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My dog tends to lick and chew her paws frequently, what can I do
My dog (a Teddie) tends to lick and chew on her paws frequently. She does have some troubles with frostbite in winter so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it? What can I do to help her and how do I keep her paws safe from frostbite this winter?
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By: Kara McCarty El Segundo, CA
Replied on 04/19/2011Your dog is likely chewing her paws for a reason, allergies, matts, snow or ice caught in her paw hair in the winter, or an injury. If her paws become red and raw they may get a secondary yeast infection. Yeast are usually secondary invaders when the environment is right, a warm, moist, raw skin environment. A yeast infection makes them more itchy causing a vicious cycle. It's important to get her to stop chewing so if her paws get raw an elizabethan collar is the first step so she can't get to her paws. If her paws aren't raw clip the hair on her paws very short so it won't hold any moisture or snow or ice matts. Use antihistamines and high doses of omega-3 fatty acid supplements to combat allergies. You may have to try a few antihistamines, Hydroxyzine, Claritin or Benadryl, before you find the one that works best for her. If she's still not leaving her paws alone you may want to have a radiograph of them done to look for signs of an injury or arthritis. Kara, DVM
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