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Looks like east / west to me, also looks like you need to keep on top of the nail trimming as well. I think you need to first start talking with the Breeder of the pup about this and keep speaking with your Vet. In Danes, we use Vit C as a supplement for these kinds of problems but I wouldn't have a clue about Staffy dossage.

Have you been to the Vet yet or had any allergy testing done?

Oh really!!! That's awesome!

Sure, I think it should be done.

What is it exactly?

Good Luck Erny, I watch your case with much interest and hope!

Mandela's condition, it seems, is not really an "allergy" as such. It seems for him it is a matter of food not being digested properly for one or two other (presumably organ related) reasons - the toxicity from improperly digested food builds up in his system and his liver hasn't coped with filtering the toxins from his system. Hence the out-break in hives. So I guess I don't quite qualify for your "K9 Allergy Support" List? PS In a way, I suppose it is somewhat like an allergy though - isn't that when foods are the cause of toxins that the body can't cope with and so the skin reacts? How are you going with the Greyhound man?

Any reason why weaning off the Omega Blend? I fed what you are proposing to feed to my previous (avatar) girl, Kal (bless her cotton socks) and she did very well on the VAN Complete Mix/Roo/Omega Blend combo. Mind you, she didn't have any allergies to contend with, but she did look exceptionally well on it. Also make a mental note that many dogs do so well on the VAN that they can pork up fairly quickly. You might find that you need to feed considerably less than the amount of food prescribed on the packet. I dropped down to half that quantity pretty quickly as I noticed Kal all of a sudden getting somewhat fat! So feeding wise, it worked out pretty cheap overall. I'm paying back for that privilege with my boy though LOL. mmm I'm pretty sure it said to wean off the Omega Blend as well, I'll have to go back and read now LOL From what I can see we'll need 525 grams of meat with the complete mix. We have to keep Dante trim due to his Osteo issue so will be keeping an eye on him.

I had my boy on the Allerblend for about 7 months after he went 'off' previous foods, broke into hives, lost weight etc.. He did well on it for that period of time and looked well, although with him it was difficult to get weight on. Bear in mind that his 'allergy' so to speak is not a contact or food allergy and that he is that 'type' of dog who carries lean at the moment anyway. It was a bit exxy for me, because I needed to feed 2.5 packets per day (2000g) to him. But many other dogs wouldn't need that much. After 7 months of being on Allerblend and all things going well, he suddenly went 'off' that and we struck then another bout of hives; spasmodic eating and so forth. But I do not put that down to the VAN food. With my boy there are other things going on. I would definitely give the VAN program (I presume it is Allerblend that you would have him on, along with Omega Blend Oil and perhaps their skin support forumula?) a go. It is good food and if it works for your dog, then that would be a bonus. BTW - the Skin Support Formula (just saw a post where it is referenced) contains multi-strain pro-biotic, trace elements and anti-oxidants. In more detail : Protexin powder Milk Thistle Flax Seed Grape Seed Barley Grass Astragolus Perilla Seed Vitimin C Quercelin Beta Carotene Ginger Devils Claw Green Tea Colostrum Cat's Claw Zinc Yes very pricey, Vets All Natural have advised I can just used Roo Meat with the Complete Mix added to it and supplement with the skin support powder. I wouldn't be able to afford to buy the pre-packaged allerblend meat for a Dane. The program we would be on would be Roo Meat + Complete Mix + Skin Support Supplement and the Omega Blend Oil for 6-8 weeks and then wean off the Skin support supplement and Omega Blend if things are looking better.

Join me up!

Still gotta look into it, I think when you're in a position of no win already you're willing to give it a try LOL

I've been given the opportunity to try the Vet's All Natural Program, 6-8 weeks, anyone tried it?

I've had a dog attack me through re-directed aggression. Unless you're there, you know the dogs you won't know why these dogs attacked their owner, there are too many virables.

Look great, I know alot of the agility folk like the 4 strand braid. Sure, why not sell them, I'm sure people are your club and here will like them, not many people do the 4 strand braid.

LOL not stupid. I don't think that many people like to leave their dogs overnight by themselves but sometimes you just gotta do it. If you're looking at doing it on-going you may want to look into doing some Jan Fennel methods so your coming and going isn't met with balistic home coming....that ballistic home coming is a form of anxiety which you can reduce

That's cause I haven't made them into the tugs yet. I'll see if they float and let you know, if they do I'll give you the option to them of you like,

Oooh, you must be talking about me. Strangely you seem just as emphatic in your opinions as you accuse me of being. Go figure. I don't think vets are God. Quite a few don't know the very much about allergies and cortizone is their usual line of treatment. A dermo Vet would be a good place to start. So would a holistic vet. Drugs mask allergy symptoms, they don't cure them. The dogs was scraped so I assume that a bacterial infection was eliminated. So too were thryroid issues. Fact is the OP is NOT happy with the dog's progress so a few suggestions seemed warranted. If you're feeding an expensive gluten based dog food, I'd not expect to see a good result on a dog with allergies btw not matter what it costs .. assuming that's the issue. Have a nice day. Oh, so I would be the know it all when I tell the person to follow the advice of their Vet rather than an armchair expert? Get a grip. The Owners Vet didn't say use cortisone, they said use Malaseb. Let the Owner follow the advice of their Vet considering this is their 1st step not their 6th unsuccessful step.

I have rubber rings here that are ear marked for the tugs, I'm not sure if they float though!

I was at a dog park last week with a friend, dogs on lead, as soon as we entered my friends dog had a dog come at him, we stood our ground and made them leave - people have to be held responsible. My new neighbours on the other hand will get 3 chances to get their shit together before I call the council.

Bugger off, if people don't report unaaceptable behaviour, people are not held accountable for it. Dog parks are well known for being the home to irresponsible owners as it is.

Just people making up rationale's for their dogs behaviour. Head back to the park and do what you were doing.

My new neighbourhood is just like this, although it pisses me off I can't do much about it apart to work with my own dog who it unsettles.

The feeding of cooked, cereal based dog food is a 20th century development. Prior to that dogs pretty much survived on meat and scraps. Modern dog foods have pretty much eliminated rickets but they do bring their share of issues. A simple elimination diet that removes cereals is worth a try. Dr Christine Zink recommends an elimination diet of white fish and potato. That might not be too expensive to try. Dogs of yester-year were fed mainly on tin food actually. I'm sure you agree that the Owner of the dog should first follow the advice of the Vet and use the Malaseb, that way you know whether the problem is bacterial or not then you can go ahead and play with elimination diets with a Derm not a know it all behind a computer screen?

I feed my dog $100 bag every week to every week and a half and it hasn't fixed his allergies nor did raw food, food isn't the be all to skin problems.

And why is your breed so sensitive to commerical diets? Maybe this is something to address first?