My dog has red, itchy paws and ears. Is it allergies or infection?

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!

Poor Zues - those lesions are quite prominent! Recurrent interdigital (between the toes) lesions can be frustrating and can be caused by a number of different issues, including atopy (environmental allergies), food allergies, bacterial infections, yeast infections, mange, autoimmune issues, or even cancer. In many cases, secondary bacterial infections occur when dogs lick or chew at their feet, meaning that the bacterial infection happens on top of another cause, like allergies. This might explain why the antibiotics helped initially, but the lesions then recurred. At this point, it sounds as though more diagnostic testing is needed. Your vet will likely want to do some skin cytology (examining some cells under the microscope) to check for signs of bacteria and/or yeast, a skin scrape to check for the mites that cause mange, and may even recommend taking a biopsy so that a pathologist can evaluate the affected tissues. Depending what those tests show, your vet may then recommend trying allergy medications (such as Apoquel or Cytopoint), a prescription hypoallergenic food trial, or other medications. I understand how frustrating this issue must be and wish you and Zues all the best!

Some skin infections can take 3 weeks of antibiotics to clear. However, if its not gotten better, it may be a bit more complicated. As you mention, allergies may indeed be part of it. Eosinophils may indicate that there's an allergic component, so if you aren't addressing the allergies specifically. it may help to do so. Your vet may talk to you about trying some prednisone or apoquel to treat underlying allergies, and this may be very helpful. Weekly baths with a gentle non irritating shampoo may be helpful. I really like this one: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-shampoo-with-vitamin-d3 Best of luck, thank you for using PetCoach!

Zeeke is adorable! Thanks for including a picture. I have a few suggestions for you. First, if your vet has not performed an ear cytology to look under the microscope at the ear discharge, that would be a good idea to evaluate for yeast or bacterial overgrowth since there is a slight smell to the ear discharge. If there isn't any evidence of an infection or overgrowth that needs to be treated, then you might consider a product like Zymox. It is available as a cleaner or a medication. I usually recommend the medication Zymox Otic with 1% HC if the ears are itchy. As far as food, I am attaching a couple of handouts below with more information on food allergies and diet trials for food allergies. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=652 https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2499 Food allergies are one of the most common reasons for ear problems, so I think changing foods is always recommended with ear problems. You could consider a hydrolyzed diet or a novel protein diet. I would discuss your options with your veterinarian. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Zoey. It is possible that allergies are to blame for her ongoing skin disease especially if her problems are somewhat seasonal. There are two great new allergy medications used to control itching and licking. They are both very effective. Typically if the itching can be controlled and medication such as an antibiotic can be used to treat any secondary infection, the skin will heal. This will take away the odor. The two medications I used most commonly for environmental allergies are Apoquel and Cytopoint. It is important to rule out other allergies such as fleas and diet. She may need a prescription diet trial. I hope this information helps!

This sounds like an environment or food allergy. The red is due to yeast proliferation from moistness in the hair. I would recommend a novel protein elimination diet for 40 days. Benadryl is a good anti-histamine but may not work as it only improves a certain type of allergy. Neosporin can be damaging to the kidneys so I would avoid using it. It also only contains antibiotics and so would not be helpful. Fish oils can also be very helpful at lowering inflammation in the body and improving skin and joint health.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Champ! I'm sorry to hear that his paws are bothering him. Without seeing a picture, it is difficult to say, but it sounds like he has a dermatitis or a skin infection on his paws. The first thing I recommend doing is to get in the habit of wiping his paws with a damp rag every time he comes in from outside. This will physically remove any allergen from outside. People inhale most allergens from the environment such as grasses, weeds, pollen or mold. We experience watery eyes, running nose, etc. Dogs can have these symptoms, but they are walking through the grass. So their paws are most commonly affected. In addition to wiping the paws, bathing the paws several times per week with a medicated shampoo will help. As far as getting him over this flare up, he will likely need an antibiotic (I use cephalexin commonly depending on the case) and something for the itching. He should wear an E-collar as well to prevent licking. He could have a food allergy like you mentioned. I use prescription hydrolyzed diets for a strict diet trial. The dog can eat nothing else for a period of 8-12 weeks. This means no treats, heartworm prevention, or human food. The skin is reassessed during this period to see if the signs have resolved. I hope this information helps and Champ is feeling better soon!