... There is allergy testing. It is expensive about $300, and most vets will recommend you do allergy shots if they are seasonal. Here is the link incase you may be interseted
http://www.nelcovet.com/
I have to jump in here and say something about that link (not about you, Cassie... about the site
![;) smiley for ;)](http://leerburg.com/forums/images/graemlins/default/wink.gif)
). It's the misleading statement about "serum allergy testing" for allergen identification, "including foods." There is NO reliable blood test (neither ELISA nor RAST) to identify food allergies in dogs. None. There is no authoritative source that will agree with that statement about serum allergy testing for food allergens in dogs, regardless of how many non-derm vets suggest the RAST and ELISA tests for it. (This has been covered here in such detail and with so many citations to back it up that unless someone wants links to those discussions, we can probably set it aside for now.)
But that's a big misstatement. So even though a food allergy is probably extremely low on the likely list in this case, I'd have serious doubts about relying on information from that source.
"Demodex ... should be ruled out." Yes, I agree.
QUESTIONS:
Megan, what has been done besides Benadryl and Revolution?
Also, how recent was the last white-sheet flea test? (Brushing works, too.)
Please look inside the ears and see if they are pale pink and relatively debris-free or inflamed and/or with black or gray debris or slime. And sniff. How do they smell?
Is there any face itching? Does the dog rub the face on carpeting or furniture (or maybe appear to be pushing a dog bed around with the face ... )?
Is there involvement elsewhere on the head? How about the top of the head and the eye and muzzle areas?
How bad are the forelegs?
Is there (or was there) any raggedy edge to the ear leather?
Any bumps inside ear flaps?
A skin scraping is not "very expensive." A biopsy is. (Or maybe this comment was made only in regard to the sarcoptic mange possibility. Demodex is diagnosed with a scraping taken where the alopecia is; demodex mites are easy to see under the 'scope, and seeing a lot of them, along with the alopecia, usually makes for a straightforward diagnosis. This is unlike sarcoptic mange, which can take a lot of negative scrapings and for which a vet often will simply treat.)
What treatment was done for the (possible) mange and how long was it done for?
Ditto. Was the Revolution the answer to that question? As Cassie said, this has nothing to do with demodex -- neither juvenile nor adult-onset.
Bleeding, open skin -- this is serious because (aside from quality of life issues) this is an open door to infection of both bacteria and malassezia ... regardless of the primary cause. That is, this needs to be diagnosed. Even though juvenile localized demodex is often (even usually) self-limiting, IMO the skin condition you describe needs to be treated before there are secondary problems. (Pictures will help us, though.)
Also, if it was juvenile demodex, I would want to know whether it was becoming generalized (which is more serious). It can be pruritic or not, so the bad itchiness doesn't really rule it out.
I'm wandering a bit because there is so little information and a little of it (like "very expensive" skin scrapings) sounds kind of odd.
But it will help to answer all the questions in this post. It might also help to link us to a couple of Photobucket-type closeups.
Of course I don't mean we can diagnose, but if might help us to provide you with some suggestions and questions for a vet visit.
I'm sorry you are dealing with a seriously itchy dog. I know what you mean about how sad it is to watch.