Paw Chewing?

HarleyHasMyHeart · 08-29-2010, 11:24 AM

So my dog Harley, ever since I got him last year chews his paws a lot. When I try to look at them or touch his paws he pulls them away. He has a lot of long hair between his paws, could that be irritating them? Should I take him to the vet? I'm not sure what I should do.

pawzaddict · 08-29-2010, 12:17 PM

What are you feeding?
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HarleyHasMyHeart · 08-30-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawzaddict

What are you feeding?
Posted via Mobile Device

I'm feeding Pedigree Large Breed: Complete Adult Nutrition (small bites)

Dawnben · 08-30-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarleyHasMyHeart

I'm feeding Pedigree Large Breed: Complete Adult Nutrition (small bites)

I would switch to a food without corn wheat or soy and no byproducts or meat and bone meal all of the above can cause allergies and the foot chewing is one of the signs that usually says allergy.

If you want a low cost food go to Costco and get Kirkland's or they have Natures Domain that is grain free which might be the best for a dog with possible allergies. Or go to petco and get a limited diet food like Natural Balance it has 2 ingredients like fish and potato or venison and potato. You should see a difference in a few weeks but sometimes it takes 4 to 6 months on the new food to see a difference.

HarleyHasMyHeart · 08-30-2010, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawnben

I would switch to a food without corn wheat or soy and no byproducts or meat and bone meal all of the above can cause allergies and the foot chewing is one of the signs that usually says allergy.

If you want a low cost food go to Costco and get Kirkland's or they have Natures Domain that is grain free which might be the best for a dog with possible allergies. Or go to petco and get a limited diet food like Natural Balance it has 2 ingredients like fish and potato or venison and potato. You should see a difference in a few weeks but sometimes it takes 4 to 6 months on the new food to see a difference.

Thank you!! Somebody else just told me that Pedigree is not soo good. I don't really care how much the food cost, I just want something that is really good and healthy for Harley. So Natural Balance would be the best kind of food to give him?

Thank you!!

Tess · 08-30-2010, 01:16 PM

Everything Dawnben said... ditto!

Another cause for paw chewing can be stress and just not enough to do, but what you described on the other thread does not go along with that. Sometimes hypothyroidism can cause skin problems of the feet/pads too. But I would first look for a better food, as Dawnben suggests. Give it at least a month to see if the new food helps with the itchiness. Does he get hot spots or ear infections? If so, again that can be aggravated by food allergies.

Really, the dog food companies in general, are not thinking of the best health of your dog. They are thinking of making a profit by convincing you to buy their food with all their lovely advertising, at the same time as they put the cheapest possible ingredients in the food.

Here is the review on one of the pedigree foods...
Dog Food Reviews - Pedigree Performance (adult dog food) - Powered by ReviewPost

HarleyHasMyHeart · 08-30-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tess

Everything Dawnben said... ditto!

Another cause for paw chewing can be stress and just not enough to do, but what you described on the other thread does not go along with that. Sometimes hypothyroidism can cause skin problems of the feet/pads too. But I would first look for a better food, as Dawnben suggests. Give it at least a month to see if the new food helps with the itchiness. Does he get hot spots or ear infections? If so, again that can be aggravated by food allergies.

Really, the dog food companies in general, are not thinking of the best health of your dog. They are thinking of making a profit by convincing you to buy their food with all their lovely advertising, at the same time as they put the cheapest possible ingredients in the food.

Here is the review on one of the pedigree foods...
Dog Food Reviews - Pedigree Performance (adult dog food) - Powered by ReviewPost

He has not had any hot spots before but he has had an ear infection which has been treated. Thats terrible that the dog food companies dont think of the health of the dogs they are selling to... Thank you for your advice, I'm about to look at that link you put on here.

Dawnben · 08-30-2010, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarleyHasMyHeart

Thank you!! Somebody else just told me that Pedigree is not soo good. I don't really care how much the food cost, I just want something that is really good and healthy for Harley. So Natural Balance would be the best kind of food to give him?

Thank you!!

here are a couple of more limited diets there is no best dog food what you want is real food in your dog food . Brands like science diet ,iams and Purina have inferior ingredients like corn and byproducts. These are not healthy and can cause a lot of health problems.

BLUE Basics – Salmon dog food, a limited ingredient diet
Wellness Dog Simple® Recipes

HarleyHasMyHeart · 08-30-2010, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tess

Everything Dawnben said... ditto!

Another cause for paw chewing can be stress and just not enough to do, but what you described on the other thread does not go along with that. Sometimes hypothyroidism can cause skin problems of the feet/pads too. But I would first look for a better food, as Dawnben suggests. Give it at least a month to see if the new food helps with the itchiness. Does he get hot spots or ear infections? If so, again that can be aggravated by food allergies.

Really, the dog food companies in general, are not thinking of the best health of your dog. They are thinking of making a profit by convincing you to buy their food with all their lovely advertising, at the same time as they put the cheapest possible ingredients in the food.

Here is the review on one of the pedigree foods...
Dog Food Reviews - Pedigree Performance (adult dog food) - Powered by ReviewPost

I just read the link you posted on here. I cant believe that I am feeding my dog this, what I thought was good dog food!! I'm about to look up some better dog foods and throw out that crap I'm feeding Harley and Angel!! Is it ok to do that? Or do I need to gradually introduce them to the new food? Cause after reading that I definetly dont want to feed them it at all.

I can not thank you enough for posting that up here!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Tess · 08-30-2010, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarleyHasMyHeart

He has not had any hot spots before but he has had an ear infection which has been treated. Thats terrible that the dog food companies dont think of the health of the dogs they are selling to... Thank you for your advice, I'm about to look at that link you put on here.

Well, I should clarify. Its not that they don't care at all, (they can't have people's dogs getting overtly ill) its that they seem to do the minimum to meet the aafco (?is that the right abbreviation?) standards so the dog does not get any nutritional deficiency diseases. But they will use the cheapest ingredients, that for the most part are not "species appropriate". Then there is so much fancy advertising, and well meaning pet owners, who love their dogs, think they are providing the best possible food for their dogs, when in fact, the food is less than optimal. Its actually the nutritional equivalent of vitamin fortified cheetos, IMO! ;-) Honestly, I get nausea every time I see another "Beneful" add on TV. That's one of the worst foods out there, but the advertising makes it sound so wonderful. Many a well meaning, loving dog owner, is duped.