Welcome to the forum firstly.
Secondly Callie is the best person to ask about allergies.
This is what she provided me with my allergy prone dog/s. I hate to see dogs have to take such HUGE antibiotics PLUS antifungals (very very VERY hard on the liver). Clinamyacin can be really good on yeast/staph. Cipro is TOUGH to take -- and so is clindamycin.
If I were totally honest (and I've fought this HUGE battle with one of mine and so many others -- so much yeast/staph, and major papules ALL over them and constant skin infection for the past year's) I would tell you to do two things in short order. Regular vets are going to simply throw antibiotics at this. And honestly it's possible that in order to get his 'level' you may have to do some of that.
BUT frankly the two things I'd do a.s.a.p. are:
1. Get the vet to test the thyroid thru either thru a University that does this in your area at there vet doctor their. They use Dr. Dodd's protocols strictly -- but some vets have an easier time swallowing sending the blood to a University rather than a holistic vet) I had Beau's thyroid tested SEVERAL times and it came back 'kinda low' but nothing low enough to indicate drugs. And the second time around, it was normal. BUT when we tested his thyroid thru U of G -- yep HE WAS LOW. Now dangerously low but definitely low enough to be a problem. It took FOUR months of thyroid meds (during which time HE had to be on clindamycin AND pred) to get the skin back 'level' -- but NOW wow -- I have a new dog with great skin!!! With no Thyroid problems.
2. The next thing is honestly to try a different *kind* of vet. Yeast/staphy skin -- particularly UNDER the body is, in Chinese medicine, called "internal dampness" and it is actually a SPLEEN problem. Papules on the top of the body is a different type of internal heat problem (infection) and the two together often require some herbal therapy. But the Oriental thinking sees this stuff SO differently. You aren't treating "staph" (bacteria) or "yeast" (fungus) -- you are treating the body systems that have allowed these to get out of control. So they try to bring the body back into balance RATHER than just attack the symptoms.
You might consider looking on the Chi-Institute website for their locator. Trying a holistic vet of this type is way different, and you may find the success we have. [link
http://www.chi-institute.com/]http://www.chi-institute.com/[/link] (and yeah, for those of you who 'collect' URLs -- that's different -- it used to be [link
http://www.tcvm.com/]http://www.tcvm.com/[/link] but they've changed it to chi-institute to reflect the name more easily).
When it comes to allergies I get too scared -- allergies ARE an immune problem, and I don't like the correlation's I see between dogs that have allergies (particularly those taking allergy shots) and those that get cancer. I've been there done that with two dogs in the past two years and I'm not doing it again if I can help it. I'm not trying to pass on my 'hysteria' -- only wisdom, if that makes sense. Allergies are a dogs immune system that is compremised. Not normal. Correlations between cancer and dogs can be the foods they eat, and too many vaccines being built up.
But all those drugs you are talking about are REALLY heavy-hitting. VERY tough on the gut, and VERY VERY tough on the liver.
Turmeric Root, Black Catecbu, Grindelia Floral Buds and Lobelia, combined, protect the liver from circulating antigens and allergens, thereby reducing infections and skin or intestinal irritations associated with airborne, urea, and food related allergies. This combination supports the adrenal glands when epinephrine is needed by the body during inflammatory responses generated by allergens. It also is indicated for all disorders of hypersensitivity, inclusing allergies, asthma, dermatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, reactive arthritis, and food related digestive disorders.
You can also add a nutritional supplement for her like Vitamin C - 1000 mg per 25lbs of body weight. If she has a problem with this, you can lower the dosage to suite her needs. Like 500 mg per 25lbs of body weight and so on.
Vitamin A 2500 IU per 25lbs of body weight per day with Beta Carotene - 1200 IU per day and Vitamin E - 50 IU of d-Alpha to stimulate the immune system and tissue rejuvenation.
Vitamin B- Complex - 50 mg to 100 mg per day regardless of size. Smaller pets utilize it faster.
Antioxidants such as Selenium, Super Oxide Desmutase and Garlic.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids. Help reduce itch of dry skin. Or an oil in her food that has this fatty 3 acids.
MSM-is a sulfur-based nutrient, which helps reduce tissue inflammation and promotes improved skin elasticity and coat condition. Some say it is too harsh for the animal. If it does not agree with him do not use it.
Minerals such as Zinc - 5 mg per 25lbs of body weight, Chromium - 5mcg. per 25lbs. This helps build resistance and supports tissue repair.
To answer your question of how come so many itchy dogs, it is poor quality commercial food by greedy manufacturers cutting corners.
Ingredients to avoid in an allergy prone dog are as follows: Greasy foods, Animal Byproducts, Grain Byproducts, Fillers, Yeast, and Sugar. You can also put him on Fish, Rabbit, Venison in addition to Lamb diet. Also change his cookies to something like Newman's own natural ingredients with NO wheat in them or you can make your own. I can give you several recipes if you would like them. All too often people forget to change the snacks when they change everything else. I would also change his over to the new food gradually, like, what ever he is on now, decrees by a 1/4 and add a 1/4 to replace the missing quarter for a few days, then 1/2 new and 1/2 old food for a week or so, then 3/4 new food and 1/4 of the old stuff for a few more days. Over a two to three week period. This way you do NOT upset the natural balance of her tummy when introducing new stuff. Things that are also good for him are things like sweet potatoes, baked or steamed in which you can add into her food as an extra treat. The Yucca root, is actually a vegetable which looks kind of like a potato in the frozen section of Wal Mart, you can also give him into her food. It not only serves as an anti inflammatory but soothes the itchies and is healthy for him.
Beau gets, cooked veggies in his food once a week with things like what I mentioned and green beans, carrots, NO ONIONS, Or Mushrooms either. There is only one kind of Mushroom they can eat and that is limited amount, is the Shitakii mushroom. I even give him fruits to eat, like melon's, oranges, apples, NO GRAPES, they are toxic to a dog. Cranberry juice along with veggie juice is also good. As long as there is NO GRAPE JUICE in it. I love the vet's at the clinic, however, all they really want to do is DRUG therapy which only masks the problem and does NOT address the problem and all too often we as owners end up euthanizing the animal because the allergy shots, drugs, etc. STOP working and we cannot stand to see our furbabies suffer any more.