George behind bars

Remember George? Half of the dynamic duo that I used to post about regularly 

until a certain puppy came along and took over the blog?

He's been confined to a pen during all daylight hours since the end of July,

as I've tried to manage his skin allergies. 

He asked me not to post pictures of him in jail, 

but I'm making an exception today to update you on his condition.

But before I do, I have to take you back to this time last year,

when his allergies were out of control and he foundered

from the medicine he was prescribed. It was an awful time,

and I didn't share this picture because it was gross:

 

 His chest, his face, his belly line...ugh...it all looked like raw hamburger meat.

When the summer ended and the bugs retreated, George's skin finally cleared up,

but I was determined to never let it happen again. 

So this year's allergy abatement plan has included:

1. No turnout during the day when the bugs are out.

2. The liberal application of Pyrannah fly spray, Vetericyn and SWAT, 

as many times a day as necessary.

3. Almost hourly visits to his pen to scoop poop and keep the flies away.

4. Two nutritional supplements (Platinum Skin and Allergy and Spirulina) 

to help maintain normal histamine levels.

5. Every-other-day bathing of problem areas with a prescription shampoo.

 

Much better! Or so I thought until Justina and Don came to visit a few weeks ago

and mentioned that Bernard's allergy-prone skin looked better than George's.

They were using a product recommended by their vet in Virginia,

along with generic Zyrtec. I got the ok from our vet to add both to George's program.

This is the stuff that is now saving my sanity and George's skin, 

Kinetic Vet's EquiShield IBH Salve: 

I've never been so impressed with an equine remedy. (And nobody is paying me to say this.)

If you have an equine with insect bite hypersensitivity, I can't recommend it enough.

And it's even available on Amazon.

I've been using it on George's problem patches for two weeks, 

and his skin has never been more clear.

In another month or so, the bugs will die off, George will return to his normal 24/7 turnout,

and taking pictures of the burrito brothers will be fun again.