My Dog's Paws

[Matthew]

In the past I have posted discussions about my dog's itching, after trying to figure it out for almost 2 years I've decided it will be easier to get him an allergy test, which I'm having done on Saturday. While it is expensive, whatever it takes for him to have a lifetime of comfort is worth any price. I was filing his nails the other night when I noticed something weird about his paws. His "toes" were red, and right around where the nail goes into his feet was bloody. The nails weren't that long so I didn't think the blood could of been caused be the long nails. His skin looks very "hot", his back paws were similar too. I'd assume this has something to do with his allergies, he'll sometime lick his front paws but never his back paws, that kinda confused me. Has anyone had this experience? I was just curious

[Michael William Shea]

Anyway that the nails could of gotten caught on something or torn, even though they weren't that long. Could it be the dew claw? A dog that licks the paw incessantly can cause the paws to turn a reddish brown color from the red dye in the dogs saliva. Please keep me posted. I hope this gets better real soon.

[Matthew]

I suppose it is possible that they could have gotten caught on something. The strange thing is that they don't seem to be causing him any pain at all when he walks. He does lick is paws, sometimes more than normal, but it isn't too bad. His fur isn't that reddish brown color anymore, though when I first got him it definitely was. Like you said it's due to some type of allergy, I've tried virtually every type of diet, every type of kibble, canned, even raw diets and nothing has worked. I suppose the only good side to that is that it's most likely not food related, at least I managed to narrow it down somewhat. I actually have a question about allergy testing, which I don't know too much about. Are there different types of allergy testing that can be done? Are some more accurate than others? Any general information would be greatly appreciated.

[Michael William Shea]

It soundsl like Pododermatitis. The feet are red and inflamed, tissue around the nail is red and sensitive. It is caused by contact allergy or food allergies.

[Delilah]

What kind of food does he eat?

[Matthew]

Right now he is on the kibble part of his rotation diet. It's by Acana, it's a fish based food, it's the best I've been able to find so far. Mostly he eats a raw diet, I try and find meats that are "exotic" such as buffalo, goat, rabbit, elk. He really seems to like all of them but they haven't made a difference in his itching. Every possible type of hypo-allergenic food you can think of I've tried.

[Michael William Shea]

It could be also it is stepping into, such as grass, could it be something stuck in there, or matted hair? A fox weed?

[Matthew]

I've looked at those too, I had the hair under and around his paws cut, the nails filed back, I looked earlier today and the skin doesn't look so "hot" but rather a cool, pink color. That confused me even more. It seems like as this point an allergy test is the only way to find out the extent of his itching problems

[Michael William Shea]

I certainly agree to an allergy test, that will pin point it.

[Nancy Krol]

My shih-tzu; Maxi was scrating herself so badly that I would just freak out and used every med the vet would suggest; prednisone and benedry over the counter. She had allergy tests done for alot of money but just like you, she is worth every penny, anyway the results came back that Maxi was allergic to dust mites. That's my dilema, but you must seek out medical attention for your baby's paws especially if you are seeing blood and you can write all of the members on this site but every pooch is different even if it's the same breed, so please let the good doctor check him out. Hope he feels better. Before you go to your vet on Saturday, you should jot down a list of your observations with his itching and his paws. He could be licking or scrating his paws because something is hurthing him; I have leanred that if I do not write down all of my ?'s for the vet, I wind up driving home and in the car is when I remember important information that I wanted to communicate to the vet. Hope he gets itch free son and I do know there is a shot that can be given and the benedryl I found to work and it also puts them to sleep so they become comfortable.

[MUTTLYMAN]

Try a vet, my dog(a lab) had what the vet thought was "hot " skin...too pink/red, and prescribed an antihistamine that seemed to help Jasmine. She also licks sore spots into her paws, a condition the vet sees frequently, and apparently the dogs get some type of feedback-pleasure from this... . We had someone recommend putting ground cinnamon in their food , and that is inexpensive, harmless and has apparently helped and the pooch seems to like it. Does this get worse or better in different seasons ????
Needless to say, if any of this appears to intensivy the symptoms, ...discontinue. Petting them ALL THE TIME will stop them from licking... :-) ...just can't manage that.

[Michael William Shea]

Is your dog a nervous breed? A dog that trembles in the presence of other people?

[Matthew]

Surprisingly not at all, he has no problem at all running up to a complete stranger, he'll act like he's known them forever. I do think he has some separation anxiety. When I go to leave the house he sits in the window and watches me drive away, if im somewhere that he cant get to, even for 2 minutes, he starts whimpering and crying.