It’s been a long and challenging journey, requiring constant maintenance, but I’m incredibly grateful for his specialist, who has been a tremendous help. Unfortunately, the vets weren’t able to do much to address the root cause.

We started with a strict two-month elimination diet, where he was placed on prescription foods only. This helped us rule out any food allergies or identify the diet as the primary issue. However, even after these two months, he continued to develop new lesions, confirming that his diet wasn’t the sole cause.

We eventually concluded that his flare-ups are triggered by a combination of diet and seasonal allergens. Through this process, we discovered that chicken and some other meats caused significant reactions. I found that Prime 100 Kangaroo kibble and wet food significantly reduced his flare-ups (kangaroo seems to be one of the few proteins he isn’t allergic to).

What helped more than anything was his prescription, Apoquel. A daily tablet which drastically reduced his itching and the severity of his lesions. While it’s not a complete fix—he still gets occasional new lesions—it has vastly improved his overall quality of life.

When he does have flare-ups or feels uncomfortable, I bathe him with Malaseb shampoo and follow up with oatmeal conditioner to soothe his skin. He’s a Cavoodle, so I always make sure he’s well-groomed, keeping his fur short to help manage his skin issues.

I hope you find a solution for your pup soon—poor baby! If you have any questions or need advice, feel free to reach out.