Dog Community

Posted : 5/5/2006 8:41:35 AM

The only thing that would cause an allergy (most likely) is the corn gluten meal.....

This isn't necessarily true. Dogs can be allergic to anything, from chicken, beef, rice, even preservatives.

My bet is on the pollen. We had pollen season several weeks ago and had the itchies here too- people and dogs.

papillon806

Posted : 5/5/2006 11:47:41 AM

I know, but at 9 months old with no parental history of food allergies, I highly doubt it's anything like that. Anyways, I tried the tea thing and OMG it works like a charm! I did that the other day after I took him to the barn and he didn't lick his paws or itch at all (which is rare)!!

Definatley found the solution to that problem!

cakana

Posted : 5/5/2006 12:54:31 PM

I think that the itchy feet doesn't necessarily or always come from the feet actually being exposed to the allergens. It is however the most likely place that allergens come OUT in the skin (even inhaled allergens). I'm guessing that this is related to the sweat glands being in the feet, but not sure of that. It also becomes the most problematic area because dogs can & do lick there and then you have the complication of a yeast infection. Regardless though, the tea solution keeps the skin calmed down

3guysandagirl

Posted : 5/5/2006 3:37:30 PM

My one dog has also been licking and bitting at his feet, started about 3-4 weeks ago. How much water per tea bag do you use, I don't want to make it to weak.

cakana

Posted : 5/5/2006 5:11:13 PM

I make it like I was making myself really strong tea. I probably use the equivalent of 2 bags per cup of water, but even 1 bag per cup would probably be fine. Not to complicate this any, but I also added a couple drops of tea tree oil into the mix too. Not sure it's necessary but figured it might help.

jessies_mom

Posted : 5/5/2006 6:15:46 PM

Personally I wouldn't use antihistimines except as a last resort for a very bad case. There are other products that can help that aren't drugs (like the black tea mentioned, witch hazel solution, different essential oils in a spritzer solution, etc).

Actually, antihistamines are safe and Jessie never experienced any side effects like drowsiness, but they also didn't seem to help her much either, although some here have found they help their dogs. Studies have shown that if you use a fatty acid supplement with antihistamines it can help 30 to 50 percent of dogs with allergies. Your dog's itching feet are more likely to be caused by what he breathes in rather than what he steps on ; contact allergies are less common than inhallant allergies.

3guysandagirl

Posted : 5/5/2006 7:10:45 PM

Thanks Cathy, i'm making some up right now.

schleide

Posted : 5/6/2006 3:06:42 PM

Wow - I am glad I read this thread too - Wesley has been licking and biting at his feet too for the past few days and I kept checking them to see if he had cut himself or what... I will try the tea solution...

cakana

Posted : 5/6/2006 5:42:31 PM

The tea solution idea actually came from Callie (who else[

]?), so deserves the credit. It sure does work though and the best part is that my dog doesn't mind at all.

OK I am totally paranoid...