Losing Hair

Question
Hi, We have a 3yr old JR. She has been spade. She is in good health but she continually looses hair. Her belly is now pink like a little pig and warm. We have had her at the vets and he gives her steroids, we have changed her food to see if this helps and it did for a while but we are back to square one. I don't know what else to do, we live in a rural area so she has access to long grass where she runs . we have now stopped her going down to the fields incase that is the problem. have you any ideas as Daisy is very precious to us.

Answer
Hello Chemaine,

Unfortunately it sounds like she has allergies. Allergies are one of the hardest conditions to diagnose and treat and can cause a lot of frustration to dog owners. It sounds like you are on the right path by having her seen at the veterinarians, but perhaps some more extensive allergy testing is in order. Jack Russells are unfortunately prone to allergies which can range from food to environmental triggers, and usually BOTH. Fleas and mites are a common cause of allergies and hair loss and should be ruled out first.  Elimination from the allergy triggers to figure out exactly what is causing the allergic reaction (like changing her food, changing her shampoo, changing her bedding, or your laundry detergent, etc..) takes lots of time and lots of patience, so allergy testing is recommended but unfortunately can be quite expensive.
Usually WHEAT in food and GRASS are the main culprits but there are many more out there too. There are topical ointments that can provide some comfort from the itchiness and redness, you can get these from your veterinarian too. I'm sorry you are dealing with this and it's obvious how much you love Daisy, I wish you the very best of luck with her and your investigation into the allergies. Take care.