Skin Allergies

by Cindy
(Apple Valley, CA USA)

I have a 2 and a half year old pit. She is about 50 lbs.

When we got her she was 12 weeks old. She was healthy. The only thing we noticed was a little tearing in one eye.

She had all her puppy shots and we got her spayed when she was about 5 months old. The week after she was spayed she started bleeding a little and the vet told us she had an urinary tract infection. They started antibotics. She got better.

A few months after she got spayed, at Christmas time she started developing these raised crusty spots on her back along with a red rash all over her tummy. The spots would eventually lose the fur. We didn't know if it was her new bed or toys we had gotten her for Christmas. Maybe an allergy to them.

The vet prescribed yet another dose of antibiotics and everything cleared up. Then 3 weeks after finishing the antibiotics we were right back were we started.

Back to the vet, another round of antibiotics. Now a vicious cycle. Rash, antibiotics, better all over again.

We have tried Apoquel which didn't work. 1 time steroids a disaster. She started having accidents in the house until the steroid shot got out of her system. Never again.

Different foods, probiotics, special shampoos, special bed and still battling this cycle.

I refuse to continue antibiotics. It's just a bandaid.

She scratches all the time, she licks her feet and her tummy all the time. She rub's her back on the carpet.

I just don't know what to do and the vets only answer is she has allergies that lead to secondary infections.

We have spent money on food allergy testing. It showed milk and beef as high. We have had skin scraped and checked for fungus etc. The vets aren't helping and I'm trying to figure this out on my own. She is a really good dog and I hate that she is suffering with this.