Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, all!

I already posted this in the Holistic Vet forum, but I thought I would re-post here just in case any of you have had a similar experience with your JRT.

My Jack Russell Terrier is 7 months old, and for about the past month or so has been scratching quite a bit. The first places that I noticed a visible irritation were under his front "arm" pits. It was a red rash with very fine red dots. That has since scabbed up and gone away, but he just keeps scratching and scratching. Just today, he was tearing at his back (close to his tail) like crazy. I rubbed it for him for a few minutes so that he wouldn't keep tearing out the fur, and when I would stop, he would go right back to biting the spot. I bathed him with Oatmeal anti-itch dog shampoo and he's quit biting that particular area (for now), but it hasn't seemed to really relieve all of the itching. I can't tell if he has an actual rash, or if he is just itchy and is creating the spots by biting at them.

I've got him on children's Benadryl (which he just LOVES , lol) per my vet's instructions, and I have an appointment for Saturday, in case the irritation doesn't go away after a week of treatment with the Benadryl. I guess I am just wondering if you have any insight as to what could be causing my baby to be miserable. I've tried, but I can't pinpoint any changes in his diet (he's on IAMS Puppy food) or anything else that may have triggered this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...
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My little Roscoe boy! We're dedicated to stopping JRT homelessness...please think before you adopt! "

>>Hello, all!
>>
>>I already posted this in the Holistic Vet forum, but I thought I would re-post here just in case any of you have had a similar experience with your JRT.
>>
>>My Jack Russell Terrier is 7 months old, and for about the past month or so has been scratching quite a bit. The first places that I noticed a visible irritation were under his front "arm" pits. It was a red rash with very fine red dots. That has since scabbed up and gone away, but he just keeps scratching and scratching. Just today, he was tearing at his back (close to his tail) like crazy. I rubbed it for him for a few minutes so that he wouldn't keep tearing out the fur, and when I would stop, he would go right back to biting the spot. I bathed him with Oatmeal anti-itch dog shampoo and he's quit biting that particular area (for now), but it hasn't seemed to really relieve all of the itching. I can't tell if he has an actual rash, or if he is just itchy and is creating the spots by biting at them.
>>
>>I've got him on children's Benadryl (which he just LOVES , lol) per my vet's instructions, and I have an appointment for Saturday, in case the irritation doesn't go away after a week of treatment with the Benadryl. I guess I am just wondering if you have any insight as to what could be causing my baby to be miserable. I've tried, but I can't pinpoint any changes in his diet (he's on IAMS Puppy food) or anything else that may have triggered this.
>>
>>Any help would be greatly appreciated...
>>-----
>>
>>My little Roscoe boy! We're dedicated to stopping JRT homelessness...please think before you adopt! "

>>>>>>>>>>>

Possibilities include food allergies, hypothyroidism, fleas, allergies to things that touch the skin, skin kept excessively dry by overbathing without replacing the skin oil, irritation from an over-the-counter flea product, toxic exposure of some kind, and damage from a no-pull harness. Just to name some! A veterinary dermatology specialist can save you money in the long run.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Thanks for the reply. He is an inside dog, and is paper trained, so he very rarely go outside. We take him to my parents' house (they have 5 acres) to play once a week, but other than that, he has no exposure to any kind of parasites. I always check him very carefully for ticks, etc., and I have only found a handful of fleas on him since we brought him home. I only bathe him when it is absolutely necessary, and most of the time it's actually the groomer who does it. I take him to have his coat stripped, usually about once every month to 2 months. Upon my request, my groomer uses hypo-allergenic shampoo, as do I when I bathe him.

Would you mind explaining a little more about hypothyroidism? Also, in the other forum, the holistic vet mentioned something about a meat diet. Do you have any experience with that?

Thanks again for the quick reply. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure my little boy is healthy, happy and comfortable.
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My little Roscoe boy! We're dedicated to stopping JRT homelessness...please think before you adopt! "

>>Thanks for the reply. He is an inside dog, and is paper trained, so he very rarely go outside. We take him to my parents' house (they have 5 acres) to play once a week, but other than that, he has no exposure to any kind of parasites. I always check him very carefully for ticks, etc., and I have only found a handful of fleas on him since we brought him home. I only bathe him when it is absolutely necessary, and most of the time it's actually the groomer who does it. I take him to have his coat stripped, usually about once every month to 2 months. Upon my request, my groomer uses hypo-allergenic shampoo, as do I when I bathe him.
>>
>>Would you mind explaining a little more about hypothyroidism? Also, in the other forum, the holistic vet mentioned something about a meat diet. Do you have any experience with that?
>>
>>Thanks again for the quick reply. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure my little boy is healthy, happy and comfortable.
>>-----
>>
>>My little Roscoe boy! We're dedicated to stopping JRT homelessness...please think before you adopt! "

>>>>>>>>>>>

It only takes one flea, because it's an allergy to the bite, and it only takes one bite. As far as the meat diet, you need guidance to do a homemade diet properly--that I do not know about! There are some potential metabolic problems in terriers that can cause skin problems, and they are prone to skin troubles of various types. I expect even bad timing on the stripping could cause a problem. Your best bet if you want the most expert information is to ask your vet for a referral to a veterinary dermatology specialist. That stripped coat for show requires cultivation over time, and it can be quickly spoiled by a skin problem. The dermatologist is also very familiar with hypothyroidism and the correct testing for it.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I know of a good veterinary derm. here in town, actually-one of my parent's dogs has a skin condition. I will definitely contact her.

One more question, hope you don't mind-what exactly do you mean about 'bad timing' on the stripping? I don't show Roscoe, I just have his coat stripped because I read in a JRT book that if you don't, it can actually be painful for them because of the dead hair....
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My little Roscoe boy! We're dedicated to stopping JRT homelessness...please think before you adopt! "

>>I know of a good veterinary derm. here in town, actually-one of my parent's dogs has a skin condition. I will definitely contact her.
>>
>>One more question, hope you don't mind-what exactly do you mean about 'bad timing' on the stripping? I don't show Roscoe, I just have his coat stripped because I read in a JRT book that if you don't, it can actually be painful for them because of the dead hair....
>>-----
>>
>>My little Roscoe boy! We're dedicated to stopping JRT homelessness...please think before you adopt! "

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Stripping a dog involves pulling out some of the hairs so that the hairs left are brighter in color and harder in texture. If you pull out hair at the wrong stage, you irritate the skin. A professional or skilled amateur terrier owner with their own dog would pull out a little every day, not big sessions. Unless you want to take care of that yourself at home, I would not subject a dog to stripping. For that matter, I doubt I'd do it at home, either. Removing dead hair with a smooth-toothed comb like the Greyhound comb or with a soft brush is better for the skin than big stripping sessions.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47