Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 1/6/2010

Question
Hi there,

I've got a 6 year old Jack Russell X and recently he has been scratching a lot just above the tail area which has caused hair loss and redness.  We have taken him to the vet several times for the last couple of months and was given stereoids and it has worked until the medication stopped.  He is up to date with his flea treatment and we can rule out that it is not fleas.  We can see that he is very uncomfortable as he has been rubbing himself along furnitures and even touching him seems to be uncomfortable.  We really don't know what to do anymore!!!!  Your help will be very much appreciated. Do you think taking him to a specialist will help?  

Answer
If the steroids helped, then you can leave him on a low dose alternate day treatment with the steroids. This is most likely allergic skin disease and even though you are not seeing fleas right now, it is in the area most commonly associated with flea allergy.