Paw Chewing

[Anniesmom]

Hi everyone!

I don't know if this has been addressed recently, but, Annie started licking her front paw (found it was an abrasion and have been treating it). Last night she started chewing the top of her back paw. She has chewed paws before, but, no big deal. Well this morning I noticed that there was a red spot underneath the hair (looks like it may have bled a bit). She isn't in pain, but, started chewing/licking it again.

Could this be a hot spot? We are taking her in to see the vet at 11a. We can't afford to keep doing this since the last bill was $159 (worth it don't get me wrong here). Are there any products a person can put on one of these areas that their dog is licking/chewing?

Thanks!

[Jespah]

I don't know what you can put on it - if you aren't sure what it is. If it is a hot spot, it needs to be dry - so putting stuff that's moist on it, won't be good and will attrack dirt and such. She needs to stop licking as that can make them grow in size quickly. I hate to say it - but she may need a collar for a bit. I know that someone recommended Goldbond powder recently - but I think that would depend on how open the sore is.

[Kassie]

I love gold bond...but you want to start it before it is raw. It heals and stops the licking.

[Anniesmom]

Well we took her and it is a good thing. Our vet was afraid it would be bigger than it was, so, he was relieved.

It is some kind of lipoma, so, we can put topical antibiotic on it bid and then spray prn with Chew Guard. The Chew Guard also goes on after the antibiotic. Lots of dogs have been coming in with this sort of thing.

So the protocol goes like this:
1) Antibiotic and Chew Guard and keep her from licking it so it can heal
2) If she doesn't stop, then comes the baby sock with duct tape around the top.
3). Last resort is the collar.

We have sprayed once as she started after it a bit, and she stopped. This is like bitter apple.

The vet was glad we brought her in when we did to catch it early. Of course then she had to schmooze with everyone while she was there. :COOL:

I'm interested in hearing more about the Gold Bond. Is that cream, lotion, or just powder? Which strength? Baby or Adult?

[Jespah]

Well - good thing you know what it is and what to do about it. I hope it clears up quickly so she doesn't feel the need to chew or lick it much longer.

I'm not the Gold Bond expert - but I'm pretty sure it was the powder - but what strength, I don't know. If it was a hot spot - then dry is the optimum.

Quick healing vibes to the DIVA! :SMILE:

Deb

[Anniesmom]

I misspoke, my sister knew what the vet said Annie had...a lick granuloma. Has anyone heard of this? I am going to google and see what they look like. Julie said that they can get quite large.

[Jespah]

So what are they recommending you do to try and change her behaviour?

[Kassie]

I use gold bond powder.yellow/orange bottle with red cap NOT the green bottle, that would burn.

[LaRogue]

Gold bond has always been highly recommended for hot spots. I am allergic to it and have been told corn starch works well, too. My understanding is they work by drawing out the moisture and drying out the hot spot. You just sprinkle them on, when the hot spot first begins.

[Anniesmom]

So what are they recommending you do to try and change her behaviour?

We are keeping a very close eye on her (not that we don't anyway due to the back issue), antibiotic spray bid and then the Chew Guard spray. The Chew Guard spray is nasty tasting (so behaviour modification). I am hoping that this level works, otherwise we move up to baby sock/duct tape and then the final level is the Elizabethan collar.

When we spray she doesn't particularly care for it (I suppose it must burn a bit since it is raw). Nothing like the pictures I saw when I googled it.

It came up really, really fast! I just keep thinking about what if we hadn't taken her in/or been able to get her in yesterday and she kept chewing it?

[Jaxerspal]

What's causes it Deb? Sure hope it goes away(do they?) soon so the Diva can get back to looking her best! +HUGGLES+

[Dillydoodle]

Deb, I sure hope Annie's paw feels better soon. I googled lick granuloma- owww! I hope she stops licking at it, and gives it a chance to heal up ...

Did they rule out allergies? like a contact allergy? With Dillon , a few years back he was chewing and licking his feet really badly and was starting to lose a little hair from all the chewing and had a little bit of scabbing on his pastern from all of the chewing and licking. I managed to get an allergy test and diagnosis and put him in temeril-p for his allergies and since then he is doing very well and we have not ever been to the point of that bright red, raw skin on his feet that we used to get at the begining of spring and in fall ( think rag weed and goldenrod time!)

Anyway, i sure hope she feels better fast and tell the Diva not to lick those feet so she can heal up!

[Anniesmom]

She does have allergies for which she takes Chlortrimeton bid. She is letting us spray the antibiotic and then the Chew Guard. She will move her foot a bit like it either stings or startles her.

She moved her head yesterday when she was laying down and looked like she might lick, sniffed and then didn't. I am grateful that she is leaving it alone (as far as we are aware of anyway), it hasn't gotten any bigger.

I guess they heal, but, I don't know if they really go away? I hope so, because she had 4 perfect little white socks before this. Vanity thy name is woman.+EMBARRASED+

All I can pass along is watch your babies because this came up really fast!

[disraeli ears]

My Lab, Tess, had one of these on her back leg that would come and go...she would like it raw. She actually had to wear an Elizabethan collar quite frequently (covering it with socks and such wasn't working) to get her to leave it alone.

Hope it clears up soon for the Diva! +WUBCLUB+

[taflar]

I'm interested in hearing more about the Gold Bond. Is that cream, lotion, or just powder? Which strength? Baby or Adult?

I use Gold Bond powder. It's a medicated powder. Not for babies that I know of. I use the one in the yellow bottle. It's the regular strength.

The key to the Gold Bond powder for hot spots is it drys them out and stops the itching. Drying them helps them to heal and stopping the itching or pain stops the dog from licking/biting it.

Gold Bond powder is about all I ever use on hot spots now days. And I've found it works no matter when you find it, not just when it's red and starting to get inflamed but not yet a raw wound but also when it's an weeping wound.

Listerine (the amber one) will also work on hot spots but it works best when you find a red spot that isn't a raw wound yet.

Peggy

[taflar]

I misspoke, my sister knew what the vet said Annie had...a lick granuloma. Has anyone heard of this? I am going to google and see what they look like. Julie said that they can get quite large.

Yes, it's a sore made from the dog licking the area.
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2085&aid=2304

Peggy

[ZdogZ]

Ouch! Poor Annie! I hope she's better soon.

[dcole]

First of all, vibes for Miss Annie. I hope that the medication and the sprays work so that her paw can begin to heal.

I had never heard of lick granuloma before. Trevor tends to lick one of his paws quite often, and although I haven't seen raw spots or anything, I now know to keep a closer eye on things. So thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention.

Hope the little Diva's footsie heals soon! +WUBCLUB+

[cfye]

my lilly marlene licks all of her feet whenever she gets a chance. This concerned me for a long time. I look at her feet and they all look ok, no sores, hot spots or anything. The vet thinks it may be fleas but she is treated for fleas. I think its boredom because she is alone while I work. So, thanks for all of your good ideas. I will try the Gold Bond. It may have develped into a very bad habit. Also, someone said to give your Corgi pumpkin (canned, as in pie) for gastro related issues. Lilly is somewhat constipated and wanted to check this out. Thanks to you all.

[gogogiraffes]

my lilly marlene licks all of her feet whenever she gets a chance. This concerned me for a long time. I look at her feet and they all look ok, no sores, hot spots or anything. The vet thinks it may be fleas but she is treated for fleas. I think its boredom because she is alone while I work. So, thanks for all of your good ideas. I will try the Gold Bond. It may have develped into a very bad habit. Also, someone said to give your Corgi pumpkin (canned, as in pie) for gastro related issues. Lilly is somewhat constipated and wanted to check this out. Thanks to you all.

My vet just told me that capsasian roll on is a deterrent so you might want to ask about that. But it could be allergies. The rest of Gizmo's feet look fine, but he's got terrible allergies. We have him on many trial meds.

As for the pumpkin, it works in both ways. So give it a try, i'm not sure the dosage. So I'll let someone chime in on that.

[thebeach.corgi]

Healing vibes for the Diva. Sore tootsies are no fun. "NO:":

[corgiland]

Take care, Annie!

Hope that your foot is better soon.........

[Dillydoodle]

pumpkin can work both ways... i give mine a tablespoon morning and evening with every meal mixed into their food. just make sure the pumpkin is 100% pumpkin, not the pie mix that has all the spices and sugar in it.

Good luck with the itchy feet.. I have a foot chewer, but he has allergies and as long as he is on his meds , he seems to do ok.

[CasaCorgis]

Healing vibes for Annie! It seems like you have a good regimen to heal the spot and to deter her from going at it again.

Best wishes for success!