My Dog Chews on her Feet!! Is this allergies?

[Rachel]

Help! My dog keeps chewing on her back paws! She is between 2-3 and is a rat terrier mix, if that helps? She was a rescue and has been thoroughly checked out by the vet, and I have had her for a year and a half, so I wouldn't think it would be something she got in the pound. I checked the paws, there is nothing there, like a thorn, we live in an apartment complex so I always check for glass when I take her for a walk. She is not limping around the house at all, if anything she is more playful. I was told this was just allergies by the vet. Can dog allergies happen all of a sudden like people allergies? I am thinking I have a severe mold problem in my apartment. I am always coughing and having a runny nose in my apartment. Just for all those concerned, we are moving on Saturday. Is there anything I can do for her? Help! :)

[Mary]

My female cocker spaniel does the same thing and the vet said it is allergies. She said I could give her Benedryl (might make her drowsy) to alleviate the symptoms. She also gave me a cream to put on her feet and in her ears since she constantly scratches and claws at them to the point of having both ears swollen most of the time. I wash out her ears twice a week with the solution the vet gave me because I want to prevent more ear infections but the brown feet (all four of them) against the light fawn coat is really noticeable.

Yes, it can come on suddenly and is likely something in the environment. I suspected her food at first and changed it but that had little to no effect. When I got Lucy the previous owner had her outside by herself. Cocker Spaniels, like many dogs, are companion animals and don't like being alone... they need to be near people. She developed her allergies a few months after I got her and the primary difference was that she's an inside dog rather than outside. My other two dogs are also inside but don't suffer any allergies and share the same space and food. I won't put her outside so the remedy has been to use the benedryl and other anti-itch creams or lotions to make her comfortable.

Hope that info helps.

[Laura]

yes my pointer used to do that & we actually found out that he is allergic to grass. so what i do is after every time he goes outside i get hypo-allergenic baby wipes & wipe his feet down then spray some of his allergy spray given to me by the vet on his feet. sometimes durring spring or fall his feet will flare up & thats when i will give him his benadryl. just something to look out for. you never know.

[Sharon Mistic]

Allergies! If they get to the point where the feet are chapped and bleeding, like my dog, I started her on allergy shots, and they have really helped. They may only get worse, so I would take her tot he vet right away!

[D Marino]

She probably has allergies. Try allergy free dog food and give yogurt. Expensive but worth it so save on vet bills. Your dog is suffering for sure.