What could my dog be allergic to?

[JuanSheetIsPlenty]

9 yo golden retriever. Male. Neutered.

Was on butchers tins until early feb when I decided to try him on tails. A couple of weeks later I noticed he was chewing/licking his feet. Went to vet who said put him back on butchers, (as the food was the only thing that changed) gave him an injection and 5 days worth of tablets and a cone of shame to keep him from chewing his feet until the itch was gone. Advised to keep it on for 2 weeks and then bring him back. I put him straight back onto the butchers tins that evening and also haven’t mopped any floors in the house since just incase it was cleaning products causing it. The twos weeks was up on Tuesday. I took his cone off and within an hour he was back licking his feet. So put cone back on and down to the vet. He’s given him steroids for a month and cone is on for another day. (Off tomorrow) if problem not resolved it will be a full blood test. Vet says allergies, once triggered, will always be a problem and without blood work you can’t tell what it is.

So, any ideas? Is there something I can feed him that he’s very unlikely to be allergic to? I’ve cleared out all the cleaning products in the house (I didn’t use a lot anyway) and will use dog safe stuff from now on. We don’t have air fresheners or anything like that. Could it be our washing powder?

[MugsOfTea]

Vet says allergies, once triggered, will always be a problem and without blood work you can’t tell what it is.

There's your answer, I'm afraid. And I say that as someone whose dog is currently being blood tested for allergies.

It could be one or more of so many things:

• wool
• grass seed
• pollen
• chemical
• food, specific proteins for example
• parasites, such as flea saliva

and more...

[JuanSheetIsPlenty]

Yeah that’s pretty much what he said. I’ll just have to get him tested then and go from there. Thanks mugs. Hope you get an answer and some relief for your pooch.