Corgi started licking his front paws on the inside

Hello,

Dragster has started licking his paws on the inside for a few months now. He's always groomed himself, getting dirt and stickers out of his paws, but he licks them most of the day now. I started noticing little red spots on his belly a few months ago, took him to the vet and he said he has developed skin staph, he is 5. He gave me a cream to put on his belly, and it just took the hair off. I started using collodial silver, it's a natural product that I can explain if need be. Anyway, his belly cured right up after the silver, but I can't seem to ease the itching in his paws. His paws are red and kind of have a bumpy like appearance deep down inside between his main paw pad. The silver has not helped.. the vet said he keeps reinfecting them from licking them so often. The vet said its allergy related also, and I give him allergy relief pills from the vet. I just know it bothers him and I wish I could help him, I doctor them everyday. I have done research and some websites recommended switching foods to see if a product in the food was causing an allergy, hes always been on Eukaneuba since he was a pup, and now on adult maintenance small bite. I got a Purina ProPlan salmon food today to mix with his normal food that is for sensitive skin and stomach to see if that helps. Has anyone else had this problem with their corgi? Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Ivy on March 5, 2013 at 10:47pm

It could be a food allergy, foot licking is one symptom. Is there ever a time it seems worse? Ein licked her feet a lot, and I finally realized it was worse after she had eaten or had a beef bone. She also would pant a lot! So a switch to lamb food, non-beef treats and she is all better.

In case it is a grass allergy, try wiping off his feet after walks outside. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Priss, Charlie & Kaylee (PK) on March 6, 2013 at 10:47am

I had this problem in my yellow lab, but not so far in our corgi. We switched her to California Natural (this was before the grain-free trend, so it had grains) and added safflower oil to her food each day. This definitely helped, but didn't completely get rid of the problem. Switching foods, especially meat source and removing potential allergic components, may help, but it will take some time for the effects to be noticeable. I know they are more expensive, but perhaps a limited ingredient diet might be best, that way you have fewer variables to deal with.

There may also be a habit component to his licking behavior now. If he doesn't like products like Bitter Apple, you could use a little on his feet to block the behavior while his paws are healing.

I second Ivy's suggestion of wiping his paws when he comes in from outside. There might be a new type of lawn treatment/fertilizer that you or your neighbors are using that's causing his allergic reaction.