hi all, i have just joined after searching internet for my dogs problem. I have a 7 month old staffordshire bull terrier bitch. Since May this year, she developed a red itchy rash under her armpits,in her ears and between her paws - she also looks like she was sparce in hair under her neck, around the back of her ears, a tiny bit on the top of her head and the backs of her paws. We took her to the vets and they checked for mites to which they did not find any and then they said it could be fox mites which dont always show up, anyway, she was put on antibiotics as she had scratched the rash and made it sore.

The rash seems to go down! but the came back up again. She has been back to the vets and they again, gave her antibiotics, piriton tablets and some oil to help with her coat. Again, this seems to have taken the redness down! but she finished the course of tablets last week, and again, i can see it creeping back in her ears, which seem red and flaky. The vets suggested her seeing the dermatologist guy there,  and it will be very expensive!! although we have insurance! so this is not a problem. I was suggested to try her on evening primrose oil caps 500mg, to see if that may help. Has anyone else used these? incidently, she has just finished her first season - so did not know if it was linked to hormones in anyway - and we have booked her in for spaying in October. Plus, we have always had her on advocate, so did not think that it was down to a flea allergy!

I did think she had a grass allergy, as it seemed to come up first when we were at puppy training in the long grass! and our garden is a sort of wild garden, so did not know if the pollen hangs around a bit longer in ours and hence the problem......

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I would see the dermatologist especially as you have insurance.  That way you can get to the bottom of it and know what you are treating rather than just keep stabbing in the dark trying lotions and potions that won't get to the bottom of the problem.
If you think it may be linked to long grass then keep your grass in the garden short and don't walk her in long grass just to see if it helps while you wait to see the dermatologist.  It can't be very comfortable or pleasent for her to be so itchy all the time so I think you get it sorted as soon as possible.

Think I would be inclined to use Piriton only for a couple of weeks to see if that eased the problem, if it does then you know that the problem is an allergy and therefore cut out a load of tests. Sometimes if the problem is food you can adjust but if it is pollen you may have to give your dog antihistamine during the period that the skin is effected.

hi, thanks for the info, i will buy more piriton from boots and the vets charged £20+ for the same stuff! and see how it goes, as i think with the AB's it helped. With regard to food, she was on dry food, but we tried everything available on the shelves, then minced tripe etc and she would not eat it! my mother in law looked after her for a week and put her on chappie orig and she wolfs it down - to be honest, i was not really happy with the change but as seemed to like it and smelled less! although the food stinks! we told the vet about this and she said dont worry, its an okay food, and keep her on it if it suits! Just goes to show that the expensive stuff is not always the best! but thank you for the info, will get her down there this week.

Chappie is a good food, wonderful for iffy tummies it was the only food my GSDs stomachs could deal with. If you have always swapped and changed her food I do not think it will be that so she probable has a reaction to something in the garden or where she walks.

EPO is very good for skin problems, as its a natural anti-histamine :)

Are you talking Erythropoietin? Have to say I don't know a lot but thought this was a hormone produced by the kidney that had something to do with red blood cells and as such can see how it would help. Futher explanation would be appreciated.

EPO - Evening Primrose Oil

Now that never dawned on me :-)

lol Nova. Munkylady there's abit of info on it on the Denes site http://www.denes.co.uk/advice/fact_sheets/evening_primrose_oil.php

Although you can buy Asda's own alot cheaper ;)

We use Yumega Plus for our itchy dog with sensitive skin.....and I can recommend it.
I got it from PAH...but its available on line.

friend found out her itchy dog was caused by the stuff she used on her floors to clean them and the shake and vac on the carpets in the hall where they used to sleep changed it all to the simple stuff and she has had no problems,