Dog Paw Chewing, Allergies, Loss of Appetite, Diarrhea

December 24, 2014

Hi SDominique,
Your questions involves a more indepth answer than I am able to give at this time, (Christmas Eve). I will say that ‘chewing the feet’ indicates ‘inhaled’ allergies if Clio is chewing the top of her feet. If she is chewing the bottom of her feet, I would be more suspicious of contact allergy, meaning something she is walking on.

There are both conventional drugs such as antihistamines that can be given for immediate relief, and alternative treatments that I can go into detail later tomorrow.

Feed her a canned or a raw diet, would be the healthiest for her skin and her GI tract, and may make her have more interest in her food, compared to a dry food diet. And giving her acidophilus would provide the normal bacteria, if it was flushed out from having had diarrhea.

DO NOT use any tick collars on her.

I will respond with more details and info on what to use instead, and also suggestions on products to boost her immune system.

Another resource for vets knowledgeable in homeopathy is AVH.org.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

December 25, 2014

Hi SDominique,
For Clio, using conventional drugs, you can give her more immediate relief from chewing her feet with the anti-histamine diphenhydramine, ‘(Benadryl)’. The dose is 1 mg per lb, so if she weighs 8 lbs, she needs 8 mg 2-3 times daily. Children’s liquid Benadryl is 12.5mg per tsp. You could give Clio 1/2 tsp 2-3 times daily to help with the itching.

For HOLISTIC treatment of allergies here are my suggestions:
1. Bathe her with an oatmeal or baby shampoo, at least one time per week. Rinse and dry well, especially her feet.

2. Use apple cider vinegar to apply between the toes and webs of her feet, to prevent yeast overgrowth. At least one time daily. You might consider putting ‘baby’ socks on her feet to prevent self-trauma, but her skin and feet would do better exposed to more air.

3. Use Rescue Remedy, (for humans), diluted 20-30 drops in a 2oz bottle with Spring Water. This can be applied to her feet or her skin anywhere on her body, where she is itching, to calm her skin. It can be given by mouth to calm her down,

4. Diet: a canned or raw diet. NO DRY dog food. Moisture from the diet is very important for healthy skin. See our page on 10 Best Dog Food Options, https://www.organic-pet-digest.com/10-best-dog-food-options.html.

As I mentioned in my earlier posting, she might be more interested in a canned or raw diet, compared to a dry food diet.

5. Immune support:
Check out Immuplex by Standard Process. Clio only needs 1/4-1/2 capsule in her food two times daily.

Also check out Antronex by Standard Process. This is a glandular supplement that helps support the liver to remove histamine from the skin. So, it ‘acts’ like an antihistamine. Only it does not work immediately, but over several weeks, and the liver is helped also! Clio might also need Canine Whole body Support, by Standard Process. All of these products are available on amazon.com, or from a holistic veterinarian.

6. Minimal to no vaccinations. Seek the help of a holistic veterinarian to write an exemption form for Clio.

Another resource for vets knowledgeable in homeopathy is AVH.org.

A holistic veterinarian can also prescribe a homeopathic remedy to more specifically address the itching.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Thank you so much for your suggestions! I’m switching her to a canned food diet right away.

It seems like she chews all of her paws but i think it’s more focused on the bottom.

Could it be my cleaning products? I don’t see what else she could be walking she stays mostly indoors. Unless it would be grass…

What can i do for flea and ticks treatment and prevention?

December 26, 2014

Hi Dominique,
You wrote,
“Could it be my cleaning products? I don’t see what else she could be walking she stays mostly indoors. Unless it would be grass…

What can i do for flea and ticks treatment and prevention?”

If it is a contact allergy, it would be the bottom of her feet PLUS the underside of her belly and chest where she lays down. If her underside is normal, then she may have more of an inhaled allergy to pollens, grasses, mold, dust, etc. Similar to humans with hay fever allergies.

For natural flea and tick prevention, check out our page on flea prevention, https://www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-flea-medicine.html, and look at www.wondercide.com, EVOLV. It is a flea/tick preventive made from cedar oil. You can put a few drops on a bandana and put it around her neck. You can also apply a few drops to her body as needed when she is outside exposed to fleas or ticks.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.