This isn't a question - just something that might be of help to other dog owners. My dog is a cocker-mix that has been with me six years. He has suffered with terrible itching for the whole time, and has scratched incessantly, and chewed holes in his hide. I have bought him a lot of shots and lotions, without any relief. Vets have advised me to sign up for some expensive allergy tests and resulting injections that I would have to give him myself.

Three months ago I got him to switch dry dog foods. It wasn't easy, as he is a picky eater, but the result has been nearly miraculous. The scratching seems to be gone - hopefully for good. He now eats a food based on lamb meal and rice, prepared by Nature's Recipes and sold thru Pet Smart. It's expensive, compared to the Purina food I used to buy, but then Jack is a personal friend of mine.

I hope this idea might help some of you. If your dog is scratching, try changing his diet.

Good advice- My late feline child had ongoing skin problems and ear infections that turned out to be an intolerance to wheat... his health turned around in a stunningly short time when we switched to a lamb and rice formula from Science Diet.... Dogs and cats can have food allergies/intolerances just like we do, it's just harder for them to describe their exact symptoms.

With pet food, it seems like a lot of the time you get what you pay for. I found that the cheap store brand cat food made my cats sick, or they just wouldn't eat it, whereas the more expensive Fancy Feast went right down the hatch. The cheaper the food, the more garbage there is in it, and the more likely your pet is to have a problem with it.