Constant scratching and licking of paws

[tulipsunday]

Just after some advice for my in laws' 14 year old Jack Russell. Every summer he starts obsessively licking paws and they get very sore looking. He will also obsessively scratch. As it seems to happen at this time of year we assume it is something summer related/an allergy to something outdoors as if food/bedding etc would be all year round.

Vet has prescribed anti histamines which aren't working. Also tried these 'natural anti allergy' dog tablets which didn't work. Making him wear one of those inflatable cones helps a bit but seems sad wearing it and as soon as off goes crazy licking again. Any advice or thoughts welcome. Thanks

Harvest mite allergy? Try Frontline on his paws. If that doesn’t work an anti inflammatory injection from the vet should give him relief for up to a month.

Thanks a lot

Has the vet taken a scrape of the paws and checked it under the microscope? Our poor dog had both a bacterial and fungal infection. We now wash her paws regularly with Douxo shampoo and it has really helped. She also has regular injections with Cytopoint- it's very expensive. But it has made a huge difference. It's horrible to see your dog being so uncomfortable

Thanks @awkwardturtle no a scrape hasn't been undertaken as far as I know

Apoquel is the only thing that's helped us. You'd need a prescription.

My dog is allergic to something in nature between March and about October. I think it's all the long grass in the parks. I give him one (human) piriton a day (he's a 20kg dog) and that has totally solved the problem.

Grass allery/pollen allergy. My dog has this and the allergies flare from March until October.

Lots of people are negative towards Apoquel but it has changed my dogs life so definitely worth speaking to the vet about.

Douxos is also fantastic and available without prescription.

Thank you all - very helpful

Our vet told us first thing to do is rinse the dog after a walk to get allergens off. Sometimes I just give her a flannel wash on her paws, snout and eyes.

Makes sense thank toy

*you