Ojo- I have dog allergy questions

[prettyinpink]

Simon has been on allergy meds since the end of August. Antiboitics now for the third 14 day round for secondary infections from the antibiotics; and now he is on a dose of tapering steroids to see if that kicks it. The vet keeps jumping around with what he thinks it is. He keeps just thinking is seasonal allergies and that as it cools it will get better. But now he is throwing around Canine Adapay (sp), an autoimmune allergy issue that is not curable but treatable.

When we started the steroids all of the issues got much better. Now that we are on the last leg of the taper where he is only getting them every other day everything is starting to flare again.

I'm just really torn on what I should be asking to be done next, what I should push for. We haven't even looked at food allergies yet and he has had no blood work done.

What were the steps you took with Rudi?( He is the one with all the allergies, right?) Should I start pushing for blood tests and food allergy tests?

[prettyinpink]

They think his are environmental which is why the vet hasn't pushed for any other allergy tests yet but I'm getting so frustrated!!!

We did two weeks of benedryl and that did nothing. He's be on Rx hydroxyzine since then and some days it works great and other days it seems like it doesn't do a darn thing! We are bathing him with an Rx shampoo every two days but he hates baths so its such a challenge, thank goodness he's only 13lbs! The vet is having me wipe him off every time he goes outside with a cool washcloth but that's hard to do all the time since he fights me when I do it.

I had been doing Claritin on my own with Simon before we went and saw the vet and he seemed to do okay on it but the vet freaked when I told him that was what I had been doing, he said they prefer not to use it on dogs so I've just been doing what they say. I'm a whole lot of money in and many Tuesdays at the vet for very little bennifit at this point. I just don't know what else to do.

[prettyinpink]

Okay. Thanks for the info. He has an appointment tonight. I don't think its food allergies because he never gets sick or has bowel issues its just skin and worse when he has been outside. I'm going to mention that the steroids seemed to be working and then stopped and see what he has to say. There are several vets in this practice and thankfully Simon's is really good about asking for help or a second opinion if he is at a loss. I might ask for the practice owner to come in tonight if she is available and see what she thinks. I'm just getting so frustrated because I want him to not be itchy!!!

I really appreciate your in input! I'll update tonight when I get home if I know anything new.