This link might be helpful. Explains the skin testing better than I did aswell

ATOPIC DERMATITIS IN THE DOG

antihistamine cheaper alternative
ask at the chemist for the generic ingredient rather than the brand name.
For example I cannot cope with piriton (knocks me out) so use benadryl non drousy one a day, I ask for lotratadine and get 30 pills for about 2-3 pounds as opposed to £8 for benadryl.

You could try to feed your dog a locally produced honey.

It helped my step son.

The logic is that the honey is made from the same pollens that your dog is allergic to, by eating the honey you are building up a tolerance to it.

In reality you might need to source honey from up to 10 miles away depending on where you live.

To find a supplier contact the Bee Keeper Association

Local Associations

This will need to be done daily and will take quite a long time, probably too late to help this year but I would recommend starting sooner rather than later in time for next season.

You are having the same problems as me with my GSD. She is on 4 piriton a day, plus I have bought some herbal tablets for her to help promote healthy skin. They are from dorwest herbs and they're called mixed vegetables and the other is garlic and Fengueek (something like that anyway!!)

I have clipped the fur away from the wounds (she had made them bleed) and bathed twice daily in hibiscrub (diluted), dried thoroughly and then sudocrem applied. It is essential to stop him from chewing/licking the areas so the buster/elizabethan collar is a must.

i took Star to the vets, I am not a fan of pumping steroids into them...she hasn't had any as of yet. I bought some malaseb shampoo to wash the bacteria from the wounds. The vet said it was likely she had atopica dermatitis, but to be certain we would have to run a series of tests. My vet said it was highly likely that this is a pollen allergy as it is seasonal and not all year round. My vet mentioned a drug, I think he called it atopica...apparently very expensive but good at controlling these allergies, the draw back, I think it has steroids in.

I have managed to get Star'shotspots to heal. I have been given her some extra good quality protein to help her wounds to heal. 2 egss every other day and a tin of sardnies a day on her dinner.

I have split her piriton so she has one at 4 hour intervals through out the day.

So far this seems to be working, she is not itching half as much and the hotspot is nearly healed.

I will continue with the piriton throughout the summer and then next year I will start her on them in March in preperation for the summer. I will also continue with the herbal products.

If you do try other antihistamines check with your vet first as not all types are suitable for dogs.