Biting Red Areas Around Tail

[Guest missecho]

Molly is back in Arizona from being in Southern California for a few months. Molly didn't seem to have any problems with fleas or ticks etc. while we were there--just some red ants that would bite her when she went into the backyard and laid down in the dirt, which was a favorite thing of hers to do over there. This is possibly due to the fact that we had used a topical flea prevention medicine on her while we were in SoCal. Now we've been back in AZ and it seems she is vey bothered by something near her tail area. Bites of some sort maybe? She bites at it repeatedly during the night, not so much in the daytime. Now, two separate reddish areas are emerging where she has bitten off her hair. Any ideas as to what this might be?

 

Also is there a topical cortisone-like medicine that is ok for treys that we can help her with, until we can get to her vet?
We are bringing her in this week for a dental so she'll get a once over while she is there.

Edited September 1, 2014 by missecho

[JJNg]

Chewing around the tail area is most likely due to flea allergies. Do you have her on a flea control product now? If it's due to fleas, that's the first thing you need to take care of. Any products to address itching won't work if fleas are still present. You can try topical hydrocortisone or Benedryl, but need to keep her from licking it off to give it a chance to work. Oral dose of Benedryl for dogs is 1 mg per pound given every 8-12 hours.

[Guest missecho]

• Heading down to Petsmart for Frontline--last application was about 2 months ago or more. Just gave her a Benadryl and put on some cortisone--hoping for the best.