PAW CHEWING & LICKING

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alaskan....@gocco.co.za

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May 21, 2007, 3:50:46 AM5/21/07

to Chat Forum - (AMBFSA) ALASKAN MALAMUTE BREEDERS FORUM OF SOUTH AFRICA

Having a problem with your dog chewing and licking their paws?

1. Food allergy:
You will need to give a test diet of (say) Hills Z/d ultra-hypogenic
diet for at least three weeks with absolutely no other food or snacks.
If the itch disappears, the diagnosis is made. With food allergy you
get itchiness throughout the year.

2. Atopy:
With this multiple allergic disease the itchiness will tend to be more
severe in summer. (More pollen, fungal spores, house dust mites and
fleas). Diagnosis is difficult. Usually if the itchiness responds to
prednisolone treatment the diagnosis could be atopy. (Food allergies
don't usually respond to prednisolone). There is a blood test that can
be done which is, in my opinion, more accurate than a skin sensitivity
test. Your vet should know about this test. The results usually show a
number of allergens that could be causing the disease. The same
laboratory can then manufacture a vaccine specifically for your dog.
The vaccine is then used to de-sensitise the patient. Eventually you
can usually control the disease with monthly injections of the
vaccine. This is the best option, but unfortunately, as with so many
things in life, also the most expensive. Alternatively one could use
prednisolone in short "bursts" of about three to five days in
conjunction with antihistamines. This is not the best option because
it could shorten your dogs life, but it is by far the cheapest
option.

3 Demodectic mange:
The demodex parasites sometimes target the inter-digital (between the
toes) spaces. If there is a secondary infection, severe redness and
itchiness may result. Diagnosis is fairly simple with skin scrapings
examined under the microscope. Many mites, young forms and eggs seen
under low magnification clinches the diagnosis.

4. "Inter-digital Eczema":
This is a bacterial infection of the skin (pyoderma) confined to the
inter-digital areas of the skin. Thorough cleaning with an antiseptic,
emollient creams and antibiotics like cephalexin given over a period
of at least two months or longer, depending upon the response will
usually clear up this condition.