Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 4/7/2005

Question
I have a one year old shar-pei whos name is Fetch.  When we got him he developed a skin condition that the vet could not really diagonis.  He figured it was a form of mange and gave him revolution and the condition went away.  Now he has developed a condition were he licked and bites at his feet until they are raw turning the skin red.  He also scratches at his self until he bleeds.  Is it just allergies or something worse.  If it is allergies what is your reccomendation for clearing the condition up.  Thank you for your help.

Answer
Chewing on the feet is a sign of allergic dermatitis. Some of these paw lickers also have secondary bacterial or yeast infections in their paws. You need to talk to your vet about allergies and what you can do for them. Sometimes a short course of steroids is needed to stop the itching and licking along with frequent baths and antibiotics for the skin infection if there is one. Another thing to do now is to add Omega3 fatty acids to the food to make the skin less sensitive to allergens. These fatty acids take a month or so to get incorporated in to the skin. Your vet will have these available for you.