allergies and neutering

Question
Hi:  my 6 year old black lab started experiencing allergic skin problems a year ago.  My veternarian suggested neutering could help alleviate the problem.  The dog has never run off or chased scents so I never bothered to have it neutered.  However, I am getting it neutered but I cannot find any information relating neutering to reducing allergy suffering.  What is your take on this?
sincerely
charlie


Answer
Hello, this isnt true! if a person has allergies and is "neutered" do you really think it would stop them from being itchy?!? this vet sounds a bit off the rocker. Neutering pervents unwanted mutt litters which normaly wind up in pounds it also control domanating behavier common to male dogs but cure allergys? no. I've two small dogs (neutered and spayed!)with allergy problems and my 3 year old spayed female labrador retreiver who gets canine acne and yeast in her ears every may without fail two years running now. My jack russell terrier had allergys prio to being neutered the surgery didnt fix anything and he is going to be taken in for allergy testing this summer, Currently my 9 month old spayed boston terrier has developed yeast in her ear and is scratching herself hairless...was in to the vet last week my vet gave some segestions and now shes going back in tomarrow to treat the yeast in her ear...she is also going for allergy testing but I'm having her done next month. All i can say is for dogs with alergys the best things you can do at home is keep there ears clean...yeast pops out of nowhere when they get itchy, give cool water bathes with soothing oatmeal(dog shampoo) its quite helpful, use cool compresses on inflammed areas twice or more daily for about 5 minutes each time, swich to a fish and poatoe dog food *Blue makes a wonderful one and both my little dogs are on this. If the itching gets really bad or he is making himself bleed from over scratching get him a cone whenever you cant wathc him he needs his cone on thou I dont reccoemnd leaving the dog alone with a cone on if your leaving the house. BENADRYL allergy pills for people the 25 ML ones one or two a day...every 24 or every 12 hours do wonders for my dogs but cna have the effect of maknig teh dog lsightly drowsy or dry mouthed it calms there itchness very much and is safe to give...was reccomend from my vet several times. Theres not much else you can do at home the next step is allergy testing which is running me $385 Candian per dog thats without any injections or treatment...just the sadtion(so they can do the testing easily) and the skin tests which is where the sahve a sie of the dog and poke needles and whtch to see what ones flare up just as they do in people. After the vets know what the dogs allergic to they can start with injections(needles) not sure how many a year yet or even of the cots yet but once the testing is doen they know exactly whats up and make needles proper for what there alergic to. I hope this helps your pooch and you out best of luck in treating his allergys and 'Haylie(lab), 'Luke(jack russell terrier) and 'Hannah(boston terrier) hope he feels better soon.