Paw chewing

Question
Anai, My 9 year old Golden has a very bad habit of chewing on the pads of his paws to the point of rawness and he often hurts himself bad enough to limp with pain, I tried a deterant spray but that only works for a short time but he also does this when no one is home. He also chews and pulls on his nails, what do you think I should do about it? and what do you think it is?........Tom.

Answer
Tom,

I can feel your distress as you are desperately trying to help him break this chewing habit.

The problem is, your dog is chewing skin that is trying to heal. The skin is very itching during this process so it feels good (and bad) for the dog as he keeps re-opening old cuts.

The causes are many, but more commonly due to inhaled allergens. You will need to get your dog tested for allergies.

Unfortunately, the method used to test for allergies on canines is one once used in humans. There is however a blood test you can request. The test has shown less accuracy so I wouldn't suggest it.

The basic steps are:

1. A selected area of fur is shaved

2. several different substances are injected into the skin

If there are signs of a reaction signalling an allergy, your dog with have a formulated injection given to him over a series of days or weeks depending on the allergy.

Put the sprays away until your dog's skin has healed. There are chemicals that seep through the open wounds and cause the dog more harm than good.

Meanwhile, my suggestion would be to give your dog anti-inflammatories such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They are naturally derived from fish. If your dog is vegan as my two dogs are, then read the labels carefully to ensure they are getting the plant derived fatty acids.

Products containing these fatty acids can be purchased online or at your local pet store. These include Derm Caps, EFA-Z Plus and Omega Pet.

I hope this help. Please mail me anytime at anairhoads@orgasmicvegan.org if you have any other questions.

Best,

Anai Rhoads