Hi can anyone help.
I have a 5yr old westie who is scratching his belly and sides. He got so bad he made himself bleed so took him to the vet. He done blood test to see what allergies he has, all came back clear. Gave him some apoquel for 10 days which worked and he cleared up. Now however he is starting to scratch again, the vet said he will have to stay in these tablets for life, but not only is this expensive but I don't like the idea of it long term.
We have him stripped, wash him in baby shampoo, flea drops when they are due and have just changed his diet in the last few days to homemade feeds. Which are turkey, brown rice and veg. just hoping someone could help as hate seeing him suffer, if it means a life time of apoquel then that's what we will do but just wish something else helps.

Thank you

Having the same problem this humid hot sticky summer with my Cocker. Vet gave me stronghold to use in case it was harvest mites! His already had tick/flea treatments. We have washed his coat in medicated shampoo.  We have changed his diet and snacks in case an allergy.
Finally after a cut on pad we put his protective cone on for 8 days and it's allowed belly to heal from luck, scratch,itch,licking cycle. We are leaving it off in the say but popping on him for next few days and see how we go.
Vet did say could be grass allergy or a food or pollen! We shall see.

It's not nice is it. We have tried so much and just not getting anywhere.

Unfortunately the Westie IS prone to skin problems and with all the damp /humidity we've had in the UK lately, I'm not really surprised.   I can only suggest you try an elimination diet, in case this is also diet related, which means giving him something he's not had before - eg. fish and potato.   You can make this up yourself, coley and mashed potato but there are a lot of commercially made diets available now.   I use Arden Grange's Sensitive which isn't for his skin, but for his 'sensitive' tummy (my *** Basset!).   Mind you of late he's been licking his front legs bald but that may be down to pain from what else is going on with him just now.

I'd suggest your lad does need an antiinflammatory to calm his system down, and if he's raw, antibiotics.    And even if you start the elimination diet, you won't see an immediate improvement.

Having a had a bad and expensive case of wet excema end of June (not something my dogs have had very often, over the years) this hot humid weather has been the cause.

Talking to other dog owners seems to be that everyone's dogs are itching, getting hot spots etc, but as with mien no sign of parasites.

Have you tried piriton for your dog if so has it helped and is it just plain piriton.

Some years ago we had a local vet that put all the non responsive itchy skin dogs on evening primrose oil capsules. I can't say what percentage of them improved, but know that  it did help some.

Thank you we will try anything at the mo. I forgot to say he has cod liver oil already. Might try hibiscrub and see if that helps. The tablets the vet gave were good but reading they are not good for him long term.

I would do a. Elimination diet .if u fees kibble.that will probably mean hypoallergenic for 8weks to see if thungs calm down .if u feed raw it's easier imo . Also regular baths in an anti bacterial and anti fungal shampoo. During the time of the diet no other things at all unless they are very meds of course. If this doesn't calm things done u may have to have helo from a specialist to decide the best treatment for if it turns out to be environmental and also to choose and appropriate long term food.you would be better using something with omega 3 and vit e rather than cod liver oil as its rather which in vit a and omega 3 is better for skin .I use nutramega from the vet but yumega do a food salmon oil based one. I have two with allergies and it has taken a couple of years to sort out and develop a way to control things. Aquopel is good in some circumstances but like steroids it does have problems and being new these are only juat starting to show

I would do a. Elimination diet .if u fees kibble.that will probably mean hypoallergenic for 8weks to see if thungs calm down .if u feed raw it's easier imo . Also regular baths in an anti bacterial and anti fungal shampoo. During the time of the diet no other things at all unless they are very meds of course. If this doesn't calm things done u may have to have helo from a specialist to decide the best treatment for if it turns out to be environmental and also to choose and appropriate long term food.you would be better using something with omega 3 and vit e rather than cod liver oil as its rather which in vit a and omega 3 is better for skin .I use nutramega from the vet but yumega do a food salmon oil based one. I have two with allergies and it has taken a couple of years to sort out and develop a way to control things. Aquopel is good in some circumstances but like steroids it does have problems and being new these are only juat starting to show

My boy too has been scratching until bleeding and nibbling, licking legs and feet until they were raw, the licking has also discoloured his leg hair. I was giving antihistamine which helped but didn't want to keep giving it.

This stuff has worked wonders https://www.amazon.co.uk/supplement-treatment-scratching-healthier-digestion/dp/B00QKQ9YF0/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&qid=1474750837&sr=8-26&keywords=Dog+itchy he stopped scratching within the week. I then also started giving him lintbells itchy dog formula to help his skin, it has salmon, fish, starflower, and golden flax oils plus vit E.

On both he is fine. The licking has stopped I can see white fur growing where he'd previously nibbled himself bald.

I discovered a while ago that having beef as main protein made him itch. This summer I've also stopped all beef treats such as dried heart, pizzles, dried tripe. I'll try introducing those again to see how he goes.

I almost brought this too..... I'm hoping the cone 9n at nightfor a few nights will stop the cycle. As brainless advised used treatments but no sight of parasites. . Think its all down to this tops turvy weather we are having.....

Just when I thought I'd got on top of itch scratch cycle I've found another dry part on my boy's coat with scab. I've changed his diet been 5 weeks all his snacks.... I'm wondering if it is a grass allergy as we do walk most days over our fields/woods.
Today his very obsessed with bottom his analysis glands done 9 days ago. Another dog his friend sniffed at his bottom and he snarled a little... very very unlike him. Then rolled info poo. Off to bathe him with his medicated shampoo after tomato juice... Any tips why dry patches appeared again?