Feeling Much Better

Life has been busy with non-dog-related activities, namely too much work. But Cabana has been doing really well, and sometimes, it amazes me how easy she is. She has matured into such a great dog with very few issues. (Well, we just have one ongoing struggle that I will blog about one of these days.)

Over the past few months, Cabana had been itchier than usual. I thought it was due to food allergies, and it mostly manifested itself in her gnawing at her poor pink paws. After removing the food/treats that I thought were the culprit, the itching persisted, which made me realize there were seasonal/environmental triggers as well. A couple weeks ago, I started Cabana on Allerplex, an all-natural allergy supplement for humans. I've been putting two capsules in her breakfast and two in her dinner (I just drop the whole capsules in her bowl, and she eats them up without the slightest reservation). After a week, Cabana's itching stopped completely.

What I didn't realize before was how much Cabana hadn't been her usual self. I would take her to the dog park, and she would barely play with other dogs, even her most favorite friends like Bodhi. She used to run and romp endlessly, but lately, she might play half-heartedly for a few minutes, and that would be it. But I had thought she was just growing up and wasn't as interested in that kind of play. It never occurred to me that her low energy level was related to allergies.

But since we started the Allerplex, the difference is incredible. Cabana is SO much more playful! I had no idea how much the allergies had been slowing her down before. It's so great to see her return to her happy self. Unlike Benadryl, Allerplex doesn't cause drowsiness. It doesn't really have any side effects, except one. Allerplex contains fenugreek, which is similar to curry powder, so now Cabana smells a bit like Indian food!

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Poor Pathetic Pink Paws

Poor Cabana is still suffering from itchy paws. I turned around from my computer today to find her in exactly this pose, as if to say, "Mom, look at my poor pathetic pink paws!"

Two months ago, I thought Cabana's itching was due to salmon kibble. Then, a week ago, I thought it was dog treats with mussels in them. I still think those foods exacerbated the itching, but I guess there are also other factors, too. I feel so badly for her! She chews her paws voraciously throughout the day, leaving big wet drool splotches on her beds and carpet.

A friend at the dog park told me to try a holistic medicine called Allerplex, made by Standard Process. After reading the reviews on Amazon, I just ordered some to try. It's meant for humans, but some of the reviewers have used it on their dogs with good results. Has anyone else tried this medication?

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