My dog is licking paws, wheezing, and itchy. Could it be allergies?

Poor pup! If Princess is licking her paws to the point that they are bleeding, this is definitely not normal. The most common cause of excessive licking or chewing of the paws is an allergy problem - either seasonal environmental allergies or food allergies can cause this. Other possibilities would include a bacterial or fungal skin infection in this area, or even skin mites (mange). I would recommend having Princess examined by a vet as soon as you are able to - he/she can do some simple skin tests if needed to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate medication to treat it. In the meantime, I would recommend getting an e-collar (plastic cone) for her to wear to prevent her from continuing to lick her paws and make things worse.

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!

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 his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. You do not necessarily need to remove his declaws unless they are bothering him. 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!

Hello. This may be an indication that Rusty has allergies. Sometimes all the symptoms you see are licking the paws. He may also have some nail bed disease, or he just may be a fastidious groomer. If he is not causing any sores on his feet, or loss of hair, or you are not particularly bothered by the behavior ( he does not keep you up at night licking his feet ), then a couple of minutes of grooming the feet just may be his own particular trait. If it does become excessive, see your vet who will determine if any treatment is necessary. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am sorry to hear about Clyde's problems. I would definitely recommend having a further workup done by your vet. The discoloration of the toe nails is often seen with a yeast overgrowth in the nail bed which requires prescription medication to treat. We can also have bacterial infection in this location. The sores may also be a result of infection and often an allergy is at the root of the issue- either to something in the environement such as grass or pollen, or a food ingredient. Since your dog is also vomiting you might consult your vet on whether a diet change might be appropriate along with cytology of the toenail beds and lesions to check for infection.

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 his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. 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!

You are correct that the licking and chewing of the paw along with the sneezing can be a sign of allergies in Penny. Dragging her bottom on the ground could be due to intestinal parasite or impacted anal sacs. I would have Penny seen by a vet for her symptoms. Using a physical exam, rectal exam, fecal exam (bring along a sample of her feces with you), blood tests, and urinalysis, the vet can diagnose what is causing all of her symptoms and can discuss treatment options with you. If she does have allergies, she may need steroids or antihistamines to treat it. Intestinal worms require a deworming treatment, while impacted anal sacs can be expressed by the vet. I would have her seen by a vet tomorrow if possible.