Irish Setter Forum:
Skin problems

We rescued a male Irish Setter from our local animal shelter, thought to be about 5-6 years old of March, 1999. Its our first experience with an Irish Setter. When we adopted him, he was bald from his mid-back down his hind legs. We nursed him back to health, his fur grew back in and he became the handsome dog that Irish Setters are known to be. Around September of last year, he began biting and pulling his fur out again although not to the extent of his original condition. Our vet gave him an injection of Vegalog, the itching subsided and his fur grew back in once again after a few months. Its started again. Im told this is allergies. He is on Advantage and we bathe him regularly in vet-recommended shampoo. Any other suggestions? I really hate to continue with cortizone injections if we can avoid it. My husband found a flea on him today and thinks that this very well may be a severe allergic reaction to flea bites. Any information anyone might share will be appreciated sin