I have had my dog for over three years and she is the best dog I could ever ask for. Real funny and listens very well. Well.....there is one problem she keeps loosing her hair. Last summer we finally got her diagnosed with Atopy which is a skin allergy and she pretty much breaks out and looses most of her skin. She looses around her legs, stomach and neck. I got in under control with the vet but, had to pay an arm and leg to get her right. Well, her medicane was over 300 dollars every month so, I couldn't afford that so, I took what the doctor prescribed me and tried to fix her myself. I know this is not a good idea but, I couldn't keep affording that kind of money a month. I have done everything and nothing seems to get her better or sometimes she gets even worst. Has anyone else experience this with their pets. I have tried benedryl(which the doctor recommended), omega 3 fatty tablets, garlic tablets, special shampoos and nothing has worked. I really really really do not want to put her to sleep just because she has a skin allergy (which the vet is recommending for me) I know there has to be some kind of cure for her. She is a mixed breed and the vet said she got this gene from her parents. I know she does not have mange.....she got tested twice by two different vets!!!!! Please any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!

[Yogi]

Atopy in most cases is attributed to where you may live. It is not truly a skin allergy but an allergic reaction through inhaling allergy that the dog is extremely sensitive to which effects the dogs skin causing the hair to fall out.
Steroids can in many cases alleviate much of the irritation ie: itching. It is my understanding that it is a lifelong disease that cannot be cured but can be managed.
Whatever is causing this can be inhaled so this could be something in your house, or in your yard ie: grass, certain bush or even another animal in the house. Increased fatty acid supplements in high dosages has been known to work. This may be something to consider.
A friend of mine breeds Westies and found that one of her show dogs was gong through this. The dog ended up for a few months with the handler and the problem went away. Shortly upon return they discovered the dog was losing its hair again only to find out it was the same thing and seems to be related to something in the yard. They have hundreds of different plants in the yard so the vet was not able to narrow it down specifically. They return the dog to the handler and same thing, the problem after a couple months went away. It is one of their females and this generally effects females more than males. The dog now spends most of the time with the handler. Same food diet etc but the woman has kennels and just a grassy back yard for the dogs she handles and shows for the breeder. Appears maybe geographical location could have something to do with it.