What to do if a dog has allergies?

Question

My pit bull chews and licks her feet and some times she cries. I have noticed that she has blisters between her toes some times. I have taken her to the vet but the vet was very rude and short with me. She was really quick, she quickly came in the room and then out. She said my dog had allergies and that she could pass them to her offspring is she becomes pregnant. She gave me some pills but they did not work. I even vacuum often and I keep my house clean and dust free. She is indoors mostly so I don't know what it could be? What else can I do? Can it be the dog food I feed her?

Answer 1

Dog food can have a large part of that. I once had a pug that would chew its paws raw when it was given a certain brand of dog food. Try switching the dog food to Science Diet, it is a specially formulated brand without harmful fillers. Do not switch the food out quickly fill the bowl half and half with the new and old kind of dog food (otherwise stomach side effects could occur.) If you have your own backyard make sure there are no pesticides around and that around your fence or yard line there is no patterned dead grass. This could indicate your neighbors may be using a pesticide that could be harmful. If you do not have your own back yard, check the park you take your dog to, some pesticide companies put small flags in the grass to warn about the treatment. Also if you live in a cold climate make sure your dog does not get any road salt on her paws. This can actually eat through the paws of the dogs feet by getting into her sweat glands (a dogs paws are the only place it has sweat glands.) If your dog walks through road salt wash the paws in water and dry.

If nothing helps look up another vet in your area and explain to them your dogs symptoms and that they didn't improve with the medication or a change of food.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I would try changing its diet.. might be a good idea.

In the case of grass or weed alergies I would also try dipping her feet in a bucket of boric acid water... the kind we use for eye wash... You could try wiping the solution on at the time she *is* chewing... to see if it gives some relief.

Where is your dog running and playing at? She could be stepping in stickers like our Missie used to do.

Dogs will also chew the feet when nervous or stressed out...

In any event you need to change Vets to someone that likes your dog and you... There is no need for attitudes such as your Vet has displayed.. you pay her the amount of money that she requires and with that money should come a little compassion for the patient.

AND you should let her know why you are leaving when you pick up a copy of your dogs medical records.

GOOD LUCK

Answer 3

Quite often food is the culprit

Try foods with minimal ingredients

Main allergens are corn, wheat and soy, some dogs may be allergic to certain meats such as chicken and beef, it can take 3 or 4 weeks to notice a difference once you start a new food

foods to try store locators are on each website

http://www.canidae.com/dogs/lamb-and-rice/dry.html

look for the allergy formula's on this site(down for maintenance at the moment)
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/

http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=product-detail&pxsl=%2F%2Fproduct%5B@id%3D%271326%27%5D

http://www.naturesvariety.com/content.lasso?page=1326&-session=naturesvariety:488BA2F60798308167xOS227683E

Answer 4

First of all, get a new vet! What you need to do will be based on what allergies your pet has. Some dogs can even be allergic to common ingredients in most dog foods. You can actually have your pet allergy tested. It's not cheap, but it's a godsend for pets with severe problems.