I have a 3 year old staff and in the past few days he has developed a very red and lumpy itchy rash on the inside of his back legs and all over his tummy. He is also scratching himself a lot behind his ears and front legs. I have visited the vets and they have suggested that it could be an allergy caused by a change in the atmosphere. They have prescribed him steroid tablets which he is to take for one week and then gradually decrease the dose (thankfully they have started working already) but I am worried about the long term effect they might have on him. His ears are checked regularly so they are definately mite free. Has anybody else experienced this problem and can anybody give me any advice?

Thanks

Not sure if it's the same thing, but my bitch had a lumpy rash all over her tum and inside of her back legs when she was about a year old.  They turned yellow like blisters and the vet gave me antibiotics for it, which eventually cleared it up.  She didn't suffer any lasting effects and you can't tell that she ever had the rash, there's certainly no scarring.

We have staffies and  one of our Bitches has the same thing but her's  is due to a vine we had growing in our Back yard that had fine thistles things on them, this sounds much like the same kind of rash..
Have you changed his diet?, does it flame up after being out side?, he could be having a reaction to the grass if you have any!!! a new tree pot plant... Have you taken him for a walk along a bank?, river...or high grasses...once you find out what is making this rash flame up then you can either chop down the vine, take out the tree, place the potted plant higher...change his food back or find something else don't let them eat any thing with Onion in it....you could also get some anti-inflammatory cream from the vets.. give them a bath with Dog shampoo from the vets I can't remember the name but it has special herbs and anti-inflammatory stuff in it...