Why is my anxious dog chewing her paws raw and getting ear infections?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Joy. She could be suffering from pododermatitis and it has many causes. Bacterial/yeast infections, allergies (inhaled, food), demodex mange mites, parasite problems, are among some of the more common causes. I would advise taking Joy to your vet. Your vet can gather a detailed history and perform an exam. Based on those findings, they can then advise you on a diagnostic/treatment plan. Possible tests include fecal tests/skin scrapes, skin cytology, bacterial culture/sensitivity, biopsy, allergy testing, etc. Treatment is based on what is learned from these tests. This could involve antibiotics, antifungal medicines, foot soaks, antihistamines, steroids, allergy medications, etc. She may require an Elizabethan collar to prevent her from licking the paw also. Good luck

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Licking and chewing of the paws is a sign of allergies and it can become an infection (pododermatitis) which can be caused by bacteria and yeast. I have success treating with an antibiotic and an antifungal for 3 weeks. I also start my patients on apoquel and an antihistamine to control the licking and biting. I would also recommend considering changing her diet. Chicken is the most common allergic protein. You can find over the counter diets with venison, duck or fish. She can no have any treats that aren't made out of the protein or table scraps. You have to give the diet 2-3 months. Sometimes the pet needs a prescription diet. I would call your Vet or have her rechecked to see if these medications are appropriate to try on Leia

Biting or chewing of the feet can be a sign of allergies, or infection of the nail beds or other nail bed disease. I would recommend bringing her in to your vet for an examination. She may need medicated wipes or oral medications to help decrease the irritation and biting.

It appears that Roxie either has a cut on her paw pad or has licked her paw raw. It is possible she is licking her paw secondary to trauma, allergies or even infection. I would recommend taking her to a vet to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. If the paw if infected she might need antibiotics. I would recommend placing her in a cone around her neck to help prevent the licking. You can try an over the counter anti histamine to help with the itchy but that will not resolve an infection.

I would recommend that you have Lucy examined by a vet. Itchy ears isn't often a sign of anxiety, but it could indicate infection, which is easily treated. The skin in your picture also looks very irritated. The vet can figure out what is causing her to itchy so badly and recommend treatments to start. They can also discuss her separation anxiety and recommend supplements or medications that can help her while you are gone for the day.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Gizmo may be chewing his paws from anxiety / stress, allergies or pain. I would recommend bathing him with a sha.poo such as Duoxo PS calm shampoo and bathe twice weekly. I would also recommend malacetic conditioning spray, welactin omega 3 fish oil and essential 6 spot on by dermoscent. If this is allergy related, benadryl is an option that can also be used in cases like this. The typical recommended dose is 1mg per 1lb of body weight every 12 hours. If there is no improvement, I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at gizmo to help determine what else could be the cause. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any further questions or concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation if needed.