Foot licking problem?

First of all, yes she has allergies, but she is on medication for them and it usually helps, but not this time. I think this may be what *started* the licking, but now I can't get her to stop. She started this around the same time last year, so it makes me think maybe something in the grass irritates her feet and gets her going. However, last year the meds cleared it up in a few days.





It's not her food- she's on Innova EVO and had the licking issue long before we switched.





She licks constantly. She's leaving big wet spots everywhere from licking her feet and everything around them. Plus she's starting to wear away her fur and parts of her pads and has that red (blood) staining between her toes.





We put her soft dog boots on last night because she just wouldn't stop. But I can't leave them on all the time because you have to put them on tight or she'll pull them off.





Meds aren't working and I can't boot her all day. HELP!

Foot licking problem?
I had a Dalmatian that would lick his foot to the point of bleeding. It was incredibly frustrating. Our vet narrowed it to possibly joint pain, or just doggy OCD.





I got some medication from my vet, which I can't remember the name of, but we called it puppy prozac, for the OCD. We then started him on regular glucosamine/chondroitin supplements for the possible joint pain.





That along with regular walks, and kongs stuffed with cheese kept him preoccupied enough that he eventually stopped the behavior for the most part.





We took him off the medication but kept him on the supplements and he started licking again, but it wasn't as severe and we we're able to distract him from it with a kong or a stern "NO!".





Eventually moving into a place with a large yard cured the problem completely, and he lived for a happy 12 years.





Good luck.
Reply:I am glad to see you are working on allergies not only with meds but with foods. You may have to change/adjust/tweak them and you will need to call your vet...this may be something you can do on the phone. There is also the possibility that she is now in the nervous habit of licking and you may need to try her on steroids for a week to ten days. Again talk to your vet. Have you considered a spray on deterrent to licking such as "Yuk" or "Bitter Apple". These products are safe, taste nasty and can be purchased in a pet shop. Good luck, I had a neurotic cat once who nearly licked herself bald before we got control of it lol.
Reply:I just wondered if it's snowy where your live? If so, it may be ice or snow that builds up on her pads. This can be irritating to an animals feet especially if there is salt or snow melter on the roads or sidewalks. Otherwise I would definitely ask her vet.
Reply:I agree with first poster.





You have your dog on a good food, so that definately isn't an issue.





The medication is taken care of, so maybe going to another Vet, maybe a Hollistic one, would help.





And it is a neurotic behavior for dogs, so exercise, toys, and attention can get their mind off of it.








Edit: For the Kong, you can put anything in there pretty much. Carrots, cheese, raw meat pieces, and they also have the stuffings made just for the Kong for sale at Pet Stores.
Reply:I've seen this problem in the vet columns in the newspaper, and their usual answer is that it's compulsive behavior -- i.e. more of a psychological than physical cause. They've recommended Prozac and other calming drugs. When I had a dog that had a horrible fear of thunder storms, the vet even said to try Benedryl -- that's the allergy medication -- to calm him down. You can also try keeping the fur between her pads trimmed very close, as, in some dogs, their paws can collect debris from outside, or parasites, and if there's not much fur to cling to, these things are less of a problem.
Reply:Usually, that indicated an behavioral issue in dogs. It is like OCD. They will lick to the point of bleeding. Generally, more exercise and mental stimulation are first tried, then sometimes medication...like Prozac, is tried.
Reply:My dog sits for ages deftly licking his feet, we did ask our Vet who looked into the problem but finally said that he was just OCD about having clean paws. (Bizzare)


What breed is your dog? Mine is an American CockerSpamiel and his hair means he needs regular grooming and when his fur is longer he spends more time licking it!


She may just be clean!


If she is licking it to the point of bleeding then i think the only thing you can do is invest on some dog boots.





Hope you sort it out soon!





Regards
Reply:;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Reply:yeah
Reply:I had something like this with my dog.. Our vet told us to take her to the dog park, just like us, sometimes we're lonely and need companionship. After a few times, she was her old self again. Hard to believe, huh?. I guess they have feelings, just like we do..
Reply:First of all, please please do not put raw meat into the kongs...that is a great way to get your dog sick...and you as well. Raw meat rolling over your floors is not clean.





As for the feet, she might have a skin infection started now. Therefore, allergy treatment alone will not help. Go to the vet so they can do a cytology to look at the cells on the feet to see if there is bacteria versus yeast. They can start treatment if there is an infection.





For constant feet lickers, I usually start the dog on a combination of hydrocodone and Elavil. The Elavil is an antidepressant that has antihistamine and anti-pain characteristics. I feel like this treats 3 of the most common reasons for chronic feet licking: allergic, OCD, and neuropathic pain.





Once you talk with your vet, you guys can come up with a plan to stop this happening now and prevent it from happening in the future.
Reply:Your dog is probably bored. Talk her for long walks, stuff Kongs with peanut butter to keep her busy.



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