My dog's itch plan
The one page that holds everything your vet told you
itchydog.vetDr. Steve Pelton, DVM
Fill this in with your vet, ideally at a calm visit. Copy the doses and directions straight from your vet's instructions and the medicine labels. This page is a place to write them down, not a place to guess them.
Dog:Weight:Date:Next review of this plan:
Diagnosis so far (fleas, food, atopy, or a mix):
What's been ruled out, and when:
Workup so far:
Fleas controlledInfection checked and treatedFood trial and challenge doneAtopy diagnosed
Current rung on the itch ladder (Chapter 11):Target itch score:
The score that means "call": (for most dogs, a 5 or higher for more than about two weeks)
His bad months (circle): JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Maintenance plan (what we do on ordinary days)
| What | Details from my vet | Who's in charge |
|---|---|---|
| Daily or long-term itch control | ||
| Diet (exact name; foods and treats to avoid) | ||
| Ear cleaning (product, how often) | ||
| Skin care between baths (wipes, sprays, other) | ||
| Before the bad season starts (what, and when) |
Flare plan (what we do when he spills over)
| What | Details from my vet |
|---|---|
| A flare for him means (score, spots, signs) | |
| Call the clinic when (vet's phone number) | |
| Medicines we keep at home and when we may use them | |
| See a vet the same day or next day when |
My dog's itch plan
Prevention, baths, medicines and rechecks
itchydog.vetDr. Steve Pelton, DVMFlea and heartworm prevention
| Pet | Productmade for this species and weight | How often | Day of the month it's due |
|---|---|---|---|
Every pet in the house, all year. Some dog flea products are dangerous for cats.
Bath schedule
Shampoo:How often:
Contact time: minutes (lather, then wait before rinsing; Chapter 12)Water: lukewarm, not hot
Until: (for an infection) or ongoing (for maintenance)
Medicines
| Medicine | What it's for | How much and how oftencopy from the label | Who gives it | Refillsand when to reorder | Start and stop dates | Notesside effects to watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lab work or monitoring needed for these medicines:
Medicine safety rules (the same rules as Chapter 13)
- Don't stop, skip or double a dose on your own. If you miss a dose, call your vet and ask what to do.
- Don't restart leftover medicine (steroids, antibiotics or anything else) without calling first. Leftover ear drops for a familiar ear flare are often fine, after you check with your vet.
- Never share medicine between pets, especially with cats.
- Human medicines only if they're single-ingredient and your vet named them.
- Tell every vet everything he takes, supplements included, and anything from another clinic or an emergency visit.
- Keep pills and flavored chews out of reach.
Vaccines due, and anything to plan around them:
Recheck dates
Reason: infection recheck, food trial, lab work, plan review.
Date:Reason:Done
Date:Reason:Done
Date:Reason:Done
Date:Reason:Done
Veterinary dermatologist (if referred):Phone: