Toe Licking???

No, not me, my dog.

She battles allergies, and we are working on the food issue---figuring out what may be the problem . . . but in the meantime, what can I do about her toe licking??

Any ideas?

She is not an allergic looking dog, other than the occassional redness around her mouth, but her toes obviously itch, as she licks and chews them alot. She tends to get red around the toenail beds, and sometimes they start to puff up from the licking. She has been on antibiotics, which help, but does anyone have any ideas, (short of coning her), to treat her toes??? I have been using triple antibiotic cream, but it's an uphill battle because . . . she licks it off. : (

Ideas??? Thanks . . .

 

Some dogs lick their feet from boredom or it becomes a habit. You can try some bitter apple spray on her feet and see if that helps, thats really the only thing you can do short of putting an e-collar on her.

 

Thanks---I have heard the boredom problem, but she's pretty active, so I'm guessing it's not that.

Guess I could try the bitter apple, but everything I sprayed with it when she was a pup, she wrecked anyways, lol.

She licks in between the pads mostly, but it's the toe licking that causes the problems with the nailbeds.

Thanks for your help.

 

How long has she been doing this and what are you currently feeding?

 

On & off for a number of months.

She is currently eating a vegetarien kibble mixed with 100% meat canned food, (beef & liver). She seems to have issues with chicken, wheat, corn, etc. I've tried changing her food, but I do give each change time to see how she reacts. If she starts itching like crazy, (ears, mouth, etc.), I know the new food isn't working. Her mouth gets really red if she's particularly allergic to a certain food, and at the moment she looks good . . . other than her darn toes.

 

Does she chew on her feet also? Just wondering because mine is doing the same thing...

 

Yup---and they seem to itch. I suppose it could be grass or something, and not necessarily her food, but I'm wondering if anyone knows what I can put on the nailbeds to keep them from getting irritated and swollen . . .

 

Well I hope it's not allergies - I'm shooting for the suggestion about boredom or bad habit! But in any case if I can figure it out, it will be taken care of.

Do you think spraying that bitter apple on his feet would be okay? I've never used it, so I don't know if it can actually be put on a dog.

 

I think it's fine. My vet had suggested it, too, but I never tried it because like I said, everything I sprayed with it when she was a pup, she ruined anyhow. I just assumed it was pointless, but most dogs hate the taste.

I've brought mine to the vet regarding this, but it seems to be as much trial and error with him, as it is with me. The antibiotics helped the red, puffy nailbeds, but that's about all, and I can't keep her on antibiotics forever.

 

Well... you could always put some socks on her lol

 

I thought maybe those little rubber boots. Make her feel foolish . . .

 

Hey us girls love our shoes! I've got to keep a pair of those seasonal panties on my female right now... but she thinks she is cute strutting around in her daisy dukes lol

 

Get Some Dog Shampoo That Has Oat Meal In It Or Give A Oat Meal Bath. Also I Don't Know If You Have Tried Benadryl? Gremlin Has Allergies And His Feet Get Red And He Licks Them So I Use Benadryl.

 

Sorry girls and guys I thought I was gonna have a question on this topic, but it's my husbands feet my dog licks for as long as he will let her, in between the toes and all....eeeeuuuuuuu...oh well

 

What makes you think it’s a food allergy you’re dealing with? Judging from the symptoms it's a atopy allergy and not contact. Have you and your veterinary eliminated flea, mites, yeast, fungal, bacterial infections from the equation? Take the dog to your veterinary and request he/she run a radioallergosorbent, enzyme-linked immunosorbent, or Intradermal skin test! Prior to doing said test he should place her on steroids and/or antihistamines for about a month prior and also recommend a hypoallergenic homemade diet for her to be on. <O:p</O:p

 

How do u stop a dog from chewing her nails, lol, It's SO annouying, lol, I love my dog to death but argh, lol, then when she's done with her's she will go and chew on our males to nails lol, maybe she gets it from me I am a nail chewer too,lol, (slaps own hands)

 

The vet suggested food allergy, but that's why I mentioned maybe grass? I was thinking more along the topical line, too. No mites. Of course if she keeps licking and between her toes stay moist, it does result in a yeast infection. The vet has prescribed a yeast cream which has worked, but again, is only temporary. As far as bacterial, again, if she keeps licking, her toenail beds get inflamed, and that is obviously a bacterial infection for which the vet has prescribed antibiotics, which help---temporarily.

I think I will try the Benadryl. I have used it for other pets, but I was hoping to catch the underlying problem. I'll also check with the vet again, but I've been back & forth for this problem many times, and he seems at a loss, too.

Thanks for that test you suggested. I will definitely look into that . . .

 

hmmmm. . . I'm thinkin' that's a different thread---or maybe even a different forum, lol . . .

 

This sounds like a good plan, also. Thanks much.

 

Thanks for that test you suggested. I will definitely look into that .
Request/demand for the test to be run! You don’t treat said symptoms by guessing or just constantly changing foods!