Extreme itching -- Allergies?

If he's on steroids, that's why the weight gain.  In honesty, you're probably going to have to try something radically different -- something like a holistic vet who does TCVM or something and likely do an elmination diet since it sounds like food could be a trigger.

It also sounds suspiciously like flea allergy dermatitis (which starts at the base of the tail and works forward up the back and down over the back end).  You see a lot of really sore, scabby skin on the back and base of tail. 

JUST ONE flea bite -- of a flea that bites and dies will make the allergic dog miserable for months.  You have to use something (usually a combination of herbal things and either Frontline or Advantage) that is NOT systemic.  Using something like Revolution or Promeris or BioSpot on a flea allergic dog is just dumb -- with those the flea has to bite in order to die (because they make the blood poison to the flea) but then the toxin is in the bloodstream and the damage is done!!

 So you just have to be super vigilant about making sure he doesn't get even one flea.

Allergies generally?  There are tons of things to try and do but you have to be completely consistent and after them all the time.  Even daily bathing if need be. 

I've had really good luck with homeopathy with Billy but that's a whole different *type* of vet and you have to administer the homeopathics very often -- like 3-5 times a day not just once. 

Sometimes you just have to do a whole bunch of things because no one thing is completely going to take away allergies.

redlegos

I've also noticed that he's becoming more aggressive towards food, or if you try and move him

That could be the steroid too.  He needs a specialist.

Thanks guys. :)

But the only problem is, I don't think there are any specialists around my area. And -- not trying to sound awful, but I'm at the point where I can barely afford to take him to the vet. The medicines and vet vists are quickly catching up with me. My mom is helping too, but I don't know how much longer we can just keep waisting money. (It wouldn't be wasiting if they'd actually fix him or even find the problem -- but it's the same routine every single vet vist. 

"He's overweight, he doesn't have mites or fleas ..he's allergic to something, so try this different medicine."

It's just so frustrating especially since I constantly see him itching and "crying" because he's in such discomfort. They said something about switching him to Solid Gold ..but seriously, that dog food is too expensive, especially when I have 3 dogs. I'm honestly not trying to complain here, but I'm only 19. I don't have a job as of now so it's difficult. I think they said something else about a dog food that was allergy free formula, that I could put him on just to see if it clears things up, I think they mentioned Science Diet or something? But I can't remember. 

 Callie - I'm sure it's possible that it could be a bite from a flea or something, but this has been *constant* since like 2 months after I got him. He's always been on Frontline plus.

 Have you had a complete thyroid panel done?  Itchy, dry brittle coat.  Overweight.  Aggression.  If you haven't tested, I'd be a bit surprised that your vet is not all over this.

A few months ago a lady contacted me heartbroken because she thought she was going to have to euthanize her BC.  She (the dog) had been getting slowly more aggressive and had recently turned on her husband.

I asked her to bring the dog for an evaluation.  When she got out of the car with her dog, I smiled because I thought I had some hope for this lady that she might not have been expecting.  The dog was probably 30% overweight, and had a thinning, brittle coat that was almost bare towards her tail.  We let the dog play with sheep, but I strongly encouraged the owner to do a complete thyroid panel ASAP.

She did it the very next day.  The vet she happened to see walked in and told her that she'd be tempted to put her dog on meds no matter what the results were, she was so classic. 

But three days later she wrote me an e-mail.  "I am doing the happy dance!"  she said - her dog was hypothyroid.  In only a week on the meds her dog was losing weight, acting much more pleasant, and a month later her coat and skin were back to normal. 

Grain free diets can help with itchiness no matter what the cause (well, unless it's allergies to some other protein that is in the grain free diet!).  So can the addition of fish body oil - DermCaps is a wonderful product for skin problems that I recommend to people with tiny dogs - it's available at the usual pet stores.  It's borage and high quality fish oil, balanced with the correct amount of vitamin E.  Or Seapet Gold or some other liquid product if you are willing to purchase online.

I find keeping a journal useful when dealing with vets who don't take me seriously or at vet clinics where you'll see a range of vets over time.  I keep one online - like this:  Pet Health Journal - so I can give my vet access to it right in the office.  My vet loved this when we were dealing with Ben's last problem - we were able to talk about details over the phone while looking at the same thing online.

Actually, they never even mentioned that he could have a thyroid problem ..so he's never got tested.

Gosh, now I feel completely stupid.

Callie - The skin is mostly just red and inflamed, no scabs. The rest of his hair (head, neck, etc) is really soft .. it's just extremely rough in that one area.

Often a vet won't suggest a test when they know money is a problem -- and yet sometimes that test may unlock what you've spent months of vet visits on.

Often a vet won't suggest a test when they know money is a problem -- and yet sometimes that test may unlock what you've spent months of vet visits on.

Seriously.  Tests are always worth the money, if nothing else to eliminate worry.

I would definitely do the thyroid test, just to rule that out.  It's worth it, like others have said.

 As far as allergy-wise, we have so many cases come in its rediculous!  It seems like there is at least one per day, if not more!  Where does he lick/chew/scratch? (itchy ears, feet, face, anus are all common sign of food allergies)  Also, Drs generally shouldn't put your dog on steroids (prednisone is most common) for long periods of time.  Usually they will give the steroid for a short time (a couple weeks or so, depending on severity), just to get the itching stopped.  They'll also commonly give an antihistamine to go along with that, just to try to keep things under control a little better after they go off the pred (that way they don't go straight back to itching).  If it really is a food allergy, keep in mind that lots of times it is either gluten or the source of protein.  For a food trial, you'd need to try either a novel protein food source (and I'd recommend a gluten-free one, too), or you could go with a Hill's/Purina "Allergen Free" diet where they modify the proteins so that they do not cause the reactions.  Personally, I wouldn't want to use the latter, but it may be easier for you to do so depending on your dog food selections available.  Keep in mind that that particular food would be ALL he could have.  He couldn't have any treats (besides allergen free treats) or any table scraps or anything else.  This generally takes about 6 weeks to really start seeing results. 

It could also be some other allergy, but since you said that it is pretty much ongoing, I'd guess food allergy.  Hope everything works out for you and you get the little guy taken care of.  I can't imagine how frustrating this must be for you!

BECCA, YOU SAID EXACTLY WHATI WAS THINKNG AS I READ THE POST.  I THINK HE NEEDS TO BE CHECKED FOR THYROID.  HIS SYMPTOM ARE MUCH LIKE OUR FIRST GOLDEN RETRIEVER---WHO TURNED OUT TO BE LOW THYROID.