Licking their paws

[Wylie's Mom]

When dogs lick their paws rather regularly, it's usually bc of an allergy bc the histamine response causes a reaction in their paws - making them feel VERY irritated - so they chew/lick their paws to try to get relief. It's very uncomfortable for them.

Most allergies are environmental (pollens, dust etc) and are not food (only about 10% of the time.

Read more about what to do about allergies here: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/die...tart-here.html

And read more about what else can cause paw licking here: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/die...-diseases.html

[YorkieMomNYC]

Mine does as well. I was told by the vet, it could be a sign of allergies, either environmental or food related.

We noticed it was worse when he used to have chicken based treats/food. He still does it, but not as much as when he had anything related to poultry.

Originally Posted by Our Baby Kobe

Does anyone's Yorkie constantly lick their paws? Mine does and I'm not sure if it means anything or not.

[Zeus is Loved]

Our Perseus does this, and he is now on allergy medicine. The poor baby scratches constantly, too. My babies are already on a low ingredient food, and the vet looked at the ingredients and felt it wasn't the food. We switched his shampoo and use a milk bath conditioner. That, along with the allergy medicine, has helped.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Zeus is Loved

Our Perseus does this, and he is now on allergy medicine. The poor baby scratches constantly, too. My babies are already on a low ingredient food, and the vet looked at the ingredients and felt it wasn't the food. We switched his shampoo and use a milk bath conditioner. That, along with the allergy medicine, has helped.

What medicine is he on, bc there is more than one to try out there...

[Zeus is Loved]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

What medicine is he on, bc there is more than one to try out there...

Chlorpheniramine. The vet said if this helped, he would probably be put on a different long-term medicine. Which meds do you have information about? That way, I can at least know what the heck I'm talking about when we go back for his check up. She was baffled because he had no red or dry patches on his skin. That is what led her to believe it was environmental. By the way, he sneezes constantly.

[mindy10]

Sammie has just started to do this. It drives me crazy. I heard it meant they have allergies. But I have not changed anything on him. I do notice he does it more when I am getting ready for work and wonder if it is a stress thing.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by mindy10

Sammie has just started to do this. It drives me crazy. I heard it meant they have allergies. But I have not changed anything on him. I do notice he does it more when I am getting ready for work and wonder if it is a stress thing.

This is likely enviro allergies (pollens, dust etc). It's a miserable physical irritation they feel in their paws (the chewing/licking relieves it) - so hopefully you'll treat the allergies for home so that he doesn't have to go thru this.

See this thread for more info: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/die...tart-here.html

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Zeus is Loved

Chlorpheniramine. The vet said if this helped, he would probably be put on a different long-term medicine. Which meds do you have information about? That way, I can at least know what the heck I'm talking about when we go back for his check up. She was baffled because he had no red or dry patches on his skin. That is what led her to believe it was environmental. By the way, he sneezes constantly.

That's just an OTC medication - and has a super short half-life, so it has to be given every 4 hours - is that how often you're giving it...? Like other OTC meds, it usually does very little to nothing for dogs.

I believe she was looking for pyoderma, but this does not happen in all allergy dogs, so it really is not diagnostic in its absence.

Almost all dog allergies are enviro (pollens, dust etc) -- only about 10% are from food.

For how to deal w/ allergies and which meds, see here: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/die...tart-here.html

[JuliannaB]

Not sure if my Bailey's story helps you, but I will tell it in short. It has been more than 9 months ago we had this issue.
He was scratching his whole waking hours; chest, backside and legs. So much so that there were patches of his hair gone When looking at the back of him, he looked like he was wearing fuzzy short boots It was so distressing to see him like this, I took him to the vets. The vet suspected an allergy to chicken, so was sent home with some antihistamine meds. and we were on the lookout for new food. A wild animal food was ok I was told, so got some special food with duck. Soon he was back to his biting. I was so upset, then I was told from someone else that anything poultry was not to be given, as it is something in the poultry protein. Made total sense then with the duck. He has been on ZD sensitive food and he got better. Over time he is back to his normal, goofy and sweet self.
Hope that you find out what's bugging your sweetie!!

[JuliannaB]

Oh, I forgot to mention that his hair has all grown back. YAY!!