I know what it's like to be frustrated for your pet. My dachshund would chew his feet constantly (to the point of his feet bleeding) and eventually break out with secondary skin infections that would have to be treated with anti-biotics. They tried prednisone, but that ended up with a gastric hemorrhaging episode that put him in the hospital for two days. Way too hard on his system.

I ended up having to have him tested for allergies. Found that he was allergic to 3 different dust mites and flea saliva (only I could get a dog allergic to flea saliva). He is on allergy shots every two weeks year round to help control the horrible itching. During the spring, summer and fall, he also takes the anti-histamine hydroxine (sp?) to help. Still itches some, but it is so much better. I also have him on one Omega-3 fatty oil pill every day.

Our old vet is the one who prescribed the prednisone. When we moved the new vet came up with the idea of the allergy tests. He was younger and more up to date on the trends for allergies. The new allergy test checks for I think 60 different allergies. For us, it was the best money we every spent. Max is comfortable most of the time.

Check the website Heska.com for more information.