dog with severe allergies

Question
I have a 10 yr Lab/husky/Shep mix. He lived in wash. state until moving to SW Florida 1 1/2 yrs. ago.Within 2 mos. he started getting hot spots. In April he had such a horrific outbreak his skin peeled and he had puss all over(staph).He had to have a total ear canal ablation. We went to a pet derm. and he is now on simplicef 200 (cant go off without severe infection coming back)and he has had allergy shots for 4.5 months and no relief. His stomach is bright red and he has licked his flanks raw even on simplicef and temaril-p. I can't stand to watch him suffer. His allergies are australian pine, bayberry and box elder (1): orange (2); Pepper Tree & Red Cedar (1); Johnson Grass and Dock/Sorrel (4); Nettle,Epicoccum and Stemphylium (2); Marsh Elder (3); D farinae (4) D. pteronissinus, mosquito and moth(2); Lepidoglyphus (3). The derm dr. just wrote his a prescrip. for prendisone but it says it may increase infection and his infection is horrible. (haven't given it to him yet). He is still eating and loves to go on walks and appears happy. My family has offered to take him in washington state. Will his allergies go away if he moves back- what can i expect if I move him? I really appreciate your help!

Answer
I practiced in South Florida for a while and I agree that the skin allergies are terrible there all year round.  If the dog can go back to Washington, many of these antigens are not present and the dog should do better.  However, if the dog can tolerate low dose prednisone and if he stays on the antibiotics, he may get some relief.  You may consider shaving him down and bathing him at least 3 times a week to remove the allergens from his skin.  If he can be kept in a concrete pen away from the housedust mites, that may also help. The allergy shots really have not had time to work, yet.  I always tell owners to give it a year to see if it will work.