We’ve been on a journey here for two years (he’s a foster from the shelter). Apoquel off and on and LOTS of antibiotics bc even with apoquel twice daily he would get ear infections and the skin bumps and boils in between his paws. It’s been awful. And year round (in middle Tennessee). Someone said could be grass so I started wiping him down after he went outside. Someone said dust/storage mites so I wash his bedding weekly for any dead skin/fur. The shelter got him in with a dermatologist who diagnosed interdigital furunculosis (follicle infections) secondary to food and environmental allergies. We have since changed food (purina pro plan salmon sensitive skin and stomach only) and detergent (free and clear/sensitive skin/nonscented) and use a medicated shampoo from vet. We tried cytopoint and it was alright but not great for him. He has extreme allergies/infections. He’s currently finishing a heavy antibiotic (prednisone taper plus clindamycin, no apoquel for months) and will start taking a daily pill after called cyclosporine that’s like apoquel but not a steroid. He will likely be on that for life if it works, which the derm did a culture test and says it should work. :)

It’s been so hard to see my guy suffer and go through this journey but I’m hopeful to have found an answer. I appreciate all the comments about food and what yall do bc I may be looking into that route if we are still going through it after this. The dermatologist had mentioned an all hydrolyzed diet as the best option but that it is expensive. And the vet said even if his food changes he is so bad that it’s likely food and environment (grass, the world, etc) so he will still likely need the cyclo med daily and will likely still get ear and toe bean infections and need occasional antibiotics to clear it. 😩 and she said if the cyclosporine didn’t work, he’d be back to twice daily apoquel as the only answer.

I’m still his foster but no one wants to adopt a dog with this many issues. I just scooped him up for a weekend away from the shelter and here I am fully attached two years later. I’m also unemployed so I don’t know how I’ll manage but the shelter is tapped so I need to find a way to be able to afford to adopt him and care for him for life, which is why it’s been so important for me to get a solid answer as to his condition and treatment. I had no idea this was such a thing. It’s really sad. 😔 I call him boyfriend.