what is best treatment for skin allergy, excessive licking and sometimes smelly ears in springer spaniel dog?

Question

My Vet has prescibed predisone 25 mg for 52 lb. dog. To be taken periodically for what we think is an allergy. Vet said to give dog break from meds, then resume in a month or so. It takes about 6 weeks for the dog to develop symtoms again. Tresaderm is prescribed for the ears. I also use a preventitive ear Flush.
He eats Maximum Nutrition Lamb and Rice for adult dogs, 2 to 3 cups a day. He is somewhat lethargic now, could be due to the time of year - winter - which means we don't go out on as long of a walk as in summer. But the licking has caused his hair to be brown on paws. I am told this is due to an ensyme in the saliva. He is white and liver and tan normally. When he is allowed to run free outdoors he will eat duck, horse and chicken droppings and eggs from our free range poultry. He will go after and eat toads, squirrels and anything he finds. Now it is winter, so those "treats" are not available to him. So tell me; Is he lacking something in his diet? Thanks!

Answer 1

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Happy Holidays.

Answer 2

Try switching foods. Could be a food allergy. For the ears, have a groomer shave the hair out of the inside, don't let him swim, and use cotton in the ears when bathing, as well as daily flushing with cleanser. You could also try using a tea-tree or salicylic acid / benzoil peroxide shampoo once a week to relieve skin itching. Here's some foods you can try: Artemis, Canidae, Canine Caviar, Timberwolf Organics, Wellness, Verus, Wysong, Blue Buffalo. Try to find a formula that uses venison or rabbit, wild meats tend to cause less allergies than domestic meats. If you're really up to it, the natural food diet has been known to do wonders for allergy-stricken dogs. All you do is create balanced meals of chicken, lamb, venison, turkey or beef, with some natural brown rice, oatmeal, veggies, fruits, eggs, flaxseed oil, and vitamin tablets. Mix and match foods around for variety, but if you're preparing his food fresh, there's no chance for hidden fillers or contaminants to affect your dog.