mini schnauzer itching

Question
I have spent the past year trying to control my mini schnauzers itching.  He has been on steroids most of the time along with antibiotics.  None of which ever really cured him.  I am trying some holistic vitamins but what can I do.

Answer
Steroids and antibiotics are often not much more than bandaids, unless the dog has a bacterial infection, in the case of antibiotics. One needs to determine WHY the dog is itching. Is he scratching at his skin or at his ears, or all of the above? Bandaids never cure anything.

Does the dog have parasites, as in fleas or mites (dander or mange mites)? These require skin scrapings or visual sightings, in most instances, and then they are eliminated with specific products to kill the little buggers off.

Does he have allergies, and if he does, are they environmental or food-related, or both? Eliminate the source of the allergen and the dog will stop itching. Food allergies require an elimination diet to determine the source of the allergen; environmental allergies can usually be determined through allergy testing. I know one highly-allergic dog who is being helped through acupuncture and a restricted diet.
http://www.canobolasvet.com/site/view/116064_Eliminationdietforfoodallergies.pml
http://www.vet4petz.com/articles/allergies.htm

Is the dog hypothyroid, or is it bathed too often and not rinsed well enough? Have you changed his shampoo? Both of these can be resolved quite simply.