A question about steriod shots for dog allergies?

We've been under the impression that our dog has contact skin allergies. He'll lick at his stomach, get sores on it, and then we take him to the vet and get a steroid shot. The sores clear up for about two months.





For a host of reasons, including that he only licks when we aren't home, we're starting to think that he doesn't have allergies at all but that he's licking and causing these sores because he's bored when we're gone. If this is the case, though, would the steroid shots still have made a difference?





I will ask the vet about this as well, so no need to recommend that. But my vet isn't in today, and I was curious now.

A question about steriod shots for dog allergies?
Yes steriods help open wounds of any tye or origin heal.





However; the steriods would not stop him from licking unless its allergies.





Also OCD licking will not stop just because you are home unless you make the dog stop when you see him doing it.





Added:


Steriods will help the itching from the allergies.
Reply:I have two comments.





First, one of my dogs died of kidney failure because of too much Prednizone. Be careful.





Second, my Maggie had separation anxiety when I adopted her. She was put on Clomicalm - an anti-depressant and she stopped kicking her paws in about 4 days. She is so much happier.





-MM
Reply:Yes the steroid shots will stop the allergies,but the childrens benedryl will do the same thing.Give your pet about 1/3 teaspoon of benedryl every 6 hours.
Reply:change your dog food-go to a bland dietand use benadryl/
Reply:The dog knows that he can not lick his sores when you are home so he will do it when you are gone.


Have you tried changing your pets food? He may have a food allergy. One of your bichons was that way. It got so bad we thought they were going to have to amputate his tail, he had bald spots and rash and bloody areas. Shot after shot,cream after cream,medicated shampoos, Vet after Vet. No one could help, or knew what the problems was. We ended up having him neutered as we did not want it to pass onto puppies, as one vet even said it was hereditary.. Finally by accident I stopped in to a vet when on vacation and asked, he said if nothing was working with the other vets it was a food allergy We switched to a good quality food and have never had a prob em since.





It could be the problem. Also make sure your dog does not have fleas.





EDIT: They only gave our Bichon relief for about 3 weeks. then it was right back to the vet again. So to answer your last part. No, it does not treat the cause it only relieved the symptoms.
Reply:I know this may sound silly, but when your gone, put a t-shirt on your dog. This way he cant lick his belly. If it is skin allergies he would lick all the time. Seems like it may be a case of separation anxiety. I have heard that some people leave the television on when they leave and it comforts the dog while your away because he can hear voices and sound. If it is allergies there are many other solutions to the problem aside from steroid shots. Obviously you know of the risk involved with these steroids. There is an awesome medication that we prescribe for allergies. It is very expensive but it works miraculously. It is called Atopica. Wonderful product. Good Luck.