QuestionQUESTION: I adopted Milo from a rescue about 6 weeks ago. He is 5 1/2 years old and about as sweet as can be. He has virtually no bad habits and can be trusted to be alone without any problems. However, I notice when he is on my lap relaxing or we are settling down to read before bed-he has this compulsive habit of chewing and licking his paws. Needless to say, it is not the most soothing of sounds (he literally sounds as if he is chewing on a rawhide), but worst than that-he has a yeast infection on his paws I've been fighting for the past month with prescriptions, foot baths & special shampoos, benedryl, etc. I fear he will never overcome the yeast infection because he chews/licks his paws so much. When I try to tell him to stop, or put my hand between him and his paws-he just licks, licks, licks my hands. I'm wondering if I should invest in some special booties and/or socks for him to help stop this behavior. If so-then what kind? Would baby socks work?
The snoring, the shedding, the fine mist that seems to escape his face with every breath, I can handle...but the chewing/licking is out of control and I feel like it is affecting his health (the skin on his paws). What can I do?
ANSWER: It seems like 99.9% of pugs have allergies and they display this same behavior...licking their feet. It tends to drive a person nutty, especially when you have to or 15 of them all licking and slurping. I recommend:
1. Check him for fleas. They can be very allergic to flea saliva.
2. What are you feeding your Pug? Get a very high quality food to see if that helps. Maybe try Science Diet Z/D (I call it gold in a bag). It takes a while to see if the diet will help.
3. We give our pugs up to three Benadryl (25 mg.) per day.
4. Try putting Revolution on your pugs to see if it has mites.
5. If none of these help, you may need to have some allergy testing done. Your Vet will probably want to put your pug on Pred. This will only mask the symptoms, not cure the problem.
The socks may help but I think they would probably still lick and you would have to constantly watch that the pug does not ingest the socks. I know mine would.
Wish I had a sure fire fix for foot licking. I would be very very rich.
Thanks and good luck.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for the response. He has been checked for fleas and is in the clear. I have been feeding him Science Diet small bites for the past 6 weeks. He is currently getting two benadryl a day-but again, I see no improvement.
I have not heard of Revolution-what is that, and is it available through the vet's office? I'd really rather avoid Prednazone if at all possible, my last dog put on a lot of weight and had to potty nearly every hour when he was on it, poor guy.
What kind of socks would you recommend? Special dog-booties or would baby socks suffice (provided they weren't too tight). I thought maybe I'd try to put those on him at times when I am at home and can watch how he reacts with them on. Thanks for the input-
AnswerYes, the Pred will make them go alot.
I can't remember where I saw the booties. Maybe Campbell Pet Supply. YOu might check their website.
I would really be suprised if he kept socks on.
Revolution is for fleas, heartworm, mites, etc. that you get at your vet.
Also, I am checking into Flint River Ranch(I think that is what it is called) to see if it will help with allergies. We currently feed S/D Maint. and allergies are really bad.
