My dog is chewing his dewclaws after clipping. Is it just irritation?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. You do not necessarily need to remove his declaws unless they are bothering him. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

I'm sorry to hear that Mister has been chewing on his feet. Dogs can chew on their feet for a variety of reasons, including allergies (food or something he is walking in), a skin infection (bacterial or fungal), skin mites, or anxiety (similar to a person who bites their nails when stressed). I would recommend Mister be seen by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his chewing behavior, have any necessary diagnostics done (allergy testing, skin scrapes, etc) and get started on a treatment plan to hopefully help resolve the issue.

Hello. It does sound like possible allergies, which can start at any age, most commonly around 1-2 years of age. But we can see the presence of mange mites & nail bed infections too. To rule these out, you will need to see your veterinarian who can perform some skin scapes around the base of the nails & look under the microscope for the presence of mange mites. Oce the source of the irritation is found, the proper treatment can be started to stop the chewing. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is possible he may have caught the dew claw and injured it or he may have been stung/bitten by an insect etc. Continue to monitor for any increased pain or discomfort and keep the area bathed with salted water to prevent infection

He could have allergies and/or a nail infection. He should be examined by a vet to diagnose and treat the problem. Your vet can prescribe an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or a corticosteroid to treat. You could also soak his paws in a warm Epsom salt solution and see if that helps.

Gently clean it with warm water and antiseptic soap. Put an Ecollar on Dj to keep her from licking at it. You can buy one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep an eye on it, and if it gets swollen, warm to the touch, red, or you see pus, then it's infected and he has to see a vet. Best of luck. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

It’s possible but some dogs do show a preference for chewing on one set of nails versus another. Check to make sure there is not redness on the skin or discharge between the paw pads. If you see anything like that then it could be infected and she should see the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.