Why is my dog licking paws and hindquarters? Could it be allergies?

Question

I have a Golden that is 2 years old and this year she has started to lick her hind quarter and chew on her front paw. Is this an allergy and how would I treat it? Thanks,Charlie. Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Female | spayed | 2 years and 4 months old | 60 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

I am so sorry that Ginger is having this problem. I certainly understand how frustrating it is to watch your dog be so itchy. There are a number of reasons for skin problems in dogs. This article does an excellent job of describing them. You could be dealing with allergies (of various types), external parasites (such as fleas or mites), or secondary infections (bacterial or yeast). https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-is-my-dog-so-itchy/ This is also an excellent article on itching in dogs and the possible causes and treatments. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2604 Often the first step is making sure there isn’t any evidence of external parasites that need to be treated. You may still be dealing with a flea allergy even if you have treated Ginger for fleas. Once a flea bites a flea allergy dog, that dog can stay itchy for a week. Here is additional information on fleas causing itching in dogs. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2455 I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate your dog to discuss your treatment options. You will need to discuss resolving any secondary infections which will make Ginger more itchy. This can involve topical treatments (like shampoos, wipes or sprays) or may involve oral medications. You can then discuss medication for the itching (which may be prescription or over the counter medication). There are a number of good treatment options for itching and allergies, but sometimes it takes a little while to find the right combination for your dog. I lived in the Twin Cities for a while and allergies this time of year were horrible. Since Ginger is only two, it is probably worth investigating what treatments work for her, because this may be an ongoing problem. Please let me know if that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Why is my dog licking paws and hindquarters? Could it be allergies?

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