a couple ??'s for the allergy experts on this forum!

The Gold Bond powder can be used on many different types of skin problems.  Works great on hot spots, so it's good just to keep on hand.  You could actually use it on the paw area, but it'd likely get licked off.  I'm not sure if what you're seeing is actually too dry of paw pads, or just the normal pad.  Do they seem abnormally dry or cracked?  Both of my labs have pretty dry, rough pads but that really isn't a problem.  I've never found the tea solution to be a problem in drying them out anymore than they should be.  If you really think it is a problem though, you might try using it a little less often. 
 
As for the walking on grass issue, something interesting I've read is that it isn't so much the contact with the grass, or at least it isn't soley or always the contact, but the paws are one of the places where dogs have their sweat glands and so even inhallant allergies can exhibit symptoms on or through the feet.  Either way though, the tea keeps the itchiness down and helps keep them dry, which helps to prevent yeast infections. 

The grass thing is interesting. .  .hmmm ...wonder if that is why the epsom salts seem to work too? It helps to get rid of toxins. 
 
Yes, the pads are definately getting more and more dry and are very rough. I was thinking of trying petroleum jelly but I think he woudl lick that off too. 
 
Also, how do you keep the tea from going bad or do you have to make a new batch every time you use it? I know that tea grows bacteria very quickly so I was kepping mine in the fridge and then making a new batch every 2-3 days, but the problem is that it is too cold to put on his feet if I store in the fridge.

I know that tea grows bacteria very quickly

 
Is that true?  I honestly didn't know that.  I make a cup or 2 of the tea and then I also add a few drops of tea tree oil (a great anti-bacterial/anti-fungal agent).  I put it in a small squirt bottle and use that to squirt on the feet.  I usually do it outside before I bring her in and use a towel underneath and to blot the feet dry.  I didn't know the tea could go bad though, so maybe you shouldn't go with my method. 

Waiting tables for years, I learned that we couldn't let the tea sit very long because it can grow bacteria and make folks sick.
 
Maybe if I make it SUPER strong and then add a little warm water to the batch I am using at that time to bring it closer to room temp.  I like the idea of adding tea tree oil too. . .might have to try that!  Thanks!

jjsmom- I've been using Gold Bond Powder after reading posts on this site. Bogey is terribly allergic and we, too, are in the process of trying to figure out what it is.  But, she's constantly licking and chewing and gnawing on her pads and "heels".  I put some Gold Bond in my palm and then rub it into her foot.  It's medicated so smells like Ben Gay (but it's a clean smell).  She doesn't seem to be licking it off, but it does seem to stop the itching for a bit.  I've also switched (just today) to Natural Balance Duck and Sweet Potato food - it's an "allergy formula".  So, we'll see.  I didn't try the tea on the feet as we've got beige carpets and don't want it to get on the carpet.    Do you know what your dog is allergic to?  We're thinking that eventually, we might have to have her tested if the food thing doesn't work out.

I have light colored carpet too, which is why I do the tea treatment outside and then blot off any dampness.  It works really well and we haven't had any stains from the tea on the carpet.

I think I'll try that, too.  What can it hurt - I'm trying everything else.  We have a sunroom she comes into from outside and I could spray it on her feet there.  Someone else was talking about it getting bacteria if left out. Do you keep yours tea in the refrigerator and just spray it on her/his feet cold?

I have NOT been giving any benedryl or other antihistimes because his feet are much improved since keeping him off most grass and a diet change and I am still trying to assess some diet related allergies.

I'm glad his feet are a lot better but if you want to use antihistamines, they aren't effective against food allergies, so they won't interfere with determining if his itching is food related;     [linkhttp://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Dog_Food_Allergies#Diagnosing_Dog_Allergies]http://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Dog_Food_Allergies#Diagnosing_Dog_Allergies[/link]

" Food allergies can be hard to distinguish from other health problems and other types of allergies, but there are some signs to look for. Likely candidates for food allergies are dogs who experience symptoms year round rather than seasonally, dogs who do not respond to antihistamines or steroid treatment."

Do you keep yours tea in the refrigerator and just spray it on her/his feet cold?

I hadn't been keeping it in the frig.  It was jjsmom that posted about that, and I guess it could be true, but I hadn't had any problem.  I put a few drops of tea tree oil in the solution and even my vet agreed it has many beneficial aspects (antibacterial/antifungal).  I put mine in a squirt bottle.  Sprays of any kind seem to freak my lab, Sassy, out but she doesn't mind having it squirted on her feet.  I seem to get better saturation with a squirt bottle too.

Jessie's mom - the more I read, the more I think Bogey's got a food allergy.  She doesn't respond very well to Benadry and she's itchy and scratchy year-round.  I live in Illinois and we have a deep freeze and that's when her allergies should stop or at least die down.  I've started her on Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Duck today - they've got the allergy formula. What do you think about that food?

Regarding the tea -- making it strong and adding warm water is the way to go.  Also you can add tea tree oil (Wal-Marts is the cheapest) AND/OR lavender oil -- both are good anti-fungals but also super good emollients
 
You can also rub olive oil into the feet == anything petrolatum based (anything that feels like vaselline) is YUMMY to dogs so a little olive oil with some lavender oil in it is a pretty good emollent and less likely to be licked.  You might also add some St. John's Wort Oil if you can get it (morningstarhealth.com carries it among other places) -- allergies cause the histamines to stay at the surface of the skin and that's what makes the itchies.  The St. John's Wort oil will soothe and calm the skin too.

the more I read, the more I think Bogey's got a food allergy. She doesn't respond very well to Benadry and she's itchy and scratchy year-round. I live in Illinois and we have a deep freeze and that's when her allergies should stop or at least die down. I've started her on Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Duck today - they've got the allergy formula. What do you think about that food?

  Natural Balance isn't available in my area and shipping costs are expensive so I've never fed it but lots of members like the Natural Balance foods. The key is to make sure that it doesn't have ingredients that are in her old food. Jessie also itched year round before she started on immunotherapy. She is allergic to chicken but also has several environmental allergies. When we changed her to a food without chicken it was midwinter ( we live in Indiana) and she improved about 25% but still chewed her feet and had nasty foot infections. When she was tested, one of her highest scores was dust mites which explains why she was miserable all year round.
      I know that in the post above I linked to a site that said antihistamines aren't effective against itching from food allergies but they don't always help with environmental allergies either. As far as antihistamines are concerned, some dogs respond to them better than others, and different dogs respond to different antihistamines. None of the over the counter antihistamines helped Jessie. The veterinary dermatologist prescribed Doxipin which helped to some degree but when Jessie was having flare ups this July she had an ear infection in both ears, an infection on her foot, and a skin infection on her stomach all within three weeks while taking Doxipin. The dermatologist had her shot schedule increased from once every 2 weeks to once a week and the flare ups stopped. She'll go back to a 2 week schedule in October.
I hope you are right about Bogey having a food allergy and that changing  foods is enough to make a difference. How long have you been giving Benedryl? It can take a few weeks before an antihistamine helps. If you have been using it for that long then it wouldn't hurt to try another one; Jessie responded a little to Tavist; didn't shake her head as much.

jessies mom - what is the dosage on Tavist.  Bogey's been on Benadryl for a couple weeks and I'm going to give her another couple and then if no changes, I'll switch. I did try the tea on the feet today, though. Cold Brew tea bags - should work the same?

jessies mom - what is the dosage on Tavist. Bogey's been on Benadryl for a couple weeks and I'm going to give her another couple and then if no changes, I'll switch. I did try the tea on the feet today, though. Cold Brew tea bags - should work the same?

Here's a link for giving several antihistamines to dogs, has dosage by weight; Tavist is included;

[linkhttp://www.utskinvet.org/pdf/antihists.pdf]http://www.utskinvet.org/pdf/antihists.pdf[/link]

You may want to check with your vet too; my veterinary dermatologist recommended a larger dose for Jessie than what is indicated on the link. Marvistavet ( a great site for information about many dog related health issues)   [linkhttp://www.marvistavet.com/html/inhalant_allergies.html]http://www.marvistavet.com/html/inhalant_allergies.html[/link]  said in their experience Tavist worked better than other antihistamines. I'm not sure what you mean by cold brew tea bags; is it a kind of tea that can be brewed without using boiling water? I guess you could try them and see.