Dogs with OCD?

[murphysbrat]

Hi everyone! I am hoping someone can help me with a problem I am having with Reiley. He is obsessed about licking his feet. I have checked them out time and time again and there is nothing stuck in them. He is licking them to the point that they get raw and discolored at times. I have had the fur shaved some on the bottoms thinking maybe it was tickling him. That didn't work. I'm not sure if he is just OCD or if there is something else. All I know is that he needs to stop!! I'm going nuts!! Any ideas??? :confused: HELP!!

Thanks :)

[hershey kiss]

Trina Hershey Kiss did the same thing she drove us up a wall.We found out it was something in her food.We think it was the Chicken we switch her to EVO
she still well lick her paws but not like she was doing.I hope this helps you out we feel your wet spots.Hershey Kiss

[murphysbrat]

Thanks for the quick response. Reiley has been on the same brand of food since he started eating. (Iams) I could try changing it up and see what happens. Did Hersey Kiss just start doing this out of no where? Cause thats what Reiley did. Thanks so much for the tip!!

[Emmie1020]

My Mom's Lab does that to.. They have Even gone to the Point were the Poor Dog (Sherman) HAD SOCKS ON HIS FEET (oops Paws). :)

I kept telling my Mom it could be allergies or the food causing the allergies. It could Even be a Skin Issue.

Most likely Food Issue.

Here is a Link that I found. Lots of Q: on Paw Licking. Hope it HELPS

http://www.righthealth.com/Health/paw_licking/-od-answers_questions_Paw_Licking-s

[murphysbrat]

Thanks so much! I am going to go check out that website right now. He is driving us all crazy!!!

Thanks again!

[hershey kiss]

With Hershey we tried about 3 different foods our Vet.told us it could be one of the grains that is in the food.

[murphysbrat]

I am going to give it a try and change his food and see if that makes a difference. I wonder if Benadryl would help with that too?

[Emmie1020]

I would Check with your Vet Before any Medication... Usually Benadryl Will make them Drowsy.

[renegade]

Sounds like it's either allergies (could be food or environmental - best to work with your vet on that) or an anxiety issue (sometimes vets can offer meds to help with this as well).

If you want my long version of my experience with allergies and foot licking, give me a call at: 510-299-1665 - I've been through 4 years of it with Zack and we've been through just about every treatment and finally have it somewhat under control. Every dog will be different, but I can tell you about my experiences good and bad.

[murphysbrat]

Thanks Wendy! I will be chatting with you for sure! Are you going to be in San Mateo? Reiley and I will be there along with Buck and Leslie. If so maybe we can chat some then.

See ya then!!

[SplishSplashCrash]

Hi everyone! I am hoping someone can help me with a problem I am having with Reiley. He is obsessed about licking his feet. I have checked them out time and time again and there is nothing stuck in them. He is licking them to the point that they get raw and discolored at times. I have had the fur shaved some on the bottoms thinking maybe it was tickling him. That didn't work. I'm not sure if he is just OCD or if there is something else. All I know is that he needs to stop!! I'm going nuts!! Any ideas??? :confused: HELP!!

Thanks :)

It could be OCD brought on by stress or bordem/ lack of enrichment or it could be skin allergies brought on by food or envriomental stuff.

I would contact your vet first and foremost

[Chase]

I think he is allergic to the pollen in the air. Chase used to chew and lick his feet to the point that he lost most of the hair on them and they would get all crusty and infected. It was awful.

I took him to a top demotologist who suggested shots. I said I did not want him to have shots, so I started doing something that seems like a lot of work, but really is not. In order to keep the pollen off of him, I bathe him with Malaseb shampoo whenever he has been out of my house or yard, which sometimes means bathing him everyday. Malaseb does not dry out his skin. In fact, it is now as if he has been thoroughly exfoliated! Other shampoos did dry him out very badly and cause itching, so I only use Malaseb.

He has gotten so used to frequent bathing that he now gets into the bathtub all by himself and waits for me. So, if I take him for a walk on the beach trail, I wash him as soon as we get back home. I can now wash him and dry him in 5-10 minutes now. Just like having a child and bathing them every night!

If that seems like too much work for you, then be sure to at least wash his feet with the Malaseb shampoo and then take a wet wash cloth and rub it over his whole body to pick up as much of the pollen as possible. The more pollen you keep off of him and keep out of your house, the less allergic reaction he will have. My demotologist said that it is working as well as shots.

I have not had a problem since. Best of luck to you.

Brooke & Chase