Please put Gretchen on your prayer or good thoughts list.

Good to hear that they are making progress with the diagnosis, and it likely is not cancer. The benadryl should help if it is an allergy. Maybe you could have an allergy panel done to see what she might be allergic to? We had one done for Geoff(1975-1987), the family GSD, and there were probably more things he was allergic to (including grass) than things he wasn't. Poor Geoff, that was one messed-up dog. Best of luck with the General.