my Shih Tzu front feet are red and a bit swollen

Question
Hi Patti,
I have a shih tzu aged 5 years, almost 6 now. I've moved house 2 years ago and I noticed that my shih tzu's front feet, upper paws, are red. She keeps on licking them until they are really wet. I've consulted a vet and were told that it's due to the moist and I just need to put powder to keep it dry. I've done it, but it won't stop. I've bathed her with medicated shampoo but it's not working either. It only lasts for a day and the next day the same thing appear. Sometimes they bleed and she doesn't feel comfortable at all. The fur in the upper feet is also changing color to brownish. What should I do? Please help. Thank you.

Answer
Hi Nathania,

In dogs, foot licking is often a symptom of an allergy of some kind. That's why the medicated shampoo didn't stop the foot licking. The color change of the fur is caused by the constant licking. A form of yeast or bacteria might be growing on the continually moist areas. This could require separate treatment, and be contributing to the itching.

The challenge is to find what's causing the itchy reaction in your dog. Dog food ingredients most likely to cause a reaction are: beef, soy, chicken, milk, corn, wheat, eggs, and food additives such as dyes.

To see if it's a food allergy, your dog must be placed on an "elimination diet", or "feeding trial" which is a diet containing a protein and carbohydrate source your dog has never had before. Your dog would need to stay on this special diet for a minimum of 8 weeks to see if a diet change improves her itching. During this time your dog should not receive edible treats such as rawhide, chew hooves, or dog biscuits (if they contain the protein and grain sources of her previous diet).

The special dog food for the elimination diet can be purchased from your vet's office, or "over the counter". Talk it over with your vet, and get his or her approval of an over the counter brand. Brands of hypoallergenic dog food to consider are:

Pinnacle Hypoallergenic Trout & Sweet Potato
Eagle Pack Holistic Select Anchovy, Sardine and Salmon Meal Formula
Eagle Pack Holistic Select Duck & Oatmeal Formula
Eagle Pack Holistic Select Duck & Oatmeal Formula
Flint River Ranch Trout & Potato
Instinct Grain-Free Rabbit Meal Formula
Prairie New Zealand Venison Meal & Millet Medley
Canidae Grain Free Salmon formula
Wellness Simple Food Solutions De-boned Duck OR De-boned Venison

So, your first step in finding out what's causing your dog's itching would be to have your dog examined by your veterinarian. It's also possible that it's not a food allergy, but it's only after trying the food trial that you would know this. Other possible allergen problems with your dog's symptoms include:

Contact allergies: A local reaction of the skin. Examples of contact allergy include reactions to flea collars or to types of bedding, such as wool, your laundry detergent, or plastic.

Inhalant allergies: Dogs may be allergic to all of the same inhaled allergens that affect humans. These include tree pollens (cedar, ash, oak, etc.), grass pollens, weed pollens (ragweed, etc.), molds, mildew, and the house dust mite.

It's also possible that your dog has developed the habit of foot chewing out of boredom. If your dog is alone a lot during the day, and does not receive enough exercise, the problem could be "all in your dog's head". Increasing the amount of exercise your dog receives each day can help, as can other mentally stimulating activities, such as obedience training. This is something to consider if your vet can't find a medical cause for the itching. You'd have to take measures to break your dog of the habit, which isn't as simple as it sounds.

There could be a secondary skin infection to deal with caused by yeast or bacteria on the moist skin. This could require medication.
Though there are medications that suppress the itching, until the underlying cause for the problem is resolved, the itching will remain. Many times more than one treatment needs to be tried before you see progress, so please be patient.

Another thing to try would be an omega fatty acid supplement. These fatty acids are natural anti-inflammatory agents. They tend to reduce inflammation that may lead to skin sores but are not as effective in reducing itching. Products that contain both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids include: Omega Pet, Derm Caps, and EFA-Z Plus. This supplement needs to be given daily for at least a month before it's beneficial effects may be seen.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti