Cory and his skin.

He is SOOOO adorable!!!!

First, what are you feeding? Are you supplementing with anything (like maybe some fish oil)? What kind of allergy shots are you getting? Are they actual allergy shots, or just steroids?

I think starting from the inside helps, and sometimes a good, natural shampoo, often, helps, too. My girl has horrible environmental allergies, that get worse every year. Every day, this spring, she was in the shower with me, getting a good rinse or a bath in a mild shampoo.

He is currently on Science Diet. I recently switched him off of Purina One after a vet's suggestion. When he was a young puppy, the vet thought it was an allergy to corn so we placed him on Purina One. He has been on that for years now.

Could you suggest a good shampoo to use? Does he need baths daily? He had one today, but he usually only gets them every few weeks. I was hoping to avoid daily baths as he is a pretty big boy, but he behaves well in the bath so I guess it wouldn't be too bad.

Daily baths depend on  the dog.... Some dogs, it really helps. Some dogs, it can possibly make worst.

The first thing you need to do, IMO, is consider a food switch. Vets aren't normally the best source for nutrition information, as Hills (the company that makes Science Diet) writes the nutrition curriculum for vet schools. Science Diet contains heavy amounts of fillers, and preservatives that are known carcinogens. There are a lot better foods available for our pets.

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Is he mixed with Chow??  Chows are pretty prone to skin issues, Willow has a keratinazation defect.  Her skin sheds at an abnormally high rate, meaning she's always got dandruff.  It's genetic and not curable, only manageable. 

But, it sounds like he's got some type of allergy.  I'd see if the vet can recommend a dermatologist for him and take it from there.  They might be able to test for allergies, and whatever else to see if they can pin point what's causing this. 

In the meantime, you could use a medicated shampoo, I use Selsun Blue on Willow with the vets OK.  But, she's not itchy or irritated so check before you use it too.  They might have something else instead. 

I know there are a lot of really good allergy formulas in the higher end dog food brands now.  I haven't tried many of them but one that I did use and Willow's skin looked fantastic on was Wellness Sweet Potato and Fish.  I'm not against prescription diets though, I've had good luck with the one I'm using.  But, if it's not working I wouldn't keep spending the money. 

Alrighty, we will try switching his diet to one sugested. Thanks so much for the links!

Yes, he is part chow. He does get the dandruff pretty often as well. My vet is thinking it might be grass allergies. Ugh...

My other dog, Kane, has none of these issues by the way. He is fine and happy as a clam. It just makes seeing Cory so sad even worse. I'll have to schedule another vet appointment and find out what medications we've tried and talk to the vet about another allergy test.

Something that may really help, if it is allergies to grass, would be wiping him down with a damp towel (pay special attention to his feet, and tummy) when he comes in, every time. 

Now, why didn't I think of that? That makes so much sense.

I've heard that it's safe to give your dog benedryl although I never have. Is it safe? 1mg per pound?

Most definitely, try Benedryl.  A lot of antihistamines can work well -- or at least help.  You're right -- benedryl is 1-2 mg/lb body weight given two to four times a day.
 
But be consistent with it -- commit to use it for like at least a month -- because dog allergens take a while to work their way thru the body -- what he inhales or what gets on his skin today may not show up in a skin breakdown for a week!!  Use the 1 mg/lb dose (reserve the two for something like a severe reaction ) but do give it 3 times day if you can or at least two to start. 
 
It WILL make him sleepy but honestly that side effect fades after a few weeks - their bodies just literally get used to handling it. 
 
The other thing to suggest to your vet is a thyroid test but NOT just your typical "send it to the lab" test.  Use either Michigan State's lab or Dr. Jean Dodd's protocols directly (her website is hemapet -- Google it and you'll find her and it).  She's the 'bomb' on dog endocrinology. 
 
My 5-6 year old cocker went thru similar stuff -- we had the most gruesome year last year ever.  THEN finally I got the vet to send the thyroid panel to Michigan -- and wow ... suddenly we had a real diagnosis of hypo (low) thyroid. Put him on meds and the skin improved dramatically.
 
Thyroid problems set the body up to HAVE skin problems.  So correcting the thyroid doesn't 'cure' skin problems -- it simply brings the body back in balance so what you DO to help the allergies has effect.
 
Good luck.  Callie

Thanks so much for your suggestions! I know I've had his thyroid tested, but it was just your standard send it to the lab type thing. I also started him on his Benedryl today.

Another problem we are addressing is his excessively oily skin. It is so bad that it actually feels like he's sweating on his back. I figured it had to be related to his hot spots. The vet said that his skin produces extra oils to combat the dry skin in other places and thusly, the spots that aren't infected and dry become extra oily. I actually think that frequent baths makes this part of his problem worse. 

Using a good dose of fish oil, every day, with help with the dry, oily skin.

Tea tree oil and water rinses will help -- tea tree is strange stuff.  It IS a great emollient, BUT it also is a degreaser!!  How it can do both, I'm not sure, but it does. 
 
But don't use a stimulating shampoo like oatmeal -- use a basic soap -- Jennie and I both like Dr. Bronner's.  Mild but a plain 'soap' - no extra additives.

I use Dr Bronner's, *very very diluted*, for myself, and my dogs. It's great stuff.

You can also use it to mop the floors, clean the sink, and cure the world of all it's ills. With a bottle of that, a box of baking soda, and a bottle of vinegar, I'm pretty sure that Pinky and the Brain could have taken over the world.