My Shih Tzu is licking paws and scratching face/body. What's wrong?

This is probably caused by an allergic reaction. first of all make sure you de-flea Cutie regularly every month with a high quality spot on (ex. Advantage) as fleas are by far the most common reason for these reactions. If the fleas are not the problem, it could be an allergic reaction to food or an environmental factor. this is more complicated to treat and will sometimes require medications such as Steroids, anti histamines or Apoquel in order to stop the allergy.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Max. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian today as he seems very uncomfortable. He could have a small wound on the paw (such as a puncture from stick or thorn), a cracked and infected toenail, a fractured bone or even a small growth could all be irritating him. His veterinarian will thoroughly examine the paw and let you know if diagnostics such as x-rays are needed. From there, treatment can be started. In the meantime, place an E-collar on him to prevent any further self trauma from licking. I hope this information helps!

I’m sorry but it is difficult to tell what’s going on with the foot with just a picture. If the fur is a reddish brown color or skin is red then it could be allergies or an infection. I would try Benadryl twice a day and a cone collar to prevent her from chewing it. See link below. With her being sick, there are several different causes from liver/kidney issues, diabetes, an infection, parasites, pancreatitis, and much more. Since it has been going on for awhile I would have your vet take a look at her. She is at high risk for dehydration because of her size. Your vet will be able to determine the cause, look at her foot and get her started on the proper meds to make her feel better. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! RJ sounds like he is sensitive to something in his environment such as insects, grass, other plants, carpet/floor cleaner, or even possibly an airborne allergen. While a food allergy is possible, it is uncommon at his age. That said, try avoiding the greenies for a while and see if that helps. Unfortunately, there is not a medication available over-the-counter for itchiness for dogs, so I cannot recommend anything like that. However, bathing RJ once weekly in a colloidal oatmeal shampoo and wiping his feet with aloe-free baby wipes after trips outdoors are good ways to reduce contact allergen exposure. If the itching continues or starts to worsen, please have him seen by your veterinarian. Hope this helps!

I agree that allergies are one of the most likely causes for your dog's scratching - this is a very common problem for many dogs in the summer. But there are other possible causes also that should be ruled out first - itching can also be caused by skin mites (mange), or bacterial or fungal infections. If the itching is allergy related, you can try bathing in a dog shampoo with either cortisone or aloe and oatmeal to help soothe the itching. But most allergy problems in dogs require prescription medications to treat successfully, so I would recommend having your dog examined by a vet if bathing her isn't helpful.

Hi there! Licking and chewing at the paws is typically indicative of an allergy; however, it sounds as though this is a new behavior for Deevo and is isolated to one paw. If he will allow you throughly inspect the paw, looking in-between the toes and paw pads to see if there is anything stuck in the fur or skin. It is also possible that he has come into contact with an irritant. You can wash his paws with a mild soap (Dawn dish soap works well) and see if that helps. If he continues to lick/chew or starts to lick/chew his other paws he should be seen by his regular veterinarian to discuss possible diagnostics and/or treatments for allergies. Hope this helps and Deevo gets better soon.

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.