My dog sheds and itches a lot lately. She doesn't have fleas. She even gnaws her paws til they bleed. Why?

Question

She is a 2 year old Golden Retriever. She is an inside dog. She gets brushed regularly. I'm very worried about how she gnaws on her paws until they bleed. She has several open sores on her paws.

Answer 1

I have a chocolate lab, she gets exactly the same symptoms. It is grass or allergies to something in the grass. The best thing that I have found topical Revolution(fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, heartworms, earmites) you can get it at an animal shelter or your vet. After she starts getting better, you can cut bathtime from 2-3 weekly to once weekly. Us a shampoo with oatmeal or teatree. Also weekly application - Cheap dish soap in an hose end sprayer container sprayed in the yard after picking up the poop. I know it seems like alot to do, but it is worth not listening to the scratching, chewing all night not to mention the relief look on her little face. My Ginger would even lay on her back and scooch her body along the floor. Hope's it works for your little one GOD BLESS YOU! [e-mail]

Answer 2

Judging by the symptoms you just described, it sounds like your dog has a bad case of the nerves. Has there been a recent trauma in your home or any where else where your was dog present? Whether it is trauma or not I think you should definitely take her to the vet. They can figure it out right away and give some needed medicine or whatever. Good luck! I hope this helped you!! :-)

Answer 3

I believe she has fleas, especially if she goes outside to do her business.

My vet educated me that fleas are usually in the paws, and then the animal licks and bites the fleas. The flea eggs are eaten and they become the worms.

The vet gave me in that visit iodine bath - made for animals...and it has how to dilute it on the small bottle. A little goes a long way.

Answer 4

Your dog might have allergies. My 4 year old German Sheppard mix licks his paws until they are raw. I put cornstarch on them and it helps. Mange maybe? Talk to your vet. It could be something as simple as giving the dog Benadryl.

Answer 5

Allergies will do that -- had a dog that rubbed his tummy til it bled, and his nose too...His paws wre flame red.... Vets can take some tests /andor put them on some meds. You have no idea how much itching these guys can do.... and they are just miserable.... Take her to the vet, sweetie....

Answer 6

It sounds like she is having some sort of allergic reaction.
Has she had a change in her diet recently, because it could be something she's eating that has caused this reaction.
She could also be reacting to a recent vaccination. My dog reacted in this way to vaccinations.
Check out the link below to find out more... it also has other pages and articles with more info.
Good luck!

Answer 7

She definitely has an allergy. She also may be experiencing some pain from her nails. Please pay your vet a visit because this can be treated.
Your little honey could develop a horrible skin infection unless this is taken care of now.

Answer 8

it's the weather and those paws are "hot spots"...she needs a vets attention. she will put your pup on an antibiotic and give you a cream for the sores....then you need to watch her carefully. Ask your vet about Benadrly..it works wonders for my lab

Answer 9

a lot of dogs do this sometimes out of boredom or when they are nervous but it won't hurt to bring him to a vet to make sure there is no other underlying reason why he does this. Does he have enough toys or rawhide bones to chew on?

Answer 10

because the cold weather is drying her skin out and making her itch as for her pawns either a infection or something stuck in them - see a vet to get more info hoped that helped