Dog Paw Allergies If your dog has itchy paws, allergies may be the cause. Allergies are common and can be caused by the environment, food, or an irritant that comes into contact with your dog's skin. Redness, dark pigmentation, or brown staining on the paws from constant licking may be signs of allergies.
Clean your dog's paws — For redness that may be caused by yeast infections or allergies, or for redness caused by an object that you easily removed, follow up by cleaning your dog's affected paw with a medicated shampoo and warm water. Here's one we recommend from TropiClean.
Treatments may include topical therapy such as shampoo washes, foot soaks, or wipes for secondary bacterial and yeast infections. Oral antibiotics and anti-fungals may be required for more severe cases.
For overly licked dog paws, redness between toes may indicate a secondary infection. This may come in the form of either a bacterial infection or a fungal (yeast) infection. Bacterial problems in the skin may cause several forms of dermatitis.
A 1:10 vinegar dilution with distilled white vinegar and water can be used on wipes or cotton pads to kill yeast infections in the skin. Wipe carefully between the paw pads with this mixture 1-2 times daily, and you may be able to resolve yeast infections at home.
Cases of canine pododermatitis are common in general practice. One or more feet may be affected. Lesions can spontaneously resolve, wax and wane, or may persist indefinitely (1). Also called pedal folliculitis and furunculosis, the condition is complex, multifactorial, and may be frustrating to diagnose and treat (2).
Symptoms of a yeast infection include red, itchy skin, discolouration, and a sweet, musty odour. If a yeast infection is present in the paws (one of the most common areas), the paws will become red and itchy, and there may even be a brown discharge present in the nail beds.
This mite is not infectious to other animals or people, but requires specific treatment to reduce mite numbers down to normal levels again. Very rarely, other parasites can also contribute to pododermatitis.
An abscess, or localized infection of the skin, between the toes is also called an interdigital furuncle. It is similar to a severely infected pimple or boil on the face. These painful, pus-filled blisters often occur in the webbing between a dog's toes.
Treatment of Pododermatitis in Dogs
In dogs with infections, they will need to be treated with systemic antibiotics and anti-fungal medications. Bacterial infections usually need to be treated for at least 6 weeks. Malnourished canines will need to be placed on a balanced, high-fat and low carbohydrate diet.
Dogs can have a red paw (or paws) for a variety of different reasons. Some dogs get red paw pads because of an injury, and some dogs get red paws because of health conditions like canine food allergies, fleas, contact dermatitis, parasites, secondary infections, and yeast infections.
Bumblefoot is the common name for pododermatitis (inflammation of the skin on the foot) because the resulting foot pain causes the bird to stumble or “bumble” when walking.
Nailbed infections (paronchia) – Your dog may seem to pay a lot of attention to their feet, licking or chewing at the toes or nails. If you look closely, the nailbed might seem sticky or brownish and the skin around the nail may look pink, shiny or swollen. Crusty or hairless areas around the mouth.
When some dogs eat ingredients such as chicken, wheat, corn or other individual items, ingestion will trigger an allergic reaction that can alter the natural flora and allow an unnatural growth of yeast.
ACV will soothe the irritation on paws that are infected by bacteria due to excessive licking and scratching. Soak the paws of your pooch in two-part water to one part Apple Cider Vinegar bath for 5 minutes. Just pat dry the paws and do not rinse them.
Sudocrem. This can be used in dogs and cats in small amounts. Sudocrem contains zinc-oxide which is highly toxic to birds. Zinc-oxide is also toxic to dogs and cats if ingested in large quantities, but applying a thin layer of sudocrem to sore or irritated skin is generally safe and can be beneficial.
Paw balm or petroleum jelly-based products keep your dog's paws safe and moisturized. If boots don't feel right for your best friend, try Vaseline or a paw balm such as Musher's Secret.
Salt water can be used to treat itchy, allergic skin, on your dog, or skin affected by parasites such as fleas. You can make salt water at home, or head out to the beach if you live near the ocean, to get your dog his saltwater fix.
The best and most effective treatment for yeast dermatitis is an antifungal shampoo. Antifungal shampoos are most effective when used on your dog every 3-5 days for 2-12 weeks. To optimize the activity of antifungal shampoos, leave the shampoo on your dog's skin for at least 10 minutes before rinsing.
Yeast Infection Paw Soak
To make, mix 1 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water. If your pup has a strong yeasty odor, you can add a small amount of baking powder. Soak your dog's feet for 5 to 10 minutes, and then allow them to dry completely.
Interdigital cysts are a series of inflamed and often infected tissue between your dog's toes. They are commonly found on the front paws and can be a result of many different skin conditions. These can range from mites to ingrown hairs to allergies.
Yeast infections (yeast dermatitis) often affect the skin between a dog's toes and other skin folds, as seen in itching, redness, a greasy discharge, and occasionally a brown discoloration of the dog's toenails. You may notice excessive licking and red toenail beds in your dog's feet, which comes from the licking.