Dog skin problems  

Actually if you use cortisone cream it should work for the irritation. My dog had the same thing and they told me calamine lotion would help with the itching, but you have to make sure the dog doesn't lick it. That can make them sick.

What type of food do you feed your lab? On the long term you can help skin and fur issues by feeding a good quality food, like Merrick, Wysong, or Wellness. Don't use the excuse that you can't afford a quality food. Quality foods have less fillers, so your dog will eat less. Dogs on quality food eat 30-50% less food than dogs on a cheap food with fillers. They also have less health issues and live longer lives.

HTH,
Crystal

Our german sheppard was like that and it turned out to be his thyroid, usually the smell you smell is the first sign, and max had to go on thyroid medication, also our vet told us to bathe him in dove soap it mild and help the skin and it really did work