Need help!!! Both Yorkies sick with possible parasites

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by PILOTthePuppy

Pax is back home from the procedure and resting.

The internal medicine vet said everything went very well. She excitedly reported that she did not see any signs of tumors or cancer.

Her report stated the stomach and esophagus appears normal. Mild changes of the small intestines mucusoa (slightly reduced size of the villae/villus blunting).

We will now await the results of the biopsy.

Thank you all for the support so far! Very much appreciate it.

So glad this went well ! I sure hope you get some kind of answer.

[PILOTthePuppy]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

So glad this went well ! I sure hope you get some kind of answer.

Me too.

Unfortunately, Pax just had diarrhea this morning.

I’m not sure if it’s from the anesthesia and medicines from yesterday. He did eat dinner and breakfast though.

We’ll see what happens throughout the day.

[KatysMom]

Hi there,

Thank you for the update. Sorry to hear Pax had an uncool BM this morning. Hoping this was related to yesterday's procedure.

Give him a hug for me.

[PILOTthePuppy]

Update! Pax and Pilot had a good weekend.

Their appetite and bowel movements were all normal. They're eating chicken breast, boiled red mash potatoes with pureed carrots and peas, along with calcium and vitamin supplements. I plan on adding green beans into the mix this week.

Pax is still taking 25mg of the metronidazole (down from 50mg) a little while longer and the biopsy results should come back later this week

Pax has been a chronic paw licker. He likes to lick his especially when he's bored. However, one of his paws seemed quite red and irritated in the middle.

We've taken him to the vet in the past and they wanted to start him on anti depressants, which I declined.

I started applying diluted apple cider vinegar and gave him a Himalayan pink sea salt paw soak yesterday in hopes it will calm down the inflammation.

It could be a combination of some allergy and his chronic licking.

Unfortunately between their dentals in February, Pilot's pancreatitis in March, and this whole episode in April and May, I would like to avoid going to the vet for a little while!

[KatysMom]

Originally Posted by PILOTthePuppy

Update! Pax and Pilot had a good weekend... Pax has been a chronic paw licker. He likes to lick his especially when he's bored. However, one of his paws seemed quite red and irritated in the middle...vet [previously] wanted to start him on anti depressants...I would like to avoid going to the vet for a little while!

Thank you for sharing that you all had a good weekend. Yeah Pax!!! He's had such a rough spell.

As Pax's results are due shortly, expect you'll speak with the vet's office shortly--either via phone call or in person. If the biopsy was arranged by the same vet's office that had previously recommended anti-depressants, you could use that interaction as an opportunity to ask whether or not now is the time to try the anti-depressants.

Those who've treated pups for Pax's underlying or suspected underlying conditions will know better than I whether the stepped up paw licking could be related to his more general circumstance.

Have included references to a few articles below.

Again, thank you for the update with good news. I'm so glad you can all be there together. --KatysMom


Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM, "Why Is My Dog Licking His Paws?" updated 2018 Jan 16 by thesprucePets.

Dermapaw, "Why dogs lick their paws" 2015 Sept 27

Peter Dobias, DVM, "Excessive Paw Licking in Dogs -- It May Not Be Allergies," published Innovative Veterinary Care, 2014 May 27

Dr. Justine A. Lee, DVM, DACVECC, "Why is My Dog Excessively Licking His Paws?" published Pet Health Network (n.d.?)

P.S. My late Katy was a paw-licker. In her case, the vet diagnosed an allergy. Treatment consisted of frequent Chlorhexidine shampoos and Benedryl as needed. Katy wasn't a big fan of the bath, but she did like the shampooing (especially the long massage).

[PILOTthePuppy]

Thanks KatysMom! Greatly appreciate your words of encouragement throughout this ordeal!!

Pax has been licking his paws for quite some time (well before this), if I distract him or tell him no, he usually stops.

The internal medicine vet is not the same vet who performed the biopsy on Pax.

His brother Pilot has had redness between his paws in the past and they told us to give him children's sugar free benadryl for a few days. I think they have environmental allergies such as detergents and some types of pollen or grass.

I read that chicken could be an allergy as well but true food allergies are actually very rare. Their main protein in their home cooked food is fat free chicken breast to help avoid pancreatitis from fattier meats.

[KatysMom]

Here's an article on Benadryl that might guide you further.

Jessica Volgelsang, DVM, "Can I give my dog Benadryl and if so, how much?" (n.d.?) PetMD.

We used the clear liquid form and administered via oral syringe.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by PILOTthePuppy

Pax has been licking his paws for quite some time (well before this), if I distract him or tell him no, he usually stops.

His brother Pilot has had redness between his paws in the past and they told us to give him children's sugar free benadryl for a few days. I think they have environmental allergies such as detergents and some types of pollen or grass.

I read that chicken could be an allergy as well but true food allergies are actually very rare. Their main protein in their home cooked food is fat free chicken breast to help avoid pancreatitis from fattier meats.

Paw licking is a cardinal sign of allergies. In dogs, the histamine reaction causes an actual physical sensation in their paws - very uncomfortable - this is why they need to lick/chew the paws. Yep, food allergies only account for about 10-15% of dog allergies - most are environmental. However, chicken IS the most common protein allergy in dogs who do have food allergies.

Benadryl is not a great treatment for allergies. Because of its short half-life, it has to be given every 4-6hrs to remain therapeutic (if it even IS therapeutic in the first place, that is). Other OTC meds for dogs are Zyrtec and Claritin - both are 24 hr meds (once a day). Again though, rarely super effective in alleviating symptoms in dogs.

Many of us here have yorkies w/ terrible allergies bc this is so very common in yorkies now -- and most of find that the relief comes from either Apoquel or Atopica. My Marcel has been on both (currently Apoquel) - and both made a tremendous difference in his quality of life -- he used to wake up at 1am at times just to lick his paws . Both of those meds affect the immune system cells.

The redness in the paws you're seeing could be from moist skin and irritation (from licking) -or- could be signs of a yeast infection (again, mostly due to excessive moisture, but also allergy related).

More on Atopica and Apoquel here: https://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/di...allergies.html

[PILOTthePuppy]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Paw licking is a cardinal sign of allergies. In dogs, the histamine reaction causes an actual physical sensation in their paws - very uncomfortable - this is why they need to lick/chew the paws. Yep, food allergies only account for about 10-15% of dog allergies - most are environmental. However, chicken IS the most common protein allergy in dogs who do have food allergies.

Benadryl is not a great treatment for allergies. Because of its short half-life, it has to be given every 4-6hrs to remain therapeutic (if it even IS therapeutic in the first place, that is). Other OTC meds for dogs are Zyrtec and Claritin - both are 24 hr meds (once a day). Again though, rarely super effective in alleviating symptoms in dogs.

Many of us here have yorkies w/ terrible allergies bc this is so very common in yorkies now -- and most of find that the relief comes from either Apoquel or Atopica. My Marcel has been on both (currently Apoquel) - and both made a tremendous difference in his quality of life -- he used to wake up at 1am at times just to lick his paws . Both of those meds affect the immune system cells.

The redness in the paws you're seeing could be from moist skin and irritation (from licking) -or- could be signs of a yeast infection (again, mostly due to excessive moisture, but also allergy related).

More on Atopica and Apoquel here: https://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/di...allergies.html

Thank you for this information! I was doing research last night and read that Chlorhexidine can help with possible skin infections and/or allergies. There's shampoo and wipes made by Douxo, I was going to give this a try and see if it helps any. Have you heard anything regarding this?

[dottiesyrky]

If topical application might help for the paw licking. I use Xymox or Zymox?? Shampoo and conditioner that deals with the irritation in my dog. I also rinse his paws often with the rinse and that stops the paw licking. Good luck.

[KatysMom]

Originally Posted by PILOTthePuppy

Thank you for this information! I was doing research last night and read that Chlorhexidine can help with possible skin infections and/or allergies. There's shampoo and wipes made by Douxo, I was going to give this a try and see if it helps any. Have you heard anything regarding this?

As with dottiesyrky's post, I don't know if a topical treatment alone (including chlorhexidine) will be effective. Separately, Katy's vet put her on the chlorhexidine shampoo and Benadryl. (But see Wylie's Mom's comments above for explanation that Benadryl is inferior to prescription products, would seem especially Apoquel.)

The last of brand of chlorhexidine shampoos Katy used was Douxo.

I have read about the Douxo wipes, but have no experience with them.

[dottiesyrky]

I agree with Katysmom that topicals may not work. But the topical I use is good for bacterial and yeast infections and sure works for my dog. I tend to use it if his paws smell of popcorn or if they get wet and smelly.

[KatysMom]

Originally Posted by dottiesyrky

....But the topical I use is good for bacterial and yeast infections and sure works for my dog. I tend to use it if his paws smell of popcorn or if they get wet and smelly.

Is this it dottiesyrky? (link is to Chewy.com)

Zymox Veterinary Strength Enzymatic Dog & Cat Shampoo

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[dottiesyrky]

Yes it is, but there is also the rinse I use from the same manufacturer. Don’t know where I got it though. I use the rinse to clean paws between baths. It smells so good too!

[dottiesyrky]

I just looked on Chewy again, and they do the rinse too.