My dog is four years old and recently has been chewing on his paws quite frequently. They turn pink and look very irritated. He has been in the same environment since we adopted him when he was 3 months old. He is a mutt and weighs about 50 lbs. What could be the cause of this?
2006-09-17 14:09:39 · 14 answers · asked by sundance_0083 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Have you recently changed any cleaning methods in your home? or have there been any other form of changes to his environment? Our vet has to give one of our dogs allergy shots due to some of the cleaning supplies we have to occasionally use, and we first learned of his allergies because of chewing on his paws enough to cause sores.
2006-09-17 14:12:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is most likely an allergy problem. The pink color you're seeing is actually saliva staining. Enzymes in the saliva turn the fur pink. He is the right age to start developing allergies. You should go to your vet and make sure he doesn't have a secondary staph infection from all of the chewing he's been doing and get some antibiotics if he needs them. Other than that, you could try wiping his feet every time he comes in, just in case it's a grass allergy. Your vet may prescribe antihistimines, or maybe even antiinflammatories if he's very irritated. My dog is going through the same thing right now!!
2006-09-17 14:15:03 · answer #2 · answered by vetgirl77 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Foot or limb chewing is a common symptom in dogs with food allergies. Go here to see symptoms of food allergy and treatments... http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_food_allergies.html
It could also be Inhalant allergies which also has limb chewing as a symptom... Go here for all symptoms and treatment... http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_inhalant_allergies.html
For information on temporary or long term itch relief go here... http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_itch_relief.html
All of the above information is only intended to give you advice and more information about possible causes of your dogs limb chewing, so you can have an idea about what to ask your veterinarian about. Your vet can help you determine the exact reason your dog is chewing his feet and then treat it, with medicine if needed. Good luck and I hope these links give you the information you need so you can help your dog stop itching!
2006-09-17 14:47:56 · answer #3 · answered by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While most of the time it is an allergy problem. Just like humans, dogs can aquire new allergies with each season. It also can be a problem with new cleaners.
But occassionally, it can be an obsession. Cats and dogs can have disorders like OCD that cause them to lick or chew themselves raw.
I would also check between his toes for ticks or foxtails that can be embedded.
2006-09-17 14:19:24 · answer #4 · answered by jmlmmlmll 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there's a possibilty that there could be some irritating infection in his paws that he's attempting to get rid of. or maybe he doesn't have enough food to eat, always make sure that he has enuf food to eat to stay satisfied. but if he always has food, then i think it just might be an infection. the best thing to do is see a vet. they'll be able to determine the problem for sure
good luck!! :)
2006-09-17 14:43:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
He could have something embedded in his paw that you cannot see, but he's trying to get it out. Another thought is that he could just be bored. He even might be trying to trim his nails, as strange as that sounds. It might be best to ask a vet to examine the paw.
2006-09-17 14:13:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My Labrador does the same thing, I read on drsfostersmith.com that it could be an allergy from powdered deodorizers that you use in your carpet, it could be something that they eat, or it could be something from out side, I have tried some of their meds from their catalog and it seems to work, I have also tried the Hydrocortisone spray, but she only licks it off. I hope that this info helps.
2006-09-17 15:15:31 · answer #7 · answered by peppersmama0522 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its allergies. my golden retriever does it all the time. he chews his paws and his butt too. they get red and irritated inbetween his toes. the vet said its allergies. we have a special medicine for him which works GREAT!!!! i highly reccomend it. its called loratidine. its for people or for dogs. ummm ask your vet about it. it helps my dog so much when we see him chewing his feet we just say riley, medicine! and he runs to us to get it. its basically just a pill. we cover it in peanutbutter so he eats it. its great. if you want more information about it or how to get it you can email me at laureneshelman93@hotmail.com dont use my yahoo email (i never use that) good luck.
2006-09-17 14:25:13 · answer #8 · answered by christine 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my dog does that too. i asked the vet and she said its probably their paws itch becuase of allergys to the grass, they are cleaning they're paws...or ..i think that was it....but its not really anything super bad. my dog is 6years old and has been doing that since we got her. she hasnt chewed her paws off.
2006-09-17 14:22:01 · answer #9 · answered by jdubbs. 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
he could have developed an outside allergy from the weather pollen etc... try a dose of benedryl contact your vet for the proper dosage that should take care of it if not the vet can give him a allergy shot
2006-09-17 14:14:57 · answer #10 · answered by abwinters1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋