Dog nibbling on his feet

[Pomp]

So one of my dogs tends to nibble on his feet alot, as if his feet are itchy. Talked to the vet about it and she actually suggested that it was a form of OCD. When I take him out, I always clean his feet off when we come back in the house.

Any ideas?

[Mordy]

While there's a chance it could be a mental problem (OCD), it's much more likely that either something in the diet doesn't agree with your dog or it's a contact allergy.

[Pomp]

While there's a chance it could be a mental problem (OCD), it's much more likely that either something in the diet doesn't agree with your dog or it's a contact allergy.

Could it be a result of the snow and ice?

[Mordy]

Sure, especially if there's a lot of salt where you exercise the dogs.

[groominggal]

My ACD started to have itchy problems when I switched his food. My vet and I determined that he was suffering from a food allergy, switched him to a hypoallergenic food, which helped him a whole bunch, but will still bite and scratch himself when he is under a lot of stress. Which, unfortuntaly, is going on right now with me having a lot of medical issues going on right and I am currently going through chemotherapy (at the age of 21). Chance doesn't know exactly what is going on, but knows that something is up with Mommy and he doesn't like it! Try giving him some benedryl, I would suggest one pill once a day for a large dog, half a pill once a day for a small dog. BUT I am NOT a vet, and would def talk to your vet FIRST before starting that. And just to forewarn you, the benedryl could have two effects on your dog: either make him real sleepy or very very hyper!

[Pomp]

My ACD started to have itchy problems when I switched his food. My vet and I determined that he was suffering from a food allergy, switched him to a hypoallergenic food, which helped him a whole bunch, but will still bite and scratch himself when he is under a lot of stress. Which, unfortuntaly, is going on right now with me having a lot of medical issues going on right and I am currently going through chemotherapy (at the age of 21). Chance doesn't know exactly what is going on, but knows that something is up with Mommy and he doesn't like it! Try giving him some benedryl, I would suggest one pill once a day for a large dog, half a pill once a day for a small dog. BUT I am NOT a vet, and would def talk to your vet FIRST before starting that. And just to forewarn you, the benedryl could have two effects on your dog: either make him real sleepy or very very hyper!

Thank you.

He does not do it constantly. He does it every few hours or so. I'll be more consistent in wiping his feet off and take it from there.

[Renee750il]

The dosage for Benadryl is 1mg per pound of the dog's weight, but I've always halved that and it's worked fine. The least dosage that's effective is always best :)

[jamie]

I've read that it could be dust mites making him nibble at his feet. They tend to burrow into the skin. I think they're similar to scabies in humans?

[ledoc]

Feet nibbling could be food allergy, a contact allergy, and is common in atopies (an allergy to something they breath in such as housedust or pollens). Other possible causes include a foreign body stuck in a paw, arthritic changes (especially if he is getting on), soft tissue damage etc.
Many of these causes can be eliminated by your vet if you can give them a decent history e.g. when did the symptoms first start, are they continual, intermittent, only after exercise etc.

[TheWonderPuppies]

My dog has allergies luckily she doesnt have as bad allergies as her sister when they start itching real bad they get childrens liquid benadryl on a piece of bread and they stop itching and act like there normals self(it doesnt make them hyper or tired maybe their just wierd)