This has been an ongoing thing with two of my cats for a few years now. Some animals suffer from actual food allergies but many simply have intolerance or sensitivity to certain foods. Either way you have to find and eliminate the cause.

I would explain the situation to your vet and ask for his help in identifying the source and finding a food that your dog will eat. DonÂt start trying new foods left and right without asking the vet for possible side effects, reactions, etc.

Problems are usually caused by something simple and very common in many pet food brands. But there are tons of foods that contain uncommon things like venison, lamb, turkey, potatoes, apples and combinations of foods your dog wonÂt react to.

Here is a list to start of the most common offenders in dogs: beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn, and soy. I would find an independent pet store that carries high-end foods like Wellness. Look for brands that do not have any of the above in their ingredient list. Check online. Petsmart carries lamb and rice formulas that might work.

Check out this link (one of many). You have to commit yourself and the dog to a long trial period to find the problem, eliminate the symptoms and make sure a new sensitivity does not occur with the new food. This might require a homemade diet for a while. Good luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: Food allergies

Paw licking is associated with allergies. Okay lets rule this out. Did you get your carpet cleaned or has the landscaper or someone else sprayed for bugs or put down fertilizer? Does your dog go onto a lawn which has been treated??? Can you list the ingredients of the dog food your dog is using currently? You might go to the grocery store and get a package of Buffalo meat. Mix it with some wild rice and see if your pup will eat that. If you DO CHANGE YOUR DOGS DIET, DO IT LITTLE BIT AT A TIME. If it turns out you did have your carpets cleaned, contact a company which uses hypoallergenic cleaning agents and if your dog uses a lwan either go somewhere else, or ask about organic fertilizing methods, they are out there and being used regularly with success. Good luck, hope this helps.

I had a Shepard/Lab for about 15 years. I learned the hard way that some, not all, regular vets simply do not recognize allergies or skin disorders. I almost lost my dog because the vet said she had fox mites, and she had fununculosis combined with a thyroid problem.

I suggest you go to a reputable vet dermatologist. The key word here, reputable. Check with friends and anyone else who can recommend one. If you decide to go this route, and I strongly suggest that you do, because skin issues can get worse quickly, when getting medication, ask how long it will be until you should see results. You don't need to pin the timing down to an exact time and day, but definitely within a day or two of what the vet says. If improvement is not noticeable, you are on the wrong course, and ask the vet what the next plan is.

A good vet dermatologist should be able to look at your dog, tell you what the problem is, then for confirmation, have test results done. You should be able to see results within a few days minimum.

Good luck!

SG