She said what I was going to say

Good luck and hugs to Jake xxxxxxxxx

I hope you dont mind me replying to this too - I dont know a lot about your history, but did have a dog that seemed to be allergic to almost everything, and had constant problems with ears, eyes, feet and skin generally. There were times when I really thought he was going to have to be put down because his skin was so sore he literally couldnt put any pressure on his paws at all because of all the cysts and abcesses on them.

Monty was on Piriton almost constantly - 6 a day (he was a Labrador sized mutt), which didnt stop the problem but did keep the irritation at a tolerable level for him, and I wa taking him to the vets daily for a long time to get a variety of injections, tablets, creams etc - all of which cost me a fortune of course.

Over the years I found a system that kept his problems to a minimum, and eventually I didnt have to take him to the vets because of his skin at all - it had practically cleared although never completely went.

I found that I had to keep changing his dog food every few months. I would change the diet, he would get less itchy, but then he would seem to build up intolerance to it over a few months and I would have to change it again.

The raw diet with mushed up veg he did well on for the longest and I made sure he did not get any extras or treats. I also added in some 'live' natural yoghurt

As for what triggered the problem - it was certainly worse in the Spring and Autumn, and I believe he was also allergic to cats (I had 3 at one stage) as his condition certainly improved as one by one the cats died and eventually I had none. He was also affected by wheat, any foods with soya, and when I tried to give him cod liver oil capsules that made things worse too.

As much as possible I tried to treat him with natural remedies. I gave him echinacea tablets to boost his immune system, vitamin C, stopped getting him vaccinated, used tea tree and natural anti flea remedies, nothing chemical at all.

As for his ears, I dont know if Montys problem is the same as your dogs, but he would get itchy muzzle and ears which he would scratch constantly, shaking his head and yelping when he scratched his ears too much. The inside of the ears would become red, hot and inflammed and get a stinky smell from them, and would show scratches where he had used his back leg too vigorously to scratch himself.

I found that if I used Johnson's Ear drops as soon as there was the slightest sign of redness or irritation it helped a lot, as did bathing the inside of his ears with a mix of yoghurt and aloe vera gel. Reading online I saw that a lot of people used diluted vinegar to bathe infected ears but I didnt as Montys ears used to be scratched and I thought the vinegar might sting.

I dont know which (or if any) of these measures had an effect, or if he would have outgrown the problem anyway, but eventually I didnt have to take him to the vets because of his skin at all, and the only medicine I ever used to give him was Piriton now and again if he started to get itchy. He stopped having to wear socks all the time, could walk fine (although I could never take him to the beach) and only now and again would he get an itchy ear.

Dont know if any of that helps but I hope you get something sorted for your doggie.

Thanks, it is so frustrating never getting answers. Although its nothing life-threatening, it is still so horrible to see him in such pain and discomfort

Oh that sounds awful what you went through with fingal. Its difficult with jake coz everytime it clears up, the vet just tells us to gradually stop the steroids which just causes it to come back! So we get more steroids

The vets are a nightmare, it cost me loads to treat him for a mite and it didnt even work! So the next vet said it must be an allergy but seems so relucant to find out what it is to. Oh I didnt think of herbal remedies, thanks will have a look later. My bf has my laptop just now so im using my mobile so will have a look when I get it back.

Thanks emma, not sure what to do. I might just ask them to do an allergy test and if they wont, then just change vets. Or I might try and do a food test so I can see if a specific food starts it...

I'm all for doing an allergy check, and trying to find a remedy through food... and am amazed that your vets haven't come up with this yet!!! Steroids are great for relieving the pain and itchiness short term, but do nothing to solve the root of the problem! I'm pretty sure an allergy check is one of the first things a specialist would do.....

Thanks, my friends dog is allergic to everything from beef to grass and is on steroids for life, she has put on loads of weight and the vet told them it will shorten her life.

The vet didnt do a skin scrape, which surprised me when they thought it was a mite but the vet barely even looked at him

He is fed on wainwrights. What would be a lot of grain? Also, what comes under grain? I checked his food and it has barley.

Thanks, im just so hoping that they will do an allergy test.

Aw Lauren, I am sure you know my Deacon is on immunotherapy to sort out his skin condition... I was fobbed off with the steroids and told it was a mite infestation (no matter my other dogs okay!) I demanded to see a skin specialist.. he ran skin and blood tests along with food trials and found he in only allergic to house dust mites...severely allergic!! Now he is in month 6 of the immunotherapy and he is mildly better, not much, but a little better is better than nowt!
I also used piriton, oatmeal baths to soothe the skin, a product called Dermacton (sp?), sudocrem, aloe vera, evening primrose oil etc... was told to bathe him in sea salt as it naturally cleanses the skin.. it did calm his skin down.
Is Jake allergic to any foods at all? Does he get upset bellies/jelly poo? Is the allergy all year round or certain time of year? Could it be something on his paw and when he scratches his face its left on the skin?
I would be seeing a specialist hun at least you will know

SUDOCREM!! Thats what I was trying to remember when I made my post about what I had done for Monty.

Great stuff and didnt half soothe his skin when it was bad.

Yes its good stuff isn't it? Not too much cos of the zinc, but it helps ease the skin...

Lauren does Jake get ear infections? Deacon gets alot of wax build up and it can go hand in hand with skin problems... so I was told.

I have been thinking about going to a different vet, but the only other one close to me I have been warned away from so will need to go to one a bit away from me. Also, I wasnt sure if I should coz they wont know his history so I would need to make a timeline of everything for them. I have decided to call the vet on tuesday and ask them what will happen now, and if im not happy with it then I will take him somewhere else.

Thanks, me too...