itching jack russell

I have a female jack russell who is three years old.  At the time of her having her first heat she became quite itchy, so itchy that she ripped all the fur off her back legs.  After her heat was done this problem when away but returned full force with the next heat.  She will twirl around in a circle and chew her hind legs and chew her vulva area.  She whimpers while she is doing this as if she is in pain.  She will put her leg in her mouth and start knawing on it.  She is a very busy little dog.  She weighs thirteen pounds and she misses me when I go to work.  She always has to be by my side or know where I am and sometimes follows me around the house.  If I go downstairs so does she.  She always want to play which is part of being a jack russell.  At about ten at night she turns into a cuddly dog and want to lay with you if you are watching tv.  If you wanted to play with her toys she would get up however and forget her nap.  One homeopath recommended kali carb.  It didn't work.  Her vet thought she needed a prednisone prescription.  She itched right through it.  At least now when she has a heat she doesn't rip the fur off her back end.  She just licks it a lot.  We got her when she was five weeks old which was a mistake because I think she was too young.  I am wondering if she has some kind of hormonal imbalance and this could be the problem.  She just becomes more agitated at the time of her heat.  Thank you.

I had a very similar problem with my G. Shep.  She started itching and wouldn't stop.  I didn't like the options my vet was giving me so I started checking into nutrition.  I switched her food to Flint River Ranch and had amazing results.  It's a mail order food that is about as natural as you can find.  I tried cooking my dogs food, but it gets expensive with a large dog.  But it's more economical with a small dog.  Good natural health book to get is Dr. Pitcarin's Complete Guide to Natural Health.  I even started baking her treats.  At least I know what goes in them!  Add an egg, Omega 3 oil, and an antioxidant vitamin to her food.  Changing your dogs diet and supplementing with vitamins should make a big difference.  If she developes a red rash, I applied tea tree oil and natural aloe to my dog.  I hope this works for you!