After 8 years just got really allergic to my dog? Could it be his food?

[crystalfresh]

I remember changing his food about 2 years ago to a natural choice brand from Hills brand. He has a small like stinky feet that only I can smell. Goes away with a bath. Tried many shampoos and skin treatments but no luck. After I take antihistamine I can't smell my dog for a while. So it's with out a doubt an allergy. Triggers my asthma bad too. Once he had fleas and that set off my allergies terrible. It's my allergy is from his skin I think. Won't give away, too attached. Any suggestions? Could it be his food? I got allergy shots for a year for dog and I can go near everyone else's dogs now but still not my own. Not fair. He has hair not fur right? Why am I allergic?

[crystalfresh]

I'm sorry it was a type. Small = Smell. He body smells like stinky feet would. Can be bathed away with a bath. But comes back. If he goes out in the sun his skin smells 3 times worst and my asthma is also 3 times worst. Shaving him helped since his fur doesn't catch pollens and mold but his skin oder is a problem. Oddly enough I am the only one who can smell him and can't smell him with antihistamine in.

I wonder if it was his food that makes me allergic to him. Maybe there is a cream that I can use to prevent his skin from releasing this oder. I need a solution that is other than giving him away. Can't sleep at night, breathing is hard.

I wonder if I can sponge bathe a dog? Might help in between baths. Are they any oils that might prevent dander from leaving his skin between baths. Maybe I need to moisturize him maybe if it is dead skin flake. Suggestions would be great.

[Jaybay]

Did your allergy testing show that you're allergic to yeasts and molds?  It's just an idea, but since you mention your dog's feet smell, I'd bet money he has a case of doggy athlete's foot. :-)  I had a dog that got fungus foot every summer.  It finally got so bad that her bedding and even the carpet in her favorite spots just got rank.  My husband never even noticed the stink, but I insisted on having the vet take a look - or have a sniff in this case.  Sure enough, it was yeast.  It was well treated with a product from the vet called Dermachlor Flush Plus.  

Dermachlor is an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial liquid that has the added benefit of being rather repulsive to a dog's taste budsso they don't lick the area.  With my dog, it immediately got rid of the smell, and within 3 or 4 days treatment was completed.  In the summer, it would take another 6 weeks or so before the stinky feet came back, and at the first whiff she got her feet squirted.

If you are allergic to molds, etc., that may be the whole trouble right there IF your dog does indeed have a fungal infection.  It probably wouldn't hurt to resume your allergy shots as well.  My husband has severe asthma and is allergic to dogs.  He did the shots for 10 years and was finally able to stop.  About 3 years later, he started noticing symptoms again and had to do resume the shots for another several months.  Hopefully, that's the last of them because he can't sleep without at least one dog in the bed with us!  :-)