please help. vet useles!! my 6 month old staff keeps licking all her paws and is scratching to the point?

Question

as above to the point of bleeding. vet has given multiple drugs and is costing a forture. but nothing is helping my staff. she`s even been nibbling between her pads today making it bleed.she was scratching her head and neck to point of bleeding so we changed diet to an expensive hypoallergenic formula.which seemed to work for 2 or 3 weeks. but the simptomes are coming back.. she is a very well kept girl. so its not stress from being beaten or anything. she comes everywhere with me.. think its stressing her because tonight shes grinding her teeth. i`ll be back in the vets with her first thing on monday but starting to feel they just see this as an open cheque book. thanks peeps

Answer 1

OK, you mention about the itching of the head and neck...how about the legs? Could this be mites? Did the vet do a skin scraping (although not 100% accurate).
The thing with the paws and pads though sounds like allergies. It is very difficult to find exactly what the dog may be allergic to, though. Food is one of the thoughts and finding a food that works is hard. Lots of trial and error. The most common offenders in dogs are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn, and soy. You need to find a protein source like venison, rabbit, fish, duck or even ostrich. The real way would be to cook for your dog for 12 weeks and see how he tolerates a certain protein with a carb (potatoes or rice). He would get absolutely nothing else but his food (no treats, medications, heartworm preventative, etc). This is, of coarse, time consuming, requires home cooking, etc. Some foods to try if you want to buy the food: Flint River Ranch, Natural Balance, Canidae, Timberwolf, James Wellbeloved, Wellness Fish and Potato, Wysong's...just to name a few (research at your leisure what you can afford and which you'd like to try).
One of the other problems could be that this isn't a food allergy, but an environmental allergy (dust, mold, pollen, etc.). Sometimes adding the Omega 3 oils helps with the skin, along with diphenhydramine (benedryl). Steroids at such a young age, especially long term is too dangerous. Benedryl can be dosed at 2mg per pound every eight hours (consult with your vet first if he is on medication, as you can NOT mix these!!!).
Good luck. If all else fail, many dogs do excellent on the BARF diet.

Answer 2

Well, it's time to log all the history and medications including dates in a notebook and go to a different vet. I know you may like your vet, but just like doctors they are just practicing medicine. Ask around. Your co-workers, family, friends will know the vet that is successful with unusual cases. Switching doctors, for me made the difference between a wheelchair and walking. I wouldn't be surprised if she needed an anti-depressant at this point. I'm so sorry, but I know there is a new vet with new knowledge that can help you. Experience is great but sometimes fresh blood can make a big difference.

Answer 3

I work at a vet clinic. We have been seeing a lot of dogs who come in miserably itchy because of allergies, this year has been so warm where i am. We usually put them on an antihistamine, and that helps them. But sometimes we see things like mites, or ringworm. I don't know what kind of tests your vet did, or what kind of medication they have your dog one. If your veterinarian is not helping, ask about seeing a doggie dermatologist. I know it costs more initially to see a specialist, but they KNOW what they are doing when it comes to itchy, and they might be able to find the problem right away rather than your vet trying knew things constantly. I hope this helps, good luck with your staffie, i hope she feels more comfortable soon!

Answer 4

It may be an allergy to something in your house. If you use air fresheners or carpet cleaners or floor cleaners that could be doing it. Also it may be coming from outside, like fertilizer.
try giving her good cleansing oatmeal shampoo baths to calm down the itching and think hard about everything she walks on all day. Something has to be bothering her ir she wouldnt be licking all the time. Also if she has a dog bad or crate she may be allergic to the bedding in there. Try to use unscented things or all natural cleansers like vinegar and water. Also get paw pad wipes or baby wipes and use them on her when she starts licking, she may be giving you a hint she is hurting.
Also go to a different vet. If they are shoving you expensive meds that arent doing the job then you shoudnt be going to that vet. Go to one that truly cares for the animal and will sit down with you and figure out what is worng with the dog. Good luck! Hope she gets better!

Answer 5

your staff has allergies by sound of it , we had a chinese crested with a cat allergy beleive it or not , and being a hairless dog you can imagine the state he got himself into, once we found out the cause his skin cleared up, i would get a second vet to have a look and if he doesnt suggest allergies then just ask could it be an allergy, we asked before we were toldand we only asked because it was similar symptoms to my brother and my son they have allergies, also if you are bathing her stop or just use plain water also put her on something different to sleep than what she is on now and dont wash her bed as it could be the washing powder as for feeding i would buy her the most basic complete food you can and put a cork full of cooking oil (vegetable/sunflower)oil in it each meal time

Answer 6

Have them check her for Ringworm! I know cats can get this and pass it and it is very hard to detect on an animal. If you want to check without them, take a black light bulb into a dark room. Turn it on and if she has them on her paws, lift them up they will glow green. It would make sense of the biting licking and scratching if they are on her paws she might have gotten them on her head and neck by bathing. If there is no glow she does not have it. If you want to lessen the scratching until monday give her like a half a benadryl and that will help. Only half.

Answer 7

LISTEN TO THIS,IT WILL HELP!get a different vet first that one is ditsy.there is a very cheap easy and good way to do it.put him in a tub of cool water,not warm it dries the skin which makes it worse.put some plain oatmeal in the water. (Quaker i recommend)you can find it at almost any grocery store.if the itch is too high for the water and oat meal,mix oatmeal,water/milk,but milk works best,blend it in a blender until it is a smooth past put it on him and make sure to make it reach his skin,oatmeal is a natural skin cleanser,moisturiser,and many other things.i know it sounds weird but it works,way better than those expensive bogus medicines.

Answer 8

Time to switch vets,you should have done that already.Do not mean to give you s.h.i.t. but I learned this lesson the hard way and my cat died.Go to another vet!!!! And if something bad happens to your friend report the first vet to the state you live in.That is what I went through.I hope everyything works out and good luck and God bless!!!!

Answer 9

Ok....listen to me here please!!!
Put her in a tub of almost cool water every day....twice a day or more. Let her soak....no soap. Just clean water. Then take her out and softly blot her paws dry.....Thats ALL you have too do but keep consistant. When you see that she is healing you can do it every other day......CAN the drugs, she doesn't need them....TRUST ME!

Answer 10

try antihistamine tablets half a day fish oils are good or vitapet,my staffy used to do it but I cured him with all of these.its defo an allergy thing in my opinion.good luck