Thanks everyone

Originally posted by veegan
oh jasper you are so adorable!!!

oh he's on pred now? thats no good, as I know you know. not only is it bad for their body (long term), it causes them to gain weight. had a lab in at work yesterday that gained over 20 lbs in 2 months! very unhealthy, he could barely move and his owner said she hasnt even increased his food intake.

Ive mentioned this to you before, but Im gonna say it again lol, you should ask your vet if she knows or can find out about a med called cyclosporin (also known as atopica). it works like steroids for allergies, but is 100% safe. the only issue with it is it doesnt always work (most of our clients have great success with it though), and it is expensive, esp for large dogs (though has dropped a lot in price a few months ago when "atopica" came on the market).

I know you have been battling with his skin problems for a long time. it is unfortunate that you dont have access to a dermatologist because Im 100% positive they would find an answer for you right away. would your vet be able to do a consult with one over the phone? I know youve said before that you/your vet dont think it is allergies, but it just looks/sounds like it to me, especially since the pred is working. those allergy blood tests just arent reliable.

well good luck, Im so sorry you are both suffering.
Yep, he is on pred. now He has gained about 8 pounds in a month, but he needed to put on some weight so it wasn't too bad.

I think I have asked my vet about cyclosporin before, but I definatly will again, also if she doesn't know anything about it, Should I call around to different vets?

I too wish we had access to a derm., especially since my vet has basically given up, she said that the biopsy last time, was basically the last thing she could do...

Thanks