Itchy Paws? Environmental Allergy?

M

Mark M.

Forums Regular
Murphy has begun chewing his rear paws. This is the first Summer we've had him, so this is new to us, but, according to his previous owner (my sister-in-law), he does this every summer.

Basically, what's happening is that, around mid-Summer or so, he begins to lick his rear paws somewhat obsessively. He doesn't chew, so far as we can tell. He licks. Usually what happens is that he licks so much, the saliva stains the fur a brownish-rust color (? That's what our vet said, anyway).

Mostly, he only chews/licks his backs paws. Completely ignores the front. He seems to be a little itchy otherwise, but not very bad. He licks the rear paws for a month or two, the stops come Fall.

Usually, he licks the top of his paw. This year, he seems more interested in the bottom of the paw. He doesn't chew/lick all day long. He goes long stretches where it doesn't seem to be bothering him. Then he'll go through a stretch where he wants to lick non-stop.

This year's wrinkle is that he seems to be wanting to sit down to lick during walks. Several times lately, we've started a walk and he's either sat down repeatedly to try to lick his paw. Or, he'll be walking along when he suddenly stretches his hind legs wide, then extends his hind legs ans stretches his torso, so it looks a little odd for him to walk. Then he sets down on his haunches and tries to get his rear paw to his mouth so he can lick (he really needs to lay down to do that).

This part concerns me because it looks a bit odd, but it doesn't seem to be neurological or anything like that. He doesn't appear to be in pain or anything, and, if I indicate I'm ready to continue the walk, he'll stand back up and follow me. Interestingly, once we get away from the house, he walks normally and doesn't so the set-down or the stretch. He also never does that in the house. Seems to be only during the beginning of the walk.

Other than the licking, he seems fine. No signs of discomfort or something more serious being wrong. Temperament and behavior seem normal. He seems his usual happy, playful self. If you play with him or something is going on to distract him, he forgets about licking.

The paw is kinda pinkish where's he licking a lot (around the pad on the bottom), but doesn't seem to be bothering him. He's not sensitive to having the paw touched, or to running on it. When he feels like playing, he plays. I think the discoloration is just from licking away the fur around the pad. It doesn't look cracked, bloody, infected, etc. Like I said, he mostly just licks - not a low of chewing/digging.

My sister-in-law took the dog to the vet when he was younger.. Her vet thought it was a mild allergy and never did anything for it. I talked to my vet last week when this first started and he more or less agreed. He said it's probably an allergy to pollen or something in the grass (we live out in the country, lot of yards and we're on the edge of a wooded area) and he could give Murphy a shot if I wanted, but that it didn't sound like a severe enough allergy to warrant that.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I don't think he's that miserable, but the stop walking/stretching thing concerns me a bit. Today, when he did that, he looked like he was trying to find something to rub his paw against. I think it's just something odd he does when he wants to scratch instead of walk. Should I go ahead and take him to the vet? Someone told me their vet told them Benadryl will help with seasonal itching? Anyone had experience with that?

Anyway, just wondering what people think. Murphy seems fine for the most part, so I don't think this is really serious, but I would like to nip it before it gets worse. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks.
 
that's exactly what used to happen to Toffee!
I have a pic somewhere where he had no fur left on his hind paws come fall, before it grew back :*(
However, I then finally changed his diet to completely raw (after a few month of trials with vet recommended kibble without change) but had another brief incident before we also went off chicken and since he has not had an incident like that again :fl

Recently I also added a homeopathic ointment which has lavender, tea tree oil and acidophilus, because I do think he has some additional allergy to something in the grass in the summer, as well. But I used the cream and made sure he stayed away from any catfood around and he's fine and stopped trying to lick his feet almost right away.

http://www.baileysskinrescue.com/skinrescueccc.html

He was on steroids when it was really bad, it certainly helped with the itching, I hated to see him so uncomfortable. So if it gets that bad I can definitely recommend you go back to the vet to get him some relief over those months.
Poor guy, hope his paws feel better soon!!!
 
So the vet ruled out yeast infection? It turns paws rust color. Could be food allergy too besides environmental. I give my Danny Benadryl when he itches a lot. He has allergies. I hope you find out what is causing the problem.
 
Danny's mommy said:
So the vet ruled out yeast infection? It turns paws rust color. Could be food allergy too besides environmental. I give my Danny Benadryl when he itches a lot. He has allergies. I hope you find out what is causing the problem.
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I think we're assuming it's environmental because he's had the same issue every summer, then it clears up in the fall. We changed his diet a bit when we got him from my sister-in-law, though not radically.

Talked to the vet. He recommended Benadryl. I guess we'll try that. I'll research the yeast infection idea a bit before I consider asking the vet about that (I assume, at that point, I'll have to take him in). In the past, his paws did turn brown/rust from the licking and the bottom of the paw he's licking most is currently sort of reddish/pink, which I think is probably from the licking.

I don't think I want to put him on steroids unless he's really miserable.

Any drawbacks to Benadryl? It seems relatively harmless. In situations like this, do people give it to their dog daily until the weather changes. or what....? I don't really like the idea of giving Murphy something like this daily.
 
Your vet should tell you the dose and frequency. I just an article about allergies and benadryl. It said the drug is a temporary fix and the reason for the allergies should be looked into. My Danny had allergy tests but in the long run it didn't help us to know he was allergic to dust mites which are everywhere and cedar shrubs. The article then said to only feed the dog cooked meat (boiled) or raw with cooked vegetables for two weeks. If your dog improves it could be the food. My mom's sheltie was allergic to her carpeting. Good luck. I know how you feel when you see your pup itching.
 
Avoid the use of long acting steriod shots. They can cause diabetes in as little as one dose.
The red is from the protein in the saliva reacting on the haircoat. You might have noticed shih tzu's or poodles with tear staining - same thing. There is a product called Vanectyl P which is mostly antihistamine with a small amount of steriod. It may help you get through the summer months if indeed it is an allergy as opposed to yeast.
 
Itchy Paws

How about rinising the paws out with doggy soap and water. My sister in-law would rinse her Golden's paws after each walk. Yes, it is a lot of work, but I would rather do this than spend so much money on drugs. Of course, find out what is causing the itching, but be careful when giving medications. :yes:
 
Tagg said:
Avoid the use of long acting steriod shots. They can cause diabetes in as little as one dose.
The red is from the protein in the saliva reacting on the haircoat. You might have noticed shih tzu's or poodles with tear staining - same thing. There is a product called Vanectyl P which is mostly antihistamine with a small amount of steriod. It may help you get through the summer months if indeed it is an allergy as opposed to yeast.
Click to expand...

oh yes, Vanectyl P that is what Toffee was on, NOT steroid shots. I found Benadryl did nothing for him.
 
I'll check out Vanectyl. I'd prefer to use something like that as opposed to Benadryl/steroid shot. Thanks.

We did start washing his paws just in the past few days.

My sister-in-law (his previous owner) called an aide who used to work in her vet's office. She dropped by after dinner and looked him over for a few minutes. She agrees that the red on his paws is just staining from his saliva. I googled the "tear stains" mentioned above. Yeah, it looks something like that.

To clear up something I said earlier, when he licks the tops of his feet, the stains aren't dark brown/rust-colored. My sis-in-law says it was more of a pinkish discoloration (which is what is there now, though he's mostly licking the pad, not the top of the foot).

In any case, he seems relatively happy. He's not licked the pad all that much today. I don't think he's miserable. When he belonged to my in-law, he licked enough that he discolored his back paws, but not enough that they thought he needed to be on something, or was really miserable. Hopefully, we can manage it.

BTW, the vet's aide thinks it's definitely environmental. I was on the phone with the office when she said this to my wife, so I didn't really hear the conversation or get to ask questions.

Out of curiosity, what would be the other signs of a yeast infection? So far as I know - and my sister-in-law agrees - he has no other symptoms

Thanks.
 
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