Any ideas for a really itchy dog?

[davet]

Re: the use of stteroids


I don;t mean to imply that that is all I do but sometimes the itch can be idiosyncratic (if that is the right word)...Many time with all the test that you run you do not find an answer..the itch my just be an anxiety itch, a local irritation etc etc and the blood pictures all come back not informative...But lots of time things like hot spots etc can be prevented while temporary relief is functioning...Many many Times I found if you just break the itch cycle it works and saves the client much money and much anxietyy for the dog....Change of diet is good but for a localize itching or biting at the back, all that is needed is relief to stop it......
I do not say to ignore all these test but in reality the results often prove nothing and I am referring to more localized itches..If a dog is biting and scratching all over in a frenzy and you don’t see fleas or mites the you know it is either systemic, allergic etc etc

[Marty]

Back at the Vet's today to clean out their pharmacy...LOL! Her eyes have checked out as well as can be expected, and her skin is a mess. Davet, it really is an all-over thing which has gotten worse as she gets older. My gut feeling is a food allergy, and the Vet is agreeing with that now. Sometimes I think their standard response is fleas, but if I have 3 dogs, they should all have fleas...and that has not been the case.

He suggested z/d which we will try. But I am seriously thinking about allergy testing after the holidays...this visit and some other things wiped me out for this month. If one expensive test eliminates two expensive Vet visits and provides comfort to her (and me), it seems worth it.

I know I wouldn't have a problem giving the needed shots...he said they were much easier than giving Winnie fluids. I forgot to ask if the shots were expensive though...sigh.