Sore paws - advise needed!

JennBags

JennBags

HHOSS Wonder Woman
Joined
21 May 2002
Messages
18,431
Location
West Sussex
Visit site
The last few days, our dog has been licking her paws a lot, they're obviously sore (2 in particular) but I can't see anything in them. What would be the best way to treat them? We washed one with some Hibi, then put it in some salt water for a couple of minutes the other day, then put some cream on it and bandaged it which seemed to help, but now she's back to almost non-stop licking of it and another one. We're going to try bathing them in salt water again today but thought I'd ask to see if any of you knowledgeable lot have got some advise to offer.

Picture of the beautiful girl in question, just to brighten up the post :)

IMG_1532.jpg
 
The Westie link below is very detailed and worth a read..it covers correct diet,foot care,vet tests ..all specific for Westie itch.
many dogs in the link are extreme cases,so don't think all is applicable,but definitely consider trimming foot hair from under the pads,shampoo in an anti yeast shampoo,look at the whole dog to see if she's itching on other areas and if she has any hair loss,consider testing her thyroid,and look at the diet suggestions at the end of the link.

http://www.westiemed.org/health/2013-WIN-Itchy-Westie-Handout.pdf
 
Thanks, she doesn't generally suffer from skin problems, and we keep her feet trimmed. We have recently changed her diet though, so that is interesting. We don't see to be able to get the solution here that is mentioned in the literature.
 
Last edited:
Sorry she is uncomfortable JB. Some great advice already .... few other thoughts, diet could definitely be a cause, grass seeds, and one of mine started licking her paws and vet thought it was the onset of arthritis ..... hope you can find a cause and a cure.
 
What a lovely girl :)

The change of diet could definitely have something to do with it and food allergies are not uncommon in dogs. Could you change back and see if there is any improvement?

It could also possibly be atophy (which is an allergic reaction to pollen or dust etc) or even an allergic reaction to fleas (have you checked her recently).

I would take her to the vet if you don't see an improvement when changing her food back.
 
Harvest mites? Our lakeland used to get them between his toes. Tiny little red things, if you look closely. That was my first thought but then I saw she was a Westie, who I gather are just walking skin complaints. I hope it is harvest mites or something easily fixed for you.
 
Sprout said:
Sorry she is uncomfortable JB. Some great advice already .... few other thoughts, diet could definitely be a cause, grass seeds, and one of mine started licking her paws and vet thought it was the onset of arthritis ..... hope you can find a cause and a cure.
Click to expand...

Thanks Sprout - one paw looks like it could be a grass seed.

ElectricChampagne said:
I wonder if its foxtail or grass seed in the paw. Happened my fella and it got in under the nail bed, nail had to be removed then.


http://www.marcthevet.com/2011/05/preparing-your-dog-for-summer-the-dreaded-grass-seed-2/
Click to expand...

Thank you, good link - one paw could be a grass seed from the description, but she's not lame on it (yet).

WorkingGSD said:
What a lovely girl :)
The change of diet could definitely have something to do with it and food allergies are not uncommon in dogs. Could you change back and see if there is any improvement?
It could also possibly be atophy (which is an allergic reaction to pollen or dust etc) or even an allergic reaction to fleas (have you checked her recently).
I would take her to the vet if you don't see an improvement when changing her food back.
Click to expand...

Thank you - I think she's lovely too, and everyone that meets her adores her. She is regularly treated for fleas and it does seem to be specific in just 2 paws, rather than all 4.

Clodagh said:
Harvest mites? Our lakeland used to get them between his toes. Tiny little red things, if you look closely. That was my first thought but then I saw she was a Westie, who I gather are just walking skin complaints. I hope it is harvest mites or something easily fixed for you.
Click to expand...

Thanks - haven't heard of harvest mites before - they look nasty, but not sure it's them.

We've found a sore "blister" on her hind paw, but the front one seems to be more between the toes which sounds more like grass seed. We've bathed her in salt water again, put some cream on, and the cone of shame to stop her licking them.
 
JB harvest mite are really bad this year and paws are a prime location for them. If it is them spray on Frontline gets rid of the little blighters. One of the cats suffers every year and he itches, bites, goes bald and runs away when he sees the tea tree shampoo and flea spray appear.

Hope S stops itching soon and she looks as adorable as ever.
 
I had a collie that got a grass seed between his toes once, poor thing but he also had malassezia in his paws as a youngster.

Last dog had an allergy to chicken-took her off chicken and she stopped foot licking. According to her vet history she had a long history of it before we got her.

She's a lovely girl! Hope she's less itchy soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top