My Dog Licks Their Paws!

Many owners think nothing of the fact that their dog seems to lick and chew on their feet a lot.  I've heard owners say they assumed their dog was merely grooming, and didn't give it more thought than that.

Cats groom themselves, but dogs do not... *not* in the sense that would explain away licking away at paws or other areas of their body.  We naturally see our dogs affectionately lick on their friends, but offering grooming and licks to a buddy is different than the focus they give to their own bodies. 

Your veterinarian may ask you about licking or chewing, and they do this because it isn't typically a normal behavior.  Dogs who pay this kind of attention to their paws are likely suffering from some kind of allergy, and their paws are itchy.  With excessive licking, they may become raw and irritated, and will likely "bronze".  Bronzing is easy to see in our white dogs, because their fur turns to the color of tea.  Their saliva causes these changes, and if they stop licking (are cured of the source of the itch), the bronzing will go away.

Seeing bronzing is a sure sign of excessive licking, whether it be around their mouths, their paws, or their abdomen.  If you do not notice your dog licking much, he or she may be doing it more when you are not home and if you notice discoloration of fur like this, have your vet talk to you about ruling out allergies.

In addition to this unwanted attention to their paws, if you notice itchy ears or reoccurring ear infections, allergies are a likely culprit.  (Keeping in mind there are *many* things which can irritate our dogs ears, such as baths, excessive hair in the canal, and swimming, to name a few). The only *real* way to determine if it's an allergy is to have a DVM do allergy testing.  It's just like how they do it in humans, where a patch of fur is shaved and irritants are injected under the skin to isolate what they are allergic to.  Not all general practice DVMs may do this, but they can refer you to a dermatologist.

Some of the most common allergens for dogs are dust, fleas, grass, pollen, and certain proteins they are consuming in their foods.  Based on my experience and conversations with veterinarians, some dogs who never had a particular allergic reaction to, say, cow, can develop one after a couple of years eating the same protein.  Your vet may recommend trying a new protein (anything else.. fish, chicken, etc.) for *no less* than 2 months to see if you see an improvement.  (Keep in mind that buffalo and cow are essentially the same protein). Switching for less than 2 months won't give their body enough time to respond.  If you do this, WATCH YOUR SNACKS..  make sure the correct protein is also within your snacks, not just their main meals.

While some dogs have an allergic reaction to vaccines, this *won't* be why you see this licking.  If you dog is allergic to vaccine, symptoms of that will show up the day of the injection and present, most commonly, as a swollen face.  (Anything other than being tired following a vaccine should be cause for concern and you should call your vet immediately).  

Our pups spend their entire lives on their feet!  We need to take any possible discomfort very seriously, whether it be allergens or even overgrown toe nails.  Always be cognisant of the surfaces they are walking on, especially in extreme cold and heat.  With winter coming, beware of salt placed on slippery surfaces, as this can irritate their feet as well.  In the winter, dogs are also more prone to pad injuries, because the ground is covered in leaves or snow, hiding lawn edgings and other potentially harmful items.

That being said, if you notice your dog licking or chewing, exam their paws.  Be sure to look closely between all their "toes", and ensure no nails are overgrown and rubbing into their pads.  If you have ruled out injury or irritation from a foreign object, take them into the vet.  It won't GO AWAY without a change in diet or reduction of allergens, and will likely grow worse and more irritated and possibly infected.  Dogs can be placed on medications to help manage allergies, just like us.

As with all things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and putting off addressing even things which seem minor save us a lot of money in the long run, not to mention the comfort of our best friends which is always paramount to anything else.

Knowing More About The Bumps on My Dog

If anyone has owned a dog for any length of time, they likely have had to take them to the vet to talk about a new bump they have felt.  Dogs can be bumpy beasts, while cats on the whole should never have a bump when healthy (not all bumps on kitties are malignant, they are just not prone to bumps in general).  Some bumps are of concern with our canine friends, while others can be of relatively little concern.  This article is meant to review some causes of only benign bumps in your dog.  I don't even want to touch on malignant tumors, as they are very serious and I don't want to panic anyone.  If you have found bumps on your dog, always get your vet to look at it right away.

Bumps are tumors, but tumors aren't always nasty.  The word itself describes new growth, where tissue cells are multiplying.  As with humans, some are benign and others can be malignant.  Before understanding some of the different kinds of tumors, it's key to stress the importance to pay attention to your dog's body.  Often we monitor behavior, diet, attitude, etc. but may spend far less time feeling around their bodies.  This is exceptionally key for long haired pets, as we cannot see their skin as easily.  As you groom and love on your buddy, take some time to feel around.  Feel in between their toes, around their tail.. all  the places you may not naturally be "petting".  Also, take some time to look in their mouths.  It makes sense to do what your vet does: start at the nose, and move slowly over their whole body. Feel everything!  It's also helpful to feel with both hands, at the same places as you move through.  This helps the owner understand where bumps are "normal" as they are on both sides, and may just be normal bone protrusions.

Tumors tend to appear in older dogs and cats, and some breeds such as Boxers and Cocker Spaniels are more at risk.  I have never read anything which suggest that Pyrs are prone, but they can still form bumps like any other animal.

• Benign Skin Tumors
• Frequently found in younger dogs.  Small, button-like nodules, usually pink and/or hairless.  Found on the lip, face, legs and abdomen.  They may regress, but should be surgically removed.
• Lipoma
• Obese and/or older dogs.  Sometimes referred to as "fatty tumors".  Round or oval masses under the skin, often soft and freely moveable.  While they can be surgically removed, they are often not malignant.  They can grow quite large, even though they are benign.  They can come back after removal. I've known many dogs whose veterinarians did not remove these;  it depended on where they were located.  If they grow large in an awkward place (armpits, where collars rub, etc), they can irritate that area and your doc may want to take them out.
• Papillomas (Warts)
• Young dogs.  Usually in the mouth, it's a small, white elevated lesion that may go away by itself.  It can spread to other pups, but nothing to freak out about.  Often our pups get them and accidentally ingest the cell material while eating, which causes them to become immune and fight off the warts for the future.
• Sebaceous Cysts
• Dogs of any age.  They are round and may squish out a grey, cheesy material when pushed.  They slowly enlarge and may rupture.  They are found on the back, legs, chest, and neck.  They are removed with surgery and are benign growths.  (Sebaceous glands are at the hair follicle)

I've known many dogs with lipomas; actually, I hardly know a senior dog without one, it seems.  I'm a bit of a nervous "mom", and I have to remind myself all of the time that not everything we find on our dog's bodies is catastrophic.  If you have a dog who is getting older, talk to your vet proactively about bumps.  Have him or her educate you on what to expect, and on when to be concerned.  Each breed can come with their own list of concerns, so always have a doc evaluate your pet specifically!  Even if your dog is diagnosed with a benign tumor, your vet will likely want to keep an eye on it for any changes.

Protecting Your Pets From The Sun

All sensible owners realize that our animals need a shady place to rest if they are outside for any length of time.  Even truer for those living in Denver, since we our elevation is higher than most places.  I went from wearing sunblock on truly sunny days, to nearly every single day myself!  I was shocked how fast I burned here.  If you moved from a different region in the country, you may not have experienced troubles with your pets and sunburn until now, or even considered it!

As with most things, our pets are not too dissimilar from us in many ways, their skin sensitivity and the sun are no exception.  Whether it's in the back yard for lengths of time playing, or taking walks with you on sunny days, we need to consider their sun exposure.  For dogs who don't have summer shaves (and please don't shave your Pyr unless absolutely necessary to address dreading) we need to consider their noses, ears, groin region.. any area where they are not protected by an ample amount of fur.  For cats, we need to know that while hours bathing in your window's sun may not overheat them, cats with pink-skinned ears, especially white-furred ears, are prone to sun damage.  All sun damage has the potential of leading to skin cancer.

We can use sunblock on our pets.  The key is to understand that not all "human" sunblock is okay to use, as some contain chemicals which are hazardous to our pets.  The general rule of thumb is that sunblock chemically designed for babies is good.  Baby formulas have to be void of all potential toxins whereas the adult version may not.  There are chemicals which our pets can absorb systemically which are bad, but remember they also lick their skin & fur and ingest toxins.

My veterinarian is selling something called "Pet-Guard" which is made by the company Virbac.  I believe this to be only available through your vet.  Pet-Guard is a sunscreen which contains ingredients to protect them from flies/bugs additionally.  Regardless of what you may think to use on your pet, always ask your vet first.  Every dog is different, and a quick call to run it by your clinic is highly advised.  If my pet has a preexisting skin allergy, I'd definitely take that extra step to ensure my choice was optimal!

-SM