Help!! Allergies

Well, the Science Diet Sensitive Skin has chicken byproduct meal as one of the top ingredients, and isn't your dog allergic to chicken? Science Diet really isn't that good for allergy dogs, but if its working then I guess you could stay on it....I would recommend California Natural lamb and rice, or any of the Allergy formulas of Natural Balance dog food. They are much healthier with no byproducts or fillers or artificial stuff, which can trigger allergies. But thats just my opinion...
Are you giving your dog an antihistimine? Like Benadryl or tavist? Those  can help for some dogs, but not all. Maybe ask your vet about it.
I think you are doing the right thing with the omega 3 and 6 supplements. Those generally help inflammed skin -but I think just plain fish body oil works the best (you can get it at walmart and supllement with vit E.) Thats what i do for my allergy dog. I feel your pain--itchy dogs are no fun[] Hopefully someone else can help you more.

We have been trying everything.... He is allergic to potato (sweet potato he is ok), wheat, soy bean, peanut and borderline positive to chicken. He was allergic to several tree's in our yard that we removed and he is on allergy shots as well. He get's red area's or I guess they are hot spots and he chews and scratch's them like crazy and then ends up cutting himself open. I have been trying to bath him every other day although he hates it! Poor lil guy I know he is in pain and it is killling him it is summer time and he can't be at the lake!

Kate - your dogs are beautiful.  Your black lab looks like my lab, Sassy, and she's going thru the same problems yours is.  Have you tried using any antihistamines?  I use Benadryl twice a day and I think it helps a little.  Everything I've read says that the Omega 3/6s help with allergies in dogs, especially if used in conjunction with an antihistamine.  I'm not very helpful otherwise since we're going thru the same frustrating scenario.  We haven't done allergy testing, but based on your post, I'm not sure it would help us much anyway.  I am feeding Natural Balance Duck & Potato and I like the food for Sassy.  I tried a true elimination diet (pork & buckwheat) for 12 weeks (no treats or anything but the 2 items) and it made absolutely no difference, so I'm not looking at food allergies any further than I have.
I wish you luck and if you find the answer, I'd certainly love to hear it.

  Welcome to idog; I agree with cakana that your dogs are beautiful. Jessie is also on immunotherapy and has been for over a year; it has worked very well and she gets a shot twice a month. I don't know who you take your dog to but I take Jessie to a veterinary dermatologist and my regular vet attended the same university she teaches at so he is very knowledgable about allergies too. About a month ago she was having flare ups. Her allergy vaccine was about 8 months old and my vet said that the potency after 6 months is less than 50% so he threw the vial away ( there was only one dose left anyway) and started her on a new vial. She improved right after the first shot on the new vial. If that hadn't worked he was going to consult with Jessie's veterinary dermatologist about giving the shots once a week for a while. If the vial you're using is more than 6 months old maybe that's the problem; if not then you may need to give the shots more frequently for a while. The reason for giving the shots more frequently is there could be a large amount of the pollen(s) your dog is allergic to in the air this time of year.  I use DermCaps for Jessie; they come in extra strength for large dogs. They have fish and borage seed oil both of which are good sources of omega fatty acids( 3&6) and have the right amount of vitamin E so the fatty acids work properly. Jettasmomma is right; if your dog is allergic to chicken then the Science Diet is a very bad idea; it may very well be the cause of your dog's itching.  Jessie is allergic to chicken and the dermatologist said it only takes a small amount of chicken to cause her problems. The Natural Balance foods that jettasmoma mentioned are good; I rotate Eagle Pack Holistic Fish, Lamb, and Duck. You may need to consider thyroid testing if it hasn't been done already; if your dog has a thyroid problem the immunotherapy won't work very well. Good luck and keep us posted.

Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach.

Or Natural Balance Trout and Sweet Potato.  Maybe Pinnacle Trout and Sweet Potato.  Pinnacle also makes a Duck and Sweat Potato.

Beautiful dogs!!
 
My dog is severely allergic to chicken and if she eats it, she will get ear infections. I've tried so many foods with her but none of it had been successful. Right now, she is on Natural Balance Venison + Brown Rice. She seems to like it pretty well. They also have fish and duck formulas.
 
Hope he feels better soon!

Thank You for everyone's help.... We are slowly starting him on the Natural Balance Dog Food and trying to bathe him more often... I hope something works..If anyone has any more suggestions I would love them! Thanks[]

I took Trudy to a specialist, a dermatologist and she had the skin testing. Now, I give her antigen shots once a week, she is taking Hydroxyzine also. She eats Natural Balance Fish and potato. She is doing great.
 
Did you get skin testing?
 
I hope the better food will help soon. A good antihistamine is helpful too. Each dog is diff. Trudy tried several before we found one that helped. Good luck!