My Pittie's feet get raw sores every spring. How can I help?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. Therapy cannot be recommended without being to evaluate the area and oral antibiotics are likely going to be needed which can only be prescribed by a veterinarian who has seen the patient in person. 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!

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!

He could have an infection and/or allergic dermatitis. Since this has been going on for a couple years, he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause and treat. He may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or anti-inflammatory to treat. He may need to stay on an anti-histamine long term if it is related to allergies.

Thanks for using PetCoach! This is pretty classic for good old allergies. Pit bulls are notorious for having environmental allergies. You can start by trying some Benedryl (see link below), omega 3 fatty acids (about 2,000 mg fish oil per day) and Duoxo Calm shampoo. This combo seems to work well for dogs with mild-moderate, occasional allergies. Unfortunately, many of my pitties with allergies end up needing temeril - P, apoquel, cytopoint, or other medications to control their itching. If you’re not seeing improvement in 1 week (or if worsening at any time) head to your vet for more immediate/stronger relief. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/ Best of luck to you and Rosie!

Poor Devil! These sores could be caused by a bacterial or yeast infection, or they could be caused by allergies leading him to lick his feet a lot. The only way to know what treatment that will be necessary to treat it is to have it diagnosed by a vet. I would take Devil into the vet first thing in the morning to have these sores examined and diagnosed so they can be treated.

She may have seasonal allergies or could be getting some foreign material caught between her toes when she goes out in nicer weather. Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent further licking or chewing. Have her examined by your veterinarian to diagnose the underlying cause. Antibiotics can help with infection, antihistamines may decrease allergies and pain medication may provide additional relief. Continue the foot soaks if they help.

Hello, I'm sorry to hear this about Juno. I think allergies are a really good rule out in this case, whether to food or environment. An extremely strict hypoallergenic food trial carried out for a minimum of eight weeks (ideally twelve) would rule out a food related problem. Environmental allergies to things like pollens, grasses, dust, etc may be more responsive to systemic allergy medications (oral tablets like Apoquel or injectable Cytopoint) or topical therapies like regular paw cleanings with medicated shampoos and mousses. Wiping down her paws after going outdoors with a clean damp cloth or hypoallergenic baby wipe may help as well. Due to the location of the sores on the paw pads themselves, auto immune disease could be possible though less common. A deep biopsy may be needed for diagnosis- a consult and diagnostics with an internal medicine specialist or dermatology specialist may be good next steps for working this up if your general practitioner veterinarian feels that allergy treatments have been exhausted. I hope this is helpful. Best of luck getting answers and relief for Juno.