Jay it is an allergy and IMO a homeopathic vet won't help.
It's an allergy caused by a bacteria under the skin like Staphyloccus which only a long term (3 months) treatment of antibiotics will kill off and by keeping to a strict diet (3 months).
For 3 months the only food we were allowed to give our dog was boiled chicken and boiled rice. Absolutely NOTHING else but water. Everything else is banned.
Martin
Ceporex antibiotics were what we gave our dog.