Thank you for the information. Certainly allergies are the most likely possibility for itching if you have not seen fleas. Allergies can occur to anything in the environment (food, dust, pollen, grass, trees, cats, etc.). Unfortunately, these allergies can occur at any age and can be difficult to determine what they are allergic to without testing. In most cases medications are necessary to control the symptoms so that infection and hair loss does not occur. Here are some things to try:

• Omega 3 fatty acids supplements- these are usually available as fish oil capsules in the pharmacy. One small capsule daily for life is very safe and can help the skin.
• Antihistamines- Benadryl is a good starting point and very safe. It may make him sleepy and does not always work. Other antihistamines can be tried if the benadryl does not work. You can try 25mg of benadryl every 8 to 12 hours.Aloe and Oatmeal shampoos for relief of itchy skin. There are also prescription shampoos that can be very effective.
• If antihistamines do not work then steroid from your vet may be necessary for temporary relief. Long term steroids can be detrimental so you want to use this as little as possible.
• If his feet itch then consider washing them when he comes in from outside. This can remove pollen, dust, etc. that will cause the itching.
• Allergy testing can be done to determine what exactly he is allergic to and then a series of shots can be given over a period of months to reduce the severity of his allergies. While a little more costly (you can check with your vet about the cost) in the long run it is safer than steroids and can be very effective, especially if the allergies persist for a long period of time.
• Cyclosporine is a drug that has been proven to give some good relief for allergies and many times a dog can be taken off steroids all together. You can ask your vet about it.

The key is to remember that allergies are never cured, only controlled. Here are some links about allergies:

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/seasonal-allergies-and-your-pet/page1.aspx

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/flea-allergy-dermatitis-in-dogs/page1.aspx