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02-24-2013, 11:26 AM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Michigan USA
Posts: 123
| Licking Paws Okay, here's the problem (with some background info to help) sorry it's lengthy, but we're new at this puppy game and quite unsure of most things. So hoping for some help and would appreciate any advice or experience. We got Avery last May. He came to us matted and not well cared for. He had an area on his back that had hardly and any hair and was dry. We immediately took him to the vet had his necessary shots and the vet tested for mange which was negative. He then told us it was probably allergies and gave us some allergy medication (pills). I was unsure about putting him on medication right away so first we had him shaved for the matting (and since groom him daily) and I switched his food from some cheap stuff that the people who didn't want him gave us to Blue Grain Free. The bad hair area grew back just beautifully and his coat is great looking now. I should mention that he hardly ever has any issues with sneezing, coughing or itching, then or now. Had a few feet, face and fanny and nail trims since, but nothing major. Fast forward to three weeks ago when I noticed his hair was getting kind of long and especially between his paw pads so I took him to a new place for a grooming. About three days later I notice he was licking his paws a lot whenever he was laying around. When I tried to check them out he got really defensive so I knew something was wrong. After coaxing I noted that the bottom of the paws were grey/black with some tiny cracks here and there, but nothing major) but if I spread the pads apart it was pink and in some areas a bit red (especially after his licking episodes). My thoughts were that they may have irritated him in those areas when clipping the long hair out of there or perhpas because we live in a cold/snowy area that his walks were irritating this area (although I dry his feet whenever we come in from wet outside and if I think he has come into any rock salt on our walks I wash them off and dry them) I decided to take him to the Vet to be sure. The vet did a quick check and then said that it was probably allergies and wanted to give him a steroid shot and some medication and if that didn't help do some allergy testing. I asked if he could be treated with something topically on the paws first to see if that didn't help and he prescribed Mal-A-Ket wipes twice daily. Active ingredients: 2% acetic acid; 2% chlorhexidene; 1% ketoconazole? I haven't used it yet. Was wondering if any one has? It just feels to me that he doesn't really show what I woud think would be allergy symptons... sneezing or coughing often, doesn't throw up at all, no dry itchy skin problems anymore, etc. Although, I don't know too much about any of this so that's why I'm asking for your experience. Thanks in advance for any help any one can offer. Oh, and I should mention that he appears to have no trouble walking. He loves walks outside and goes crazy if we even put on our walking shoes..... |
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02-24-2013, 11:43 AM | #2 |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Did the vet say anything about yeast? Sometimes a yeast infection causes problems between the toes. The wipes are antifungal so I'd use them. A grass allergy can also cause this also, and allergies dont have to have all the symptoms you list, sometimes licking the paws is the only indication of even a food allergy. I think their paws can get itchy from a food or other allergy, but then all the licking causes a yeast infection because it's damp between the toes. Don't forget that your dog can be just as allergic to the peas in Blue Grain Free as he would be to grains in another food.
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Breeder Referrals Last edited by Nancy1999; 02-24-2013 at 11:45 AM. |
02-24-2013, 11:50 AM | #3 |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | I wonder if coconut oil would be okay to use, it's antifungal, but I wonder if it would encourage him to lick even more?
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02-24-2013, 12:40 PM | #4 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Michigan USA
Posts: 123
| He did mention a yeast infection from damp paws during these winter months as another possibility. I do dry his paws when he comes in and such, but if he is licking them they get wet. I had read on here somewhere that many use Bag Balm for cracked and irritated paws, so I have been applying that every day, however, if it is a yeast infection perhaps that would be keeping it too moist? I just wasn't sure about the wipes and what was in them, but it does say antifungal so perhaps I will give them a try for a week or so and see if it doesn't help. As I said, I don't know much about allergies. It just seemed odd to me that he just started licking right after grooming and before that did'nt seem to have any other problems. I've been feeding him Blue Buffalo Puppy up until October and then Grain Free for Small Breeds since October. I give him a couple slices of banana a day and sometimes a few chopped up pieces of apple and some Zukes treats daily but all that has also been the same for quite some time and this problem just started. |
02-24-2013, 12:46 PM | #5 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Breeder Referrals | |
02-24-2013, 12:51 PM | #6 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Michigan USA
Posts: 123
| That sounds good. I'll give the pads a try for a week or so and see if it doesn't improve. Thanks so much for the help. |
02-24-2013, 12:54 PM | #7 |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | You're welcome, you might want to inform your groomer about this too, they could use antifungal products for cleaning.
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02-24-2013, 01:02 PM | #8 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: At Home
Posts: 8,386
| My late Molly used to have very yeasty and fungal feet. I used the Mal Wipes on her, it worked Ok, but we had also had to have her on Ketaconsole Pills for the Fungal Infection. I also had to have her feet trimmed in what I call poodle feet. I couldn't give any type of steriods as she had Cushings Disease. Her feet would get really bad certain times of the year.
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02-24-2013, 01:04 PM | #9 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Breeder Referrals | |
02-24-2013, 01:06 PM | #10 |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | You both might want to check out this thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...endations.html
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Breeder Referrals |
02-24-2013, 01:12 PM | #11 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: At Home
Posts: 8,386
| Yes my Vet had me do that as well. Molly hated the smell. I didn't notice a difference.
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02-24-2013, 01:14 PM | #12 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: At Home
Posts: 8,386
| Quote:
I hope she can find an answer, as they can be very miserable at times.
__________________ [SIZE="3"VICKI & ALLIE[/SIZE] | |
02-24-2013, 01:18 PM | #13 |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Oh I'm sorry.
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Breeder Referrals |
02-24-2013, 01:37 PM | #14 | |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Michigan USA
Posts: 123
| Quote:
I think I'll start by using the anti fungal wipes in case it is just something he picked up at the groomers since it started shortly after. If that doesn't help, then I will start looking into changing his diet, one thing at a time? | |
02-24-2013, 01:56 PM | #15 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Breeder Referrals | |
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