I have a male yellow, 9 years old. At age 5 he developed serious skin allergies. We believe it is related to grasses or weeds where we walk. It is especially bad in the Summer. His nose and belly are very red. I am wondering if there is a relationship between this and the skin problems. Would a lab with a blacker nose be less prone to skin problems? Are there studies or statistics on the dog's color and subsequent skin issues? I asked the breeder about this, and he denied any such problems with his dogs. Thanks to anyone who can help me with information on this. I would love to get another yellow puppy this Spring

I don't know of anything that has linked Labrador coat color with skin allergies, although the propensity towards allergies has a genetic component.

There is a genetic component to allergies -- they are indeed hereditary. But, I don't think there is any relationship between pigmentation and allergies.
If you are having trouble managing the allergies, a veterinary dermatologist is your best route. Our girl was miserable with her allergies until a dermatologist got them under control.

Can you give me any information on the specific treatment? Our vet seems to think testing needs to be done to narrow down the exact cause of it, whether it is food or something that grows here. She has us giving him Benadryl and fish oil, neither of which has done any good.

Have you considered something other than allergies. Allergy can be secondary to an autoimmune disorder like thyroidism.

Steve, as JK said, your best answers will come from a veterinary dermatologist. He or she will be able to examine your dog and do tests and will know the most current treatments and drugs. There are SO many things that can cause skin problems that you really need an expert opinion to figure out how to relieve his suffering. We can give you lots of ideas here, but they may or may not help. Get a diagnosis from an expert, and go from there. Much better and faster than trial and error. Your boy will appreciate it!

I agree, allergies are not pigment related.

Many who have dogs with bad allergies find that the only way to truly alleviate the symptoms is to do the full skin test that will identify food, environmental etc. causes. I have talked to owners who have had dogs allergic to common meat sources AND trees and grass pollen. Without knowing specifically, you can't really treat.

As the others have said, you can't really treat them until you know the cause.
Some regular vets will push a blood test. We went that route and spent over a year chasing our tails with the serum from it. Let your vet do a thyroid test, but see the specialist for the allergy testing. A skin test is superior to a blood test for allergies.

I went thru this too and tested for thyroid (also because of hi cholesterol levels) because of the itching and pink sore skin. Came up negative and I started using Goji juice which helped quite a bit.

Get your tests done by the vet and go from there.

Good luck and I hope it is just allergies.

Trying to help your dog turns out to be a very inexact science. Allergy testing is said to be very iffy stuff. I have opted to go through with the testing as he tested normal on the thyroid last year when he was having trouble. He has to be free of steroids and antihistamine for the test, which he is. My vet says there can be false positives and false negatives, so all I can do is cross my fingers that we will get good results. Plan B is to drive a bit farther and see a board certified dermatologist. thanks to all of you and your help and ideas!

Is the test that your regular vet will give a skin test? I have heard that some blood tests are better than others (from vet techs on other boards), but my experience with the one that the regular vet did was not good. My dog did not improve on it after over a year. When we did the skin test and started on that serum, we saw improvement within a few weeks. I told a breeder friend about it, and she took her allergic boy to the dermatologist. He had been on the serum from the same blood test for maybe 2 years with little result, and likewise, she saw almost an immediate improvement with the serum from the skin test.

There is a wonderful dermatologist in your general area. Go see Dr. V Scheidt and get the real scoop.

She convinced me that the dermatologist she would refer me to used the blood test in half the cases, and skin test in half. So I went for the blood test. I know what you are going to say. But without more very specific information, I just have to follow her advice. She is one of the most highly regarded small animal vets in the state, small though it is. She says there are clients who are happy with the test results, and those who are not. Only time will tell. She says that you can choose to modify the dogs behavior and habits as a result of the test, or you can choose to go with the injections.

What do you feed him?

He is fed Science Diet Oral care, and California Naturals chicken and rice, both wet and dry. He is free of problems until the Summer months, when it flares up on his chest and neck. red spots are first visible on his belly, but the real problem areas are on his chest and neck. we have never clipped his fur, but may do that this year to keep him drier, and make the problems visible sooner. he rarely swims, so that isn't the problem. It isn't ticks or fleas as he is dosed with Frontline monthly. Steroids stop it but we are careful to take him off them within 5 days. he gets omega 3 caps and antihistamines which only seem to make him drowsy. last summer he had two flare-ups and it did not get too bad, unlike the summer when he was 5 and caught us completely by surprise. at that time he was eating Beneful, and limited table scraps. Beef is known to trigger his problem. he has good luck with chicken and lamb, and doesn't seem to like venison.I have heard people say the raw chicken diet is a cure. I just can't really go that route. Maybe I should. yuk

I have had two bitches with allergies. One got a lot better after she was spayed. She does very well on antihistamines. The other, also spayed, has done very well on shots. I would highly recommend shots. They are inexpensive and easily administered by the owner.
The vets treating these bitches said that every other dog they see for allergies is a Labrador retriever.
We should not look the other way when it comes to breeding these allergic dogs. If you watch them scratch themselves to death and moan and cry from the itchiness, you know they are in horrible discomfort.

My boy has been on fish and potato due to allergies and severe ear infections. Both Wellness and Flint River Ranch. Maybe that would help?