Debbie was kind enough to have 3 custom collars made for Mia at an Amish leather shop near her. I thought the allergy problem was solved until yesterday. She took a nap w/the all leather, choke collar on, and she now has bald red spots on her cheek from where she was lying on it napping. Also, her abdomen is broken out again too.

I've considered food allergies, but I don't really see any pattern between what she eats and when she breaks out or has these reactions. They seem to be acute reactions to specific triggers. Most recently, it's been 2 fly bites and the collar. If not for the fly bites, I'd think it's pure contact allergies, mostly from synthetic fibers (metal, nylon, olefin from my rug, etc.) Now, I swear her neck is worse after the leather, and apparently solid brass doesn't help either. She scratches at her new leather collars. I think I'm going to make her a collar myself, but my big reason for posting is to ask if I am missing an obvious link between these outbreaks. If it was just the collar, no biggie. BUT-her broken out belly is not pleasant looking. Could she be having food allergies that are just manifesting themselves in this way? I'm going to try eliminating chicken, which they've been eating often lately (hey-it was .10/lb) and feeding her Embark. I wish they had another grain-free recipe. I've upped her wild salmon oil and her vit E, and other than eating a little more chicken than usual, nothing has changed that I can think of, but I may be forgetting something.

FWIW, she doesn't have any of the other classic food allergy symptoms like dry skin, she never itches, her ears are clean, her coat is very clean and shiny. Overall, the dog looks great...except for any time she comes in contact w/something or gets a bite, she forms lesions.

I have a vet I will take her to who's about 1.5 hrs away, but before I do that, I thought I'd throw it out there and maybe someone would have an experience/suggestion/thought that I may have missed.

How frustrating!
Are you giving her any probiotics? Yogurt or Kefir.
If I were you I would try homeopathic Thuya 30C for vaccinosis, and homeopathic remedies for allergies.
http://www.bestfrisbeedogs.com/vaccinequestion.html

My poor spastic tremor Chi after a Rabies vaccine is responding amazingly well with the Thuya and two other homeopathic remedies. My (western medicine) vet who saw the dog at her worst point two weeks ago, today said she was shocked that the dog hadn't died and was delighted that she was better.
I have seen amazing results in less than a week on the homeopathic.
It's cheap enough, you can find the remedies at your organic/health food store, and it won't hurt her. And there is a chance it will help Mia.

There is no itch?

Atopy in dogs is virtually always itchy. There are exceptions, but so rare ......

Maybe something here:

http://www.dogster.com/forums/Dog_Health/thread/453389