Why is my 7-month-old Lab chewing his paw bald? What can I do?

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.

A swollen area could indicate an abscess, a grass seed trapped under the skin or a skin cancer. Your pet needs to be examined by the veterinarian for appropriate treatment, he needs to wear an elizabethan collar at all times to prevent further licking and you need to stop all walks, running and jumping. I hope this helps.

Poor pup! If Princess is licking her paws to the point that they are bleeding, this is definitely not normal. The most common cause of excessive licking or chewing of the paws is an allergy problem - either seasonal environmental allergies or food allergies can cause this. Other possibilities would include a bacterial or fungal skin infection in this area, or even skin mites (mange). I would recommend having Princess examined by a vet as soon as you are able to - he/she can do some simple skin tests if needed to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate medication to treat it. In the meantime, I would recommend getting an e-collar (plastic cone) for her to wear to prevent her from continuing to lick her paws and make things worse.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Based on your picture it looks like a rough paw pad and likely not the reason for the chewing. But if that is the only feet and pads that look like that it could be an injury. I would use an E-collar to prevent further licking and chewing. Soak his feet twice daily is an Epsom salt bath and start an antihistamine. The most common reason for feet licking and chewing is allergies. Good luck! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/zyrtec/

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. 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!

Hello, I'm sorry to hear that Sadie is so uncomfortable. Chewing and licking at their paws can be caused by a couple different things. Often times it's an allergy to something that causes irritation and redness. This causes the paws to feel itchy which is why dogs will chew and bite. It could also be that Sadie has been bitten by something which is causing her to feel the itchiness. That typically wouldn't last as long and it wouldn't be affecting all of her paws. Allergies in dogs can be caused by an allergic reaction to something they are eating or by something in their environment. Examples of something in the environment could be laundry detergent, something blooming in the area where they play, or something they're just constantly coming into contact with that is irritating them. At home you can try a mild oatmeal-based shampoo that you can buy at the grocery store. Give Sadie a bath with the shampoo and make sure you let it sit on her skin for about 10 minutes before rinsing. If this does not seem to help I would recommend getting an appointment with your veterinarian to make sure she doesn't have a secondary infection that is causing her to be uncomfortable. I would not advise using any creams for her because licking those off her feet could be dangerous and make her sick. Good luck and I hope she feels better soon.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Licking and chewing of the paws is a sign of allergies and it can become an infection (pododermatitis) which can be caused by bacteria and yeast. I have success treating with an antibiotic and an antifungal for 3 weeks. I also start my patients on apoquel and an antihistamine to control the licking and biting. I would also recommend considering changing her diet. Chicken is the most common allergic protein. You can find over the counter diets with venison, duck or fish. She can no have any treats that aren't made out of the protein or table scraps. You have to give the diet 2-3 months. Sometimes the pet needs a prescription diet. I would call your Vet or have her rechecked to see if these medications are appropriate to try on Leia