Thursday, July 30, 2009

My dog chews at his foot?

LMFAO! It was really funny at first, like he was fighting with himself! I told him to stop, he listened, but then started doing it again 2hrs later. My original vet retired. I took him to a new vet and they checked out his paw and claimed there was nothing wrong. I don't trust them. This can't be normal. Has this happen to anyone b4? Should I get a 2nd opinion from another vet?
Answers:
It is often the first symptom of Atopy..Read and see> http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/stor.

Lately, dogs have been doing this after owner uses Swiffer Wet Jet products..and spray air fresheners, and carpet fresheners. Aslo in the spring and fall when pollen is on the floors.
If ur vet couldn't find anything in it.it could be allergies to carpet-grass-etc. causing it.
yea you should get another opinion.
haha! my miniature dachshund does the same thing. i don't think it's anything serious..maybe it's just a bad habit like biting your nails.
Muy dog does this and it is a allergy thing. Vet has him on a drug called hydroxozine
My dog is always chewing his paws, like he is cleaning it or something. It is what he does, and it drives some people crazy.. I don't worry about it though. what kind of dog do you have. mine is an husky cross.
Dog I had before used to chew her paw. It turned out to be she was chewing her nail! My vet advise me to check her nail often and cut them when its get long. I wonder your dong has similar habit?? If he continues to bite, maybe you should get end opinion. It doesn't hurt to get one more!
Dogs can lick or chew at their feet or legs for several reasons. They can have allergic issues, causing itching, and the feet are frequently involved. It usually is all the feet, but not always.

They can have some mild pain related to an injury, arthritis or wound. Did the vet check the entire limb for any pain? You might want to look at the entire foot for any wounds, especially the underside.

They can also chew and lick feet out of anxiety or boredom. Are there other things going on with the dog? Have there been any changes in the house?

If you have a concern that the vet that you saw did not address your concern, then a second opinion is certainly in order. Never feel bad about second opinions. Your pet needs you to speak for it. If you think something is wrong, go for it. But if there is not an obvious reason, there may need to be some testing done.
Both my dogs do this, I don't think it's anything to worry about.
My Fiest did this when she was a pup. It was nervious energy that she needed to release. We bought her a ball to chase and that fixed it. Now she's obsessed with a ball!!
he could be something small like a grain of dirt or sand etc thats just irritating him.
But does he have like a blister there at all? if he does get him back down the vet asap. my dog started doing that and it was found out he had a cancerous lump and had to have a toe removed awww bless him.

Im sure it aint this with your dog, get a washing up bowl and put luke warm water in it, put his paw in swuish it round dont be rough!, dry it etc, he will lick it more at first but if he keeps on doing it after about and hour take him to a different vet :o) xXx
Your dog is chewing on its foot because it itches. Dogs exhibit allergies by their noses turning pink, the area around their mouth turning pink, the area around their eyes turning pink, and the pads of their paws turning pink. All of these are typically dark brown or black. Of course, when their paws turn pink, their paws are itching them. They don't have fingers to scratch, so they chew on them.

You can try dipping your dogs paws in a mixture of vinegar and water. More water than vinegar. This will temporarily ease the itching. You should take your dog to the vet and they will provide some type of allergy pill to help with the itching.
From HealthyPet.com:
Chewing on the feet and hind legs is a classic sign of allergies in dogs, much like itchy eyes and a runny nose in humans. Dogs have the same allergy-sensitive cells people have in their eyes and nose, but they are located in dogs' skin and ears. Therefore, dogs with allergies show signs of itchy feet, itchy skin, and ear infections

http://www.healthypet.com/faq_view.aspx?.

Some really good, detailed information here also:
http://www.cah.com/dr_library/pad.html.
http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseases.

I agree with you - I don't think the vet you went to was thorough enough.
Meanwhile, try giving your dog a chew toy to help distract him, and bathe his feet in a mild, cool salt water solution (about 2 teaspoons of salt dissolved in 1 cup of luke warm water)

Good luck!
maybe allergies. my dog has allergies and he will chew at his feet
Well there could be possible reasons for doing that maybe he just thinks that its something different kreeping up from behind him and he is scared it might attack him..

Then again it could be flees or skin irretation most dogs have that i think you should get a second oppinion its defenitly not normal for a dog to do that..
The dog probably has an unseen case of ateletes foot.
OMG don't listen to these people. They are not trained to answer your question. Go see another vet!

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