A pup which I bred has been having a few skin problems his owners have just contacted me today for advice . So any advice you may have will be much appreiciated.
He is a dogue de bordeaux age 7 months , recently his pores on  his skin on most of his body have become red and raised. ( I'm trying my best to describe them as they have told me , I will be seeing him soon but would like some advice beforehand if possible. ) The vets have sedated him to do various tests and skin scraps which have all proved negative ,  so he doesn't have demodex mange , and they've ruled out an allergy just by asking questions . They have put him on malaseb shampoo which up to now hasn't really done anything for him and the owners are a bit reluctant to wash him every week as they are frightened of taking all the oils out of his coat ( he's had 4 washes over the last month )
Whilst he was sedated the vets had a close look and found some of the hairs trapped under the pores , but ruled out ingrown hairs as there were only a small percentage like that.
The vets are stumped as to what it is but say there aren't worried , he had an antibiotic jab also they think it could possibly be that he is maturing a little too quickly and said it could be like teenage spots.
I am not sure what to think ,do you think it could possibly be an allergy even if he is not scratching ( they say he hasn't scratched once and they aren't bothering him.)
I think if he was with me I would try piriton to see if that calmed them down . Do you think this is wrong? I don't want to give them wrong advice.
 

:(  Sorry to hear about your dog.

Sorry to ask but how can they rule out allergies by asking questions?  Skin allergies can be either caused by food intollerencies, contact or inhaled, inside and outside the home so I'd be asking for York tests if mites have been ruled out.

One of my bitches had a measles type rash on her stomach and inside her ears, but was not scratching.  It turned out she was allergic to the washing powder that I'd changed.  Back to normal stuff and no problems since.

Failing that if they still come up with nothing, I'd ask for a referral to a Dermotologist. Hope you manage to get it sorted out.

One of my friends has been driven mad about her dog for quite some time, tests have just come back that she's allergic to grasses! 

Exactly what I was thinking , they have only ruled out allergy upon asking questions . I'm speaking with them again tonight , hubby said to me earlier when he called home it may be someting as simple as shake n vac on the carpet as he's heard of a dog having a reaction to that before.
Thanks for the replies any more advice will still be appreciated.

we had a english setter cross with a grass allergy, im a bit too young to remember though :-p . but what i can remember, the symptoms were similar

you cant rule out allergies by asking questions!
If could be a dietary allergy, or outdoor allergies (pollen etc), or even indoor allergies (dust mites)... So I think I would switch vets and get necessary tests done. My DDB's allergies weren't spotted until tests were done :)

I would suggest they go to another vets! You can't rule out allergies without doing tests.  I would have full allergy tests done (York tests) to find out what it is.  Be sure to tell your owners that if they do switch vets any steroid treatment that may have been given will give an inaccurate results so bloods must have a two week gap from any steriods in the system. Some vets give 'an injection' which could well contain a steriod.  I wish them all the best, I have a bitch with a HDM allergy, by switching to a raw diet helped but she is on daily treatment. I also think you are being very helpful to your owners offering to help out and offering support :-) 

Thanks for the advice , I've just got back from visiting the pup , they have explained the condition well to me but I personally think it could be a food allergy . It isn't as bad as I expected , but I've taken photo's and have advised a change of food for him (I'm going to contact a skin specialist tomorrow to see what they make of the photo's ), he's back at the vets in the morning so we'll see what they say then . I know the vet in question and I don't rate her I'm with the same practise but will only see the vet I like and will travel to another surgery to see her , I have advised they see her as she is straight to the point no wasting peoples time or money and actually cares about the animals wellbeing. I will also let them know about the York tests and they might want to do that , they are a lovely couple who love their dog and only want the best for him.

The drawback with Piriton is that it only masks the symptoms & doesn't provide a cure. Have the owners written down everything that they feed the dog? I only ask because I hear about dogs having to go on diets but are still being fed treats "that don't count". It seems that more and more dogs have allergies. A dog I bred 2 years ago constantly chews her feet & pads to the point where it makes her badly lame. The owners tried exclusion diets & every alternative treatment under the sun. She's had antibiotics, steroids and Piriton does help with the itching. An allergy test revealed she is allergic to mites, dust and silver birch of all things. Her vet has still got his thinking cap on over this one. Interestingly I found out that 2 half siblings from different litters (same sire) have also got itchy feet problems. Good luck with the treatment of this pup.

I have a DDB with allergy to house dust mites - She started with raised lumps that turned into black scabs.

Went on for months before the vets figured out what it was.

Thanks for that advice I'll also pass it on to the couple , I was very kindly pm'd by someone on here who hasn't posted on the thread . He has a DDB that had the same syptoms at the same age, his dog tested negative to everything and once his hormones and growing calmed down his skin was fine. The couple had him back at the vets yesterday and the vet is quit happy to leave things and see if it clears up itself , I know my owners feel a lot happier now I have passed on all of the advice I've gotton off the site.
So thanks everyone for your help.

If this can help my border terrier after going to the vets for 10 months has been diagnosed with demodex mange, the vet was so surprised  when the biopsys came back, we are treating her with promeris duo hope this is helpful

Just an update on Hiram the DDB. He had tests and they came back all clear so no demodex mange etc!

He is doing great his skin has all cleared up nicely and the new coat thats come in is looking lovely. I think it's been hormonal and it really has just took a little bit of time to correct itself.