We have had him since a pup (8wks old). Breeder recommended Royal Canin (which she used from birth). At 15 months we switched him from Royal Canin puppy to Royal Canin adult food. Itching seemed apparent shortly after switching to adult Royal. Took to vet, recommended antiseptic shampoo on ears and drops in ears as well. Still persistent scratching (No bald spots at all anywhere). Vet recommended change food to California Natural Venison (elimiating grains). Seemed to do better but recently has started persistent scratching again. Have not done alergy testing but research of alergies ususlly showed severe damage from scratching when alergies existed. In this case, no bald or even signs of damage. Just wondering if anyone has experienced similar. Dog gets plenty of exercise daily and swimming in summer. Thanks, appreciate any feedback...Ken

Itching started about 15 months?

What breed?

WAY more info: Where is the body geography of the itching? If you're not sure, please watch.

What is the seasonality, or have you made notes (start now, if not)?

Time(s) of day?

Is there any base-of-tale or front-leg itchiness? Does the scratching seem to start up suddenly, let off, start up again? Or is it persistent?

Does scratching disrupt his sleep?

Did the vet do skin scraping? Have you discussed mites?

Is the dog rubbing his face on carpets or furniture? Please look inside his ears. Any debris or inflammation? Any odor?

Ear flaps smooth or ragged-edged?

Do you feel any waxiness or greasiness to his coat/skin?

Do you ever smell an odor to his paws or armpits or folds?

Is he chewing on his feet?

Do you see rash, pustules, redness? Where?

Please post before doing any kind of allergy testing that a GP vet might recommend. There are several completely useless (and not cheap) tests, and a few useful (and not cheap) ones. (Food is by far the least likely allergy, if it is allergy.)

This: "research of alergies ususlly showed severe damage from scratching when alergies existed" means approximately nothing. Allergies start and get worse; they don't start with severe damage from scratching.

However, external parasites (fleas) are usually the first thing to look at, and many of the answers to the questions above will give hints.

Not to say that this isn't food related. However it is springtime and the pollens are starting to get bad in many places.
It might be that you are just seeing a coincidence with the food and seasonal inhalant allergies.

You could be just starting to see allergies emerging and thus have not yet seen any trauma to the skin. Sometimes the fur covers the spots, and you just can't see it.

My female has atopy, and she hardly ever loses hair to the point where she is bald. But beneath the fur, there are hot spots that will eventually scab over from biting at those spots repeatedly.

I would start making a journal of everything you can think of Ken. Also, look up and write down pollen counts for your area, times of day you see the scratching, food log etc.
It might be the food, however in order of what is typically seen, flea bite hypersensitivity is #1, then inhalant type allergies #2 and then lastly food allergies #3.

Take some time to learn about the differences and symptoms of these, there are many, many threads on allergies here.

Make certain your dog has no fleas.
Sometimes one flea can make the whole dog super itchy.

 Quote: betty landercasp

Make certain your dog has no fleas.
Sometimes one flea can make the whole dog super itchy.

Yup. That's 3 for 3 saying that fleas are the first focus.

It doesn't matter if you have not seen a flea, or if you have not been bitten, or really anything else .... If we had a dollar for every thread that started with "I know it's not fleas" and ended up with either flea hypersensitivity or just a simple load of fleas, we could all go to Paris for lunch.

This is why we want body-geography of the itchiness.

first off, i want to thank everyone for responses. Let me elaborate a bit....This is a German Shepherd and he has been seeing a vet ever since we had him. Comes from large pedigree. Anyway, here is the scoop. He has been on flea/tick as prescribed by vet ever since we had him. Sees the vet for regular shots and checkups (not that eliminates fleas.) So, he seems to scratch all over. I see him scratch his hips, sides, legs, and ears. Vet did scraping samples and cut fur off his ears for cultures....all came back negative. Then they had me use antiseptic shampoo on his ears due to signs of bare spots from scratching. So in short, geographically, he scratchs all over. I brusn him regularly which now at the spring season coming in i remove a love of hair. When we first noticed the persistant scratching we told the vet we had been feeding him vegtables, and other non-dog food (in minute amts). That is when vet recommended change in food and eliminate all other food. He seemed better for a while but recently has had more activity scratching. It does not wake him up but he ususally wakes up after nights rest and starts scratching. The vet even made a remote suggestion he could be alergic to "dust mites". He does not seem miserable and it probably makes me feel bad for him more than he seems irritated by it. I have not ruled out fleas but I would have no idea how to identify that is the culprit considering he has never had them and has always been on flea/tick meds. Still open to any suggestions and responses for help....thanks Ken

thank you for the response...let me try to answer your questions..

noticible scratching started around 15 months old and the time we change food from puppy "Royal" to adult. We were also feeding him small table food at the time.

He is a German Shepherd

scratches all over

scratches throughout the day/night before bed

he will scratch all over and sometimes see him using his teeth on legs and other areas like u would see a dog go after fleas. and yes it seems like it will start and stop

does not seem to disrupt his sleep

yes vet did skin scraping and tested for mites

no rubbing face of any kind, no odor, no debris (vet has seen him several time to examine him)

ear flaps had ragged-edge ...hence the antiseptic shampoo (which seemed to cure that) and hair grew back normal

no waxiness or grease...he does get pure salmon fish oil with his feedings

no real persistant chewing on feet

no rash, postules, or redness anywhere

agree...i'm avoiding alergy testing until all other options and sharing of experiences and advice are exhausted.

Appreciate all help and advice...thanks..Ken

thank you for the response...let me try to answer your questions..

noticible scratching started around 15 months old and the time we change food from puppy "Royal" to adult. We were also feeding him small table food at the time.

He is a German Shepherd

scratches all over

scratches throughout the day/night before bed

he will scratch all over and sometimes see him using his teeth on legs and other areas like u would see a dog go after fleas. and yes it seems like it will start and stop

does not seem to disrupt his sleep

yes vet did skin scraping and tested for mites

no rubbing face of any kind, no odor, no debris (vet has seen him several time to examine him)

ear flaps had ragged-edge ...hence the antiseptic shampoo (which seemed to cure that) and hair grew back normal

no waxiness or grease...he does get pure salmon fish oil with his feedings

no real persistant chewing on feet

no rash, postules, or redness anywhere

agree...i'm avoiding alergy testing until all other options and sharing of experiences and advice are exhausted.

Appreciate all help and advice...thanks..Ken

He has been on flea/tick as prescribed by vet ever since we had him. Sees the vet for regular shots and checkups (not that eliminates fleas.) So, he seems to scratch all over. I see him scratch his hips, sides, legs, and ears.

Backbone? Base of tail? Chewing paws? Itchy front legs (shins)? I'm going to guess that if you really watch for a couple of days, you will identify the most itchy spots.

I see him scratch his hips, sides, legs, and ears.

Do you see ragged ear edges? What does it look like inside? Pale and clear or inflamed (red)? Any debris? Any odor?

Vet did scraping samples and cut fur off his ears for cultures....all came back negative.

Cultures for what? A quantitative culture of Malassezia? What else? Mites? (Do you have that cytology report?)

When we first noticed the persistant scratching we told the vet we had been feeding him vegtables, and other non-dog food (in minute amts). That is when vet recommended change in food and eliminate all other food.

The change to the FAR better food was a very good suggestion (RC being one of the crap-in-a-bag foods, IMO). But food is food, as far as "non-dog-food" goes. That is, nothing magical happens when food is kibbled and emblazoned with a label. So while the change to the better food was good, the suggestion to remove all "non-dog-food" was really pretty meaningless (IMO) unless the vet suspected that you were giving bready or sugary treats. (Remember too that food allergies are by far the least likely of all the allergy possibilities.)

He seemed better for a while but recently has had more activity scratching. It does not wake him up but he ususally wakes up after nights rest and starts scratching. The vet even made a remote suggestion he could be alergic to "dust mites".

Not remote at all for dust mites to be one of his allergens if indeed he is atopic. This springtime jump in activity might suggest seasonal atopy, too. But let's back up a little before assuming atopy.

He does not seem miserable and it probably makes me feel bad for him more than he seems irritated by it. I have not ruled out fleas but I would have no idea how to identify that is the culprit considering he has never had them and has always been on flea/tick meds.

Over a white sheet (no color and no pattern), brush the dog thoroughly and look for flea pepper. Pay special attention to the area where the tail joins the spine. Flea "pepper" is little black dots. When you put a tiny drop of water on one, it turns red.

noticible scratching started .... the time we change food from puppy "Royal" to adult.

Probably coincidental.

scratches all over

Addressed above. Along with logging the weather, where he had been, and a 1-to-10 scale of itchiness every day, your new little notebook (a journal when you have an itchy dog will prove to be a godsend), you will want to make notes for the next few days of the body geography of the most scratching.

he will scratch all over and sometimes see him using his teeth on legs and other areas like u would see a dog go after fleas. and yes it seems like it will start and stop

Teeth used on front legs (shins) and on back thighs? First step will be the white-sheet test.

no rubbing face of any kind, no odor, no debris (vet has seen him several time to examine him)

And if you look inside the ear right now, how does it look at the canal opening?

ear flaps had ragged-edge ...hence the antiseptic shampoo (which seemed to cure that) and hair grew back normal

What was the shampoo? Is there no ragged edge at all now?

no waxiness or grease...he does get pure salmon fish oil with his feedings

Good! And Vitamin E with the fish oil?

no real persistant chewing on feet ... no rash, postules, or redness anywhere

Good!