Bichon itching

Question
Our Bichon will be 2 next March.  This summer she started itching and scratching incessantly.  We have tried the steroid injection (helped for about a week); children's liquid benadryl 1/2 tsp. 2x's daily, steroid pills (gradual decrease-third day became ill only to find they caused a stomach ulcer-had that treated); dinovite (did not work and made her sick to her stomach-they said that was normal as it was detoxing her system); gradual change of food with chicken as first ingredient; soothing oatmeal baths-towel dry, not drying with heat); Hydroxizine (10 mg. 2x's daily) (she weighs 11 pounds); she is brushed daily.  Her hair is not dry and she does not have dry flaky skin.  Her skin will become very pink when she is having what seems like a sudden onset of hives before she goes crazy scratching.  What else can I try to help her, please.  Thank you for your time.

Answer
This is a typical scenario with allergic skin.  Since she is young, allergy testing and allergy shots will help make her body less sensitive to the allergens. You can begin the Omega 3 fatty acids in her food now to help her skin delay the production of inflammatory mediators that cause the redness and itching.  It takes 45-60 days to start working, but it really helps many allergic dogs.  If it is only in the summer months, then all of the bathing treatments you used may need to be repeated next summer.  There are side effects to medications and every different dog responds differently.