Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 7/27/2007

Question
I recently adopted Rukkus from the S.P.C.A. He was a basement dog in a large city for approximately 6 months or so. He will be 2 years old in Sept.2007.
The problem is: he chews at his feet, chases his tail and scratches his ears, alot. I have had himn at my vets several times and the first time I tried the prednisone treatment, with had absolutly no effect in the two weeks he was on the 50mg./day dose. He then recieved a shot of some other powerful drug that begins with a "d" that the vet had said would take away all itching for 4-6weeks, no matter what the allergen was. Well, that doesn't work either. I have him on a chicken, fish and rice dog food with all natural ingredients. I give him Benadryl, 50mg. when he gets really itchy. The itch seems to begin in the evenings around 6:30p.m. I don't want him on hard drugs. The previous vet that he had doesn't know anything about his allergy so they cannot help either. Please offer any assistance you can, as I feel really bad for him because he cries and whines while he is scratching and biting at himself.
Thank you.

Answer
If the steroids (prednisone and depomedrol) did not help, then this is probably not an allergy.  There are many non-cortisone responsive dermatoses, but the most common one is sarcoptic mange.  Before trying a lot of other drugs, ask the vet to treat the dog for sarcoptic mites even if they don't see them.

Antibiotic and antifungal drugs may also help itching because most of these itchy dogs have a secondary bacterial or yeast skin infection that also itches.

If the itching persists after that, ask the vet to a skin biopsy of an active area and send it off to a pathologist.