Chow skin problem

Question
Charlotte
I've just read your answer to another question and you seem very knowledgeable so I was wondering if I could pick your brains about something that I have baffled 5 vets with. Our chow is 2 years old - bought in China and we know live in Greece. Since he was about 6 months old he has been biting his rump until it was bald - both sides. In March and April of this year was the first time it had a chance to grow back  but we don't know why.  He has now bitten all the hair off again and is demented with itching his whole body - he even tried to lift up his hind legs to scratch his tummy/ crotch area. He has been given 3 or 4 injections for mites, we treat him with front line every month and also about 10 days ago bought a front line spray (advise from vet)and rubbed it all over his body and it seemed to make him worse. He eats nothing (NOTHING AT ALL!) only Purina chicken and rice dry food mixed with freshly cooked chicken and rice and lives both inside and outside in the garden.  He doesn't really mix with other dogs unless he meets them on a walk. We wash him with Hibitane antiseptic wash and groom him regularly - always checking for anything but his skin seems clear. He has lived in two very different environments and still had the same reaction.  He had the snip at 6 months old. We cannot (and nor can the vets we bring him to) figure out what is worng.  Have you any idea what it might be? Any idea at all? We are at our wits ends and the only other thing for him now is steroids (tried before and the only thing that worked) for 2 weeks but we're reluctant to go down that route again because of side effects.
Any help or advice greatly appreciated - Bazil needs it! The vet has said he is undoubtedly the cutest and sweetest chow he has ever met and we love him - so want him to be happy.
Thanks very much
Roisin

Answer
Hi Roisin;
Ok, you are a looooong way away rom me, I am in Texas, and some countries don't have as good Veterinary care as we have over here, so I am going to try and help with this.
The gnawing and itching sounds to me like an allergy.
This causes gosh awful itching. I know, I have allergies too.
I give my Sheltie 1 Banadryl capsule. He weighs about 40 poounds or so. My little Lhasa weight less, so my Veterinarian said onlt half a capsule for him.
It works.
Try that, and if he stops itching in about an hour, maybe less after you give it to him, you know what it is.
There is another thing.
You say you wash him with that soap. He could be allergic to that.
Also, how often do you wash him with it?
He should really almost never need washing.
Too much washing can cause terrible skin problems.
A daily brushing, and grtooming like that, with a plain water rinse when he gets muddy, or to wash dirt out of his hair. That should be enough, and don't bathe with shampoo more oftn than once a month, if that much.
If you are giving him a weekly bath, you may be the culprit that is causing the problem.
When you do shampoo him, use an good, mild oatmeal dog shamopoo. Rinse with a conditioner.
Lat me know if any of this helps.
You could also send me a pictiure of these spots he bites bare.   my email is  

  charlotte34@verizon.net

Does he also gnaw his feet? That is the first sign of allergies.
Charlotte