pet itching

We have the same problem. Our pug is actually losing a lot of her hair! We took her off the prednizone because she was just super hungry and thirsty and it didn't seem to work at all--she was still licking her paws a lot. We just switched her to lamb and rice food. We'll see if anything changes over time...

everything everyone is saying is correct but don't forget it could be an airborne allergy also. They can develop anytime just like in people. I have heard of a dog being allergic to grass.

Try switching to a high quality kibble with limited ingredients

See a board certified veterinary dermatologist. Pred only gets rids of the itch and inflammation, but does not cure the allergy. Likewise, antibiotics clear up secondary bacterial infections but do not cure the allergy. Plus, use of steroids can make bacterial infections more difficulty to get rid of. A dermatologist can help you pinpoint what your pet is allergic to, be it food, a contact allergy, inhalant. Long term use of steroids can be detrimental to your pet's health. Diet change will really only make a difference if your pet has a food allergy. Many animals have a combination of food allergies and some other type of allergy. A proper food trial should be performed under the direction of a vet, not by picking random "hypoallergenic" foods from the pet store, or trying to cook at home.

My dog Buttons used to itch like crazy for no apparent reason, the vet said it was probably allergies and to take her off of any beef and chicken foods. That didn't work, so she wanted to do prescription medicine but I was against that. So I started researching better pet foods. I came across prepared raw frozen foods, and started feeding her on a rotation of the different meats they offered. Venison, Rabbit, Lamb, and then eventually Chicken and Beef again. After a couple months on the diet she stopped itching, and her health improved overall. I cannot recommend raw diets enough -- it's what a dog's body is designed to use! The food I buy is called Nature's Variety, and you can do more research at Naturesvariety.com. It's really amazing how much diet has SO much to do with health! Hope this helps!