Why aren't my dog's chronic itchy paw skin issues improving?

Hi and thanks for your post. You may consider food allergy testing to determine what Olive is allergic to so those allergens can be avoided in the diet. There is also a medication called Apoquel that can really help as well as Cytopoint which also works very well at controlling allergy symptoms in dogs. Environmental allergy testing can help in determine what exactly she may be allergic to in her environment such as grass, pollen, weeds, etc. and an immunotherapy injection towards those substances she is allergic to is made specifically for her. These injections are a little bit expensive but works exceptionally well if all else has failed. Hope this helps and best wishes to you and Olive!

There really isn't much else you can do at this point other than using topical steroids (like hydrocortisone spray) on the feet but if you are going to do allergy testing soon your vet may not want you to use it. Steroids can interfere with testing/results. I would suggest this Zymox 1% Hydrocortisone spray but ask your vet first if they are OK with you using it. This will reduce the redness, inflammation and itching. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-1529-zymox-spray.aspx ) You could also ask your vet about either changing the dose of the antihistamine or changing the type of antihistamine all together especially if she has been on the same one for a long time. They will build a tolerance. Also, some dogs, just like people, respond better to one medication vs another. Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

Poor guy! I can certainly see a good bit of inflammation in between Hercules' toes. I assume (given this appearance and being a Frenchie) that your vet discussed the likelihood of allergies causing these issues. The challenge is that allergies cannot be managed with a one-size-fits-all approach, as what works for one dog may not do the trick for Hercules. There are numerous medications available like Apoquel, Cytopoint, or allergy injections that can help with the long term management of allergies. However, if a skin infection is also present, they won't work, as the infection would need to be managed first. I think you should schedule a recheck appointment for Hercules with your vet to assess his feet and to make sure he doesn't also have a skin infection. In the meantime, you can use an e-collar (cone) to prevent him from licking at his feet, as this will only exacerbate the issue. You can also try Epsom salt foot soaks twice a day, as this may temporarily minimize his discomfort. I hope that everything goes well!

You are correct that long term steroid use is not generally good for the body. The four main reasons for continued itching are allergies to fleas, allergies to something in the environment, food allergy or endocrine disease. Each one of these problems is detected and addressed differently and I recommend to discuss with your veterinarian which one to start hunting down first. Parasites are often ruled out with an oral medication like Simparica. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein. Endocrine diseases are detected with blood work. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. Once you figure out and address the underlying cause, the itching should not come back. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Also protect the area from trauma by having Nunu wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Regarding the diet, a hydrolyzed protein diet is best and I recommend Royal Canin Ultamino. You also need to be sure to conduct a proper food trial to see if it helps. He can only eat this diet and not treats or ANYTHING else for 12 weeks to see if it help. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

You can call the vet and ask about using an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs if this does not interfere with the new protein. Prevent him from licking the feet by having him wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Do not walk him and make sure that he is only walking on soft surfaces. You can wash the feet daily with soap and rinse well. Once it is dried, you can apply a dab of organic coconut oil and rub it in well. Make sure he does not lick this as it can cause GI upset. You may also call your veterinarian and ask about a medication like Apoquel or Cytopoint which will help with itching the most. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, I'm sorry to hear this about Juno. I think allergies are a really good rule out in this case, whether to food or environment. An extremely strict hypoallergenic food trial carried out for a minimum of eight weeks (ideally twelve) would rule out a food related problem. Environmental allergies to things like pollens, grasses, dust, etc may be more responsive to systemic allergy medications (oral tablets like Apoquel or injectable Cytopoint) or topical therapies like regular paw cleanings with medicated shampoos and mousses. Wiping down her paws after going outdoors with a clean damp cloth or hypoallergenic baby wipe may help as well. Due to the location of the sores on the paw pads themselves, auto immune disease could be possible though less common. A deep biopsy may be needed for diagnosis- a consult and diagnostics with an internal medicine specialist or dermatology specialist may be good next steps for working this up if your general practitioner veterinarian feels that allergy treatments have been exhausted. I hope this is helpful. Best of luck getting answers and relief for Juno.

This does indeed look like an allergy - blood tests and an 8 week diet trial on a hydrolyzed diet such as royal canin anallergenic are the best way to determine exactly what may be triggering her symptoms - foods, dust mites and pollens are all common factors