3 year old Cocker Spaniel chewing on himself

Question
Delores,

I ran across your website and have been reading about cocker spaniel and skin issues.   I rescued a cocker about 6 months ago.  When I got him the told me he had mange, and gave me a shampoo.  The mange seemed to be on his but area.  He was not neutered when we got him; I had him neutered about 2 weeks later.    I should also mention I have 3 other dogs, a toy Pekingese, toy shih Tzu and a Japanese chin.

I am having several issues, but the most serve is the skin issue.  About 2 months ago I had them all dipped as, they were all scratching. We are on Frontline and Sentential I also change there food to Purina small bits (beef and rice); we had been eating lamb and rice with no issues. About a month afterwards, the Shih Tzu started chewing at her paws, to the point they were bleeding, off to the vet we go.  Ecollar and antibiotics for 2 weeks, with a topical cream.  A week later the cocker spaniel starts scratching a chewing a up a storm, he has a red rash on his belly. I immediately put him on Benadryl and put an old ecollar I have on him.  Monday we go to the vet, he tells me to continue with Benadryl, gives me a shampoo, leave in cream rinse and steroids for 4 days.  While we are on the steroids the itching seems to go away.  For two weeks we leave the ecollar on him, which by the way he has started using as a weapon for our legs and heals. (Whole different issue).I takes the ecollar off and he starts in again chewing, so we go back to the vet.  He puts him on a bath once a week of HyLyt and relief cream rinse with much resistance from the vet he gives me a stronger Benadryl which is hydrolyzing and fish oil caplets.  And tells me I need to do the allergy testing for 500-700 dollars.  We are six weeks into this and he is no better.  The other dogs have started scratching again.  So I go to Pet smart to get hypo allergy dog food (which you have to have a prescription for, and to buy pill pockets.  While talking with one of the managers, he suggested taken the dogs to a base line diet and then adding protein in two weeks.  So I buy Natures Recipe vegetarian recipe hard and soft dog food, to use as a treat and giving pills with.  We have been on the veggie diet for 2 days, so I really can't tell a difference, but will continue for two weeks to see what happens.  I am at my wits end, he wont go outside in the back yard, grass area.  He only wants to be walked, (he pees and poops on the road. I don't mind the walks, but he has me up at am walking.  He did sleep thru the night before this. I give him 3 1/2 mile walks a day, 7 am, 5 PM, and one about 8 PM.  I free feed and they all eat the same food.

HELP!!!!!

I don't know if we have had a thyroid test, but I will get one for him if I have not.

Tonia Harrison  

Answer
First of all, you need a new vet.

IF your cocker had mange he needed a special treatment routine, not a shampoo or Benadryl.  I'm suspecting mites since all your dogs are scratching.
So first I'd switch to Revolution (which does fleas, mites and heartworm).  

Yes, steroids will make the itching go away because it suppresses the immune system and the minute you wean them off - you're right back where you started.

Can dogs have an allergy to food?  Yes..but that's the case only about 5% of the time.  Could all your dogs have an allergy to the same food?  No.  

Now..what to do for immediate relief?  Since your shihtzue is only at the paws...go buy some Aveeno Oatmeal soak.  It comes in a box with packets of oatmeal "powder".  Mix one packet into a tub (or laundry sink for a dog this size) and soak the paws for 10 minutes twice a day.  (I'd shampoo & rinse his paws first).  Paw chewing is a sign of an inhalant allergy.  Dogs "absorb" allergens through their skin
so simple removal of the allergen sometimes does the trick.

For the cocker - I'd bath him with Nizoral shampoo (most drugstores/supermarkets have it).  Lather him up and leave on for 10 minutes.  Rinse extraordinarily well.  Stay away from his genital area....sometimes medicated shampoo can "tingle".

Unless he's 3 years or over, I wouldn't bother with a thyroid test since that's greatly unlikely before that age.

And a blood allergy test does NOT cost $700.  Like I said, you need a new vet.

For food - I highly recommend Innova EVO.  High protein and no grains.

Doing this bath for the cocker and the paw dip for your Shihtzue will tell me something.  So do that and let me know how much relief and for how long.
Delores