Why does my dog keep biting her paws? Is it allergies or an infection?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

  Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

  Published on August 26th, 2018

  Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

  

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  Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

  Veterinarian

  Published on December 22nd, 2016

  This can be a sign of allergies, such as fleas, food, or contact, or it could be due to a skin infection. The best way to know why your dog is biting his feet, however, is to take him into the vet for an exam.

  

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  Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

  Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

  Published on September 13th, 2017

  I am so sorry that Daisy is having this problem. I certainly understand how frustrating it is to watch her 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 could be dealing with a flea allergy even if you regularly treat Daisy for fleas and have not seen any 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 Daisy to discuss your treatment options. Daisy's veterinarian can run a few simple skin tests to rule out fungus, mites, or bacteria as a cause of secondary infections which will make her more itchy. Treating secondary infections 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 (including antihistamines other than Benadryl), but sometimes it takes a little while to find the right combination for your dog. Best of luck to you and Daisy. Please let me know if that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful