paw licking NOT allergies?? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Latte's Mom · 07-19-2008, 07:26 AM

Latte has taken different cortisones in very low does for allergies. After observing her recently I'm wondering if some of her paw licking is a result of arthritis? She is 6 years old and those little bones in her feet get an awful lot of exercise around the house and on walks. She generally licks them and chews on them only at night, in bed. I'm wondering if I can give her some baby aspirin and if so, how much?

kalina82 · 07-19-2008, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latte's Mom

Latte has taken different cortisones in very low does for allergies. After observing her recently I'm wondering if some of her paw licking is a result of arthritis? She is 6 years old and those little bones in her feet get an awful lot of exercise around the house and on walks. She generally licks them and chews on them only at night, in bed. I'm wondering if I can give her some baby aspirin and if so, how much?

Please do NOT give your dog aspirin. Licking her paws is probably not from arthritis at only 6 years of age. it could be allergies or she could be doing it out of habit. some dogs just lick and chew on their feet because they were never corrected to not do it. some dogs do it when they are bored. its a habit that should be stopped because they can create infections between their paw pads.

cory · 07-19-2008, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latte's Mom

Latte has taken different cortisones in very low does for allergies. After observing her recently I'm wondering if some of her paw licking is a result of arthritis? She is 6 years old and those little bones in her feet get an awful lot of exercise around the house and on walks. She generally licks them and chews on them only at night, in bed. I'm wondering if I can give her some baby aspirin and if so, how much?

I would not give your little one baby aspirin at all as it could cause stomach upset and or kidney damage to a tiny yorkie. I don't think your little girl is licking her paws from arthritis. Do her paws look inflammed in between the paw pads? This is a sure sign of allergies. Our previous yorkie Shasta (RIP) had this all the time. The best thing that worked for her was a prescription spray from the vet I believe it was called Derma-cool. It was a spray that contained topical cortisone, an anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal agent. It seemed to cool her paws and she stopped licking. When it got very bad, then she had to have a systemic antibiotic to clear it up. Hope it gets better your little one.

grandmatoall · 07-19-2008, 08:01 AM

Good information.

Julie1760 · 07-19-2008, 08:05 AM

My Bichon licks her paws all the time, even with corrections she won't stop. I was looking at some stuff to help and the main ingredient was Witch Hazel...so I had some here...and last night put some on the her paws and her legs where she has the worst spots and she stopped licking/chewing on them. So far today...she hasn't touch them and I'll apply it again if she starts up. I don't think the which hazel will hurt them if they do lick on it, like cortizone or some other things applied to them.

I would give it a try...can't hurt, and it isn't costly..and you can use it for other uses too. Bug bites, sunburn, etc.

Wylie's Mom · 07-19-2008, 08:05 AM

Have you checked her eyes too, for infection? Dogs will also lick/chew paws when they have an eye infection, so you may want give that a look. Also look very closely (w/ flashlight) btwn toes and pads to see if there is irritation and/or infection/overgrowth of anything bc dogs who lick/chew chronically can end up w/ yeast overgrowth in their feet due to all the moistness there...

zoeybear · 07-19-2008, 08:10 AM

My Mini Schnauzer chewed her feet a lot. The vet gave me an expensive spray to spray on her feet. It basically was "fast actin' tinactin" for athletes feet. Almost $100 to find out I could buy the cure at the grocery store! It's worth a try. They have cream or spray.

Yorkiedaze · 07-19-2008, 08:20 AM

Licking the feet is either an allergy, stress, or boredom and can easily become a bad habit. If it was arthritis she would be limping, or refusing to walk very far. I have one that licks her feet if she's fed tuna, which she's allergic to. I'd start with what foods your dog eats and try to narrow it down.

luvinmyyorkies · 07-19-2008, 08:36 AM

I recently brought Pip in for a check-up. Noticed some irritation and spots on her underneath side. She had a bacterial infection. Dr. said she had allergies. Asked if she had been licking or chewing her paws. Told her yes she was. She said that dogs lick their paws instead of sneezing like we do when our allergies are acting up. Gave her antibiotic for infection and some powder. Told me when I she her start to immediately give her 1/2 of Benedryl(spelling?)(she's almost 12 lbs.) It has really made a difference.

Latte's Mom · 07-19-2008, 08:40 AM

This is very helpful!! I will not give her aspirin and I agree with the posters who said it's either her allergies or a bad habit. She does not have any inflamation in her pads, but I will check again. Since she generally does this in bed,whether we're taking nap or at night, I do think much of it is a habit. I will work on correcting her. Right now, she's happily chewing her Greenie and her paws do not seem to bother her at all!

07-19-2008, 07:26 AM	#1
Latte's Mom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 246	paw licking NOT allergies?? Latte has taken different cortisones in very low does for allergies. After observing her recently I'm wondering if some of her paw licking is a result of arthritis? She is 6 years old and those little bones in her feet get an awful lot of exercise around the house and on walks. She generally licks them and chews on them only at night, in bed. I'm wondering if I can give her some baby aspirin and if so, how much?

07-19-2008, 08:01 AM	#4
grandmatoall I Love My Babies Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 1,440 Blog Entries: 1	Good information. __________________ "Bobbi, Proud Mom To: Sandy & Leo Yorkies & Grandkids - Make My Heart Smile

07-19-2008, 08:05 AM	#5
Julie1760 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Packer Country!!! Posts: 666	My Bichon licks her paws all the time, even with corrections she won't stop. I was looking at some stuff to help and the main ingredient was Witch Hazel...so I had some here...and last night put some on the her paws and her legs where she has the worst spots and she stopped licking/chewing on them. So far today...she hasn't touch them and I'll apply it again if she starts up. I don't think the which hazel will hurt them if they do lick on it, like cortizone or some other things applied to them. I would give it a try...can't hurt, and it isn't costly..and you can use it for other uses too. Bug bites, sunburn, etc. __________________ •·.·´¯`·.·•Julie •·.·´¯`·.·• Chloé & Myah

07-19-2008, 08:05 AM	#6
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	Have you checked her eyes too, for infection? Dogs will also lick/chew paws when they have an eye infection, so you may want give that a look. Also look very closely (w/ flashlight) btwn toes and pads to see if there is irritation and/or infection/overgrowth of anything bc dogs who lick/chew chronically can end up w/ yeast overgrowth in their feet due to all the moistness there... __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

07-19-2008, 08:10 AM	#7
zoeybear Misssing Baby Chloe Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 4,186	My Mini Schnauzer chewed her feet a lot. The vet gave me an expensive spray to spray on her feet. It basically was "fast actin' tinactin" for athletes feet. Almost $100 to find out I could buy the cure at the grocery store! It's worth a try. They have cream or spray. __________________ We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -M. Acklam

07-19-2008, 08:20 AM	#8
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	Licking the feet is either an allergy, stress, or boredom and can easily become a bad habit. If it was arthritis she would be limping, or refusing to walk very far. I have one that licks her feet if she's fed tuna, which she's allergic to. I'd start with what foods your dog eats and try to narrow it down.

07-19-2008, 08:36 AM	#9
luvinmyyorkies Yorkies are pure joy Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lansing, Illinois Posts: 641	I recently brought Pip in for a check-up. Noticed some irritation and spots on her underneath side. She had a bacterial infection. Dr. said she had allergies. Asked if she had been licking or chewing her paws. Told her yes she was. She said that dogs lick their paws instead of sneezing like we do when our allergies are acting up. Gave her antibiotic for infection and some powder. Told me when I she her start to immediately give her 1/2 of Benedryl(spelling?)(she's almost 12 lbs.) It has really made a difference. __________________ *Kathy, mom to Ceasar, Pip, & Max* *RIP my sweet Gizmo* *(10/05/09)*

07-19-2008, 08:40 AM	#10
Latte's Mom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 246	Thank you! This is very helpful!! I will not give her aspirin and I agree with the posters who said it's either her allergies or a bad habit. She does not have any inflamation in her pads, but I will check again. Since she generally does this in bed,whether we're taking nap or at night, I do think much of it is a habit. I will work on correcting her. Right now, she's happily chewing her Greenie and her paws do not seem to bother her at all!