I need collar & and tag help!!

Brattina88

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#1
I was wondering if anyone could help me, or if anyone has any ideas.

Maddie has been breaking out from metal(s) from her tags even when she was a pup. She has skin allergies, which were pretty much eliminated with a good diet. If she gets "bad" dog treats, the skin on her belly will break out and she will be very itchy.
Anyway, back to the tag problems! My solution at first was easy - to have just a tag silencer to cover the tag itself. It worked at first, but then the ring that held the tag made her break out as well. Now I do not make Maddie wear her collar unless I am letting her outside, or walking her. BUT sometimes my roommates forgets to take the collar back off when they let her outside, when I am not home :( Maddie does not wear any form of tags at this time, I have my name and address and vet information on a laminated paper in a Velcro envelope type of thing on her collar. Yesterday, while walking the dogs, a neighbor kind of suggested casually that I put her tags on her, because the animal control actually checks the dogs in the neighborhood to make sure they are licensed, and they can fine you if the dogs are not wearing them :mad: :rolleyes: Fine, I'll just keep them on me or something. Whatever.

I've been keeping her collar off at this time, the metal "D" ring has also been breaking her skin out on her throat. But lets face it, she'd rather be itchy there than not get walked! Yesterday I walked her with her harness and without a collar, because she has scratched herself to the point of bleeding after I took the collar off the day before yesterday... The "O" ring on the harness made her chest break out after the hour walk yesterday and again today. I called the vet - there solution is "simple". Take the collar off when she's in the house. Don't walk her with her harness, and get a collar without any metals. (they also said I could bring her in if I felt I needed to)

Yeah... like I could find one of those! :p
 

Chewbecca

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#2
hm...I'm not completely convinced that it's all metals that are causing her to breakout (unless you know otherwise for sure). I'm thinking that most of your collars have a nickel plated D-Ring, and a lot dogs can be allergic to nickel. A lot of HUMANS can be allergic to nickel (I, myself, am sensitive to it).

If you do not want to go plastic for her collars, you could try finding a collar maker who could use stainless steel for the hardware?
 
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#3
If you could find someone to do it, a collar with all plastic hardware would work, and then her identification info could be embroidered onto that collar so you wouldn't need metal tags.

As far as the liscensing tag, just carry it with you or put it in a little ziplock bag and safety pin it to the leash or something when you go out in case one of the "authority figures" happens to drop by.

I know someone who makes collars who could probably do it for you if you decided to go with the all plastic hardware. I also know someone who does embroidery.

Or, have you tried brass hardware? A lot of people are allergic to nickle and zinc - maybe dogs are sensitive to it as well? Maybe brass would be less aggravating to her?
 
B

bjdobson

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#5
Can you coat all the nickel with clear nail polish? I've done that before to protect stuff. You can get plastic tags, I know that... I don't use the dog tags they provide - I get the number put on the back of a plastic tag - long as the number is there, that's usually okay, isn't it? Not sure.

There must be someone who makes plastic only collars but they wouldn't be very strong.

Can you sew at all? You could replace the metal D ring with a loop of fabric then there'd be no metal.
 

Brattina88

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#9
To be honest, I'm not too concerned about her wearing her stupid license. I can write the number with her other information and stick it in her Velcro thing, and carry it with me. What are they going to do, fine me because my dog is allergic to metal (or potentially just nickel) :p pffffft

I have been trying to find even a cheap plastic collar, but I haven't seen any (locally).

I'm thinking that most of your collars have a nickel plated D-Ring, and a lot dogs can be allergic to nickel. A lot of HUMANS can be allergic to nickel (I, myself, am sensitive to it).
I don't know if its just nickel or not... I probably wouldn't want to put her through any tests or anything like that to figure it out, I hope that doesn't make me a horrible owner. I hate how it bothers her, though :(

I am sensitive to nickel too. My mom is really allergic. She breaks out and swells, it is itchy and painful to her. I remember thinking she was hard to shop for when I was in elementary school :eek:

I know someone who makes collars who could probably do it for you if you decided to go with the all plastic hardware. I also know someone who does embroidery.

Or, have you tried brass hardware? A lot of people are allergic to nickle and zinc - maybe dogs are sensitive to it as well? Maybe brass would be less aggravating to her?
My only concern would be if the brass is too heavy?
I have a Elllaslead with brass hardware, and its a little heavy. But VERY nice!!! :)

Yikes, no metal INCLUDING a D ring? That's a tough task you've put us to!
*sigh* that's the problem I'm having. But I figured Chazzers could pull it off! LOL



EDIT: Ackk... there have been a few posts since I posted. Give me a minute to go back and read them >.<
 

Brattina88

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#11

maxfox426

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#12
Hmmmm... my D-rings ARE nickel-plated. I've never heard of dogs with metal allergies before, though after reading this thread... I probably should have thought of it before! Doh! Now that I know this, I am going to look around for new hardware that is nickel-free.

The link that Jess shared is actually where I get a lot of my hardware, and they do have some plastic/acetal D-rings available, though they warn against using them for pet products... I also noticed that there are black powder-coated D-rings available as well. I wonder if something like that would help? I know that a lot of small animal cages are powder-coated to avoid potential reactions to the metal, so maybe that would help Maddie, too? I'm going to look around for stainless steel D-rings as well.

I still have fabric if you want me to make another strawberry collar with different hardware. Honestly, if Maddie is having allergy problems with the one I made for her, you could send it back to me and I would exchange it for some kind of a modified no-metal collar. :)
 

jess2416

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#13
The link that Jess shared is actually where I get a lot of my hardware, and they do have some plastic/acetal D-rings available, though they warn against using them for pet products
sorry :eek: didnt mean to "reveal" your source lol
 

Chewbecca

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#15
My only concern would be if the brass is too heavy?
I have a Elllaslead with brass hardware, and its a little heavy. But VERY nice!!! :)

It's not the weight of the metal/brass that is heavy, it's most likely that you have regular clamps on it.:D
If you were to get one of our small leads, it wouldn't be too heavy.:D
 

Brattina88

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#16
I swear I replied to this already :confused: Anyway...

maxfox - thanks for the reply. *hugs strawberry collar close* I really love this collar... I don't want to send it back LOL but I may take you up on your offer... I wish I knew whether or not the black powder-coated D-rings would cause a reaction. Do they advice against using plastic because they may break? Just wondering, because Maddie doesn't exactly pull like a sled dog anymore... lol...
I knew I could somehow turn Maddie's allergy into another collar obsession purchase! ha!
It's not the weight of the metal/brass that is heavy, it's most likely that you have regular clamps on it.:-D
If you were to get one of our small leads, it wouldn't be too heavy.:D
I thought it was a small lead, it has the rubber tubing, but I'm no expert :p I LOVE it though, and I like it just the way it is! BUT if you're trying to hint at something... it doesn't take much encouraging :lol-sign: I LOVE this leash!!!! I recomend you to all of my "dog friends"!
Maybe that wasn't a good reference to use...

Ever thought about making non-slip collars? hehe
 

Brattina88

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#17
A member on another forum suggested

^ that type of collar. Does anyone know if the ring you attach the leash to is medal or not? I'm having a hard time finding a good, reliable discription.

Thanks guys :)
 

Brattina88

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#18
a *bump*

:eek: oh boy...

I tried nail polish and medical tape on the "D" ring (the only metal on the collar), and left the collar on and checked on her on my break today, and immediately took the collar off, there was redness (probably from scratching) and small bumpies. That sucks!
Also, she has a vet appt tomorrow... just in case :/ I don't understand why its gotten 'worse'
 

maxfox426

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#19
a *bump*

:eek: oh boy...

I tried nail polish and medical tape on the "D" ring (the only metal on the collar), and left the collar on and checked on her on my break today, and immediately took the collar off, there was redness (probably from scratching) and small bumpies. That sucks!
Also, she has a vet appt tomorrow... just in case :/ I don't understand why its gotten 'worse'
Oh no!

Maybe the edges of the medical tape were irritating her? (I know that band-aids drive me crazy for that reason.) Or she's also allergic to nail polish? Poor girl!

I sent you a (really long :eek:) PM just a few minutes ago. Hopefully something in there helps!

Good call on checking in with the vet. Maybe they can think of something else she might be reacting to... anything to give poor Maddie some relief!
 

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