Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 8/8/2010

Question
Our mostly Beagle dog, Bella, is about 9 years old. She is an inside dog, except for potty walks. About 2 years ago she began chewing her front feet so that they are swollen and sore. We have had her to the vet several times and the medicine (prednisone and 1% Micazole Spray) works as long as we are using it, but she goes back to chewing / swelling / pain soon after. The last time we took her to the vet, the assistant suggested we 'dip her paws in a 3tsb bleach to 1/2c water solution'. I have tried it a few times and she has not had a bad reaction, but will chew again later that day. I am concerned that this is a very strong bleach solution and may hurt her long term. I have tried taping socks on her dry feet, but that is difficult for both of us and doesn’t seem to keep her from chewing. Age and mobility are becoming an issue for both of us.
Should I continue the bleach solution in an attempt to ‘dry out her feet and make them smell bad so that she won’t want to chew’ or do you hopefully have a better suggestion?
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Cindy

Answer
Well I wouldn't use bleach, and yes that is a pretty strong solution.
My question is, what is the vet doing to check her for arthritis pain? Most dogs lick their feet because something hurts. If their back hurts they will lick their feet. If their elbows or knees hurt they will lick their feet. Why? Because they are right in front of them!
Now, there are cases of uncontrolled licking due to cognitive issues or mental aging.However, those are treated with medicines that help restore some brain functions, like cloimcalm or the newer ones out there.

The key here is to play detective and find out why she is licking so much. What changed two years ago? Did you get a new carpet? Did you move? Did you change her food? What do you feed her now if you changed?

My guess is that the predinsone works because it reduces inflammation. So why are her feet inflamed? Grasses? Fungal infection? Arthritis pain?
Or did it work because it also works to reduce the pain and inflammation of spinal pain, muscle pain.

I would try some small changes. Get her on a diet that is rich in omegas and glucosemine such as the new mobility diet from Science Diet.
Get a tar shampoo and wash her feet with that. Rubbing alcohol at 70% is better for drying out the skin and safer as long as it's at 70%.
Cornstarch is another way to dry out the skin.

But most of all I would ask for some sort of work up and xrays on her to see if she is having some pain somewhere that isn't being addressed.

You could ask the vet for some Deramaxx and see if that helps with her pain.
These are just some suggestions. If all else fails, call a veterinary dermatologist and take her to them. These kind of licking problems are not uncommon, but the reason behind them are all different.
There is a new product out that is safe to use for dogs:
http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/dog-appeasing-pheromone-dap-canine-appeasin...

Here is an article by a vet that might also help:

http://www.petplace.com/article-printer-friendly.aspx?id=3372

I hope this gives you something to take back to the vet. Please let me know how your dog is doing in a while.