a medicated shampoo containing chlorhexidine allowing her to soak for 10 minutes once weekly. Make sure to keep her on a monthly flea prevention. Use baby wipes to physically wipe off the allergens her feet, face, and ears after walks outside. Try Benadryl to control scratching and discuss dose with your veterinarian. A novel protein diet of duck or venison may be beneficial but expensive. Finally, apply an e-collar to prevent licking and chewing and face rubbing.

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