Teddi's Toes..

[Guest kkaiser104]

I swear, I've had Teddi for almost 8 months, and his toes have been trouble since I brought him home.

 

We started off with a histiocytoma that was awful and took (what seemed like) forever to heal. Daily bandage changes, medicines, a 3am ER visit, the whole thing. Now Teddi has a new problem.

 

I honestly don't know how this happened. This past week I've been noticing his licking has gotten obsessive in regards to his toes. This morning, I was dremeling and I saw that the area between his toes was really red. Upon closer inspection, he has what almost look like sores between his toes, and his whole foot is irritated. What do I do? Pictures aren't the best--he was being a butt about it.

 

 

 

Untitled by Katelyn Kaiser, on Flickr

Untitled by Katelyn Kaiser, on Flickr

Obligatory patient photo:

Untitled by Katelyn Kaiser, on Flickr

 

[KF_in_Georgia]

I've screwed around in the past when a dog had a skin problem: antibiotics and prednisone from the regular vet, skin scrapings, food changes, allergy meds, etc. And I kept her muzzled day and night to prevent licking.

 

I finally just took her to a veterinary dermatologist. A biopsy (no anesthesia required), lab samples, a culture, and we had the solution. It was a fungal infection as well as a bacterial one, so she needed meds for both at once--and the fungal never showed in the skin scrapings. The dermatologist and the biopsy were expensive, but they were the only thing that worked. This was after I'd already spent a couple of hundred dollars on vet visits and tests and meds, none of which worked.

 

In this case, I'd visit your regular vet and let the vet do a skin scraping to see if something specific shows. Make a list of things that have changed at your house, too: different carpet cleaner or laundry detergent, different food, different meds. If the vet has a good feel for what's wrong, try his/her fix. But if that doesn't work, I'd suggest asking for a referral to a specialist. The worry is that Teddi's licking will become a habit--an obsessive/compulsive behavior--and the longer it goes on, the bigger the risk that that will happen.

 

ETA: Also--different lawn care regime? Has someone sprayed your grass with something?

Edited February 21, 2013 by KF_in_Georgia

[racindog]

IMO that is not uncommon for greyhounds-his toes just rubbed together? That is why you always put a little cotton between the toes if you have to bandage their feet. I went through some mega toe problems with Slim. I would get some Tuf-Foot www.tuffoot.com and put it in a little spray bottle and spray it on his toes before he goes to bed at night. It really helped Slim by toughening up his feet! It will stain fabrics and you do have to make sure the skin is moistenend with it but all told that is a small price to pay for how well it helps. At first use at least everyday-later every other day etc. But from that first picture it looks like a typical toe rub to me and is no biggie. Now one time on one foot of Slim's there was actually bleeding. After spending a couple hundred dollars at a board certified vet who couldn't fix it I started putting a poltice of special pescalite clay($15) between those toes for 12 hours every night and after a couple weeks it drew out some little black specs of something that must have been deeply embedded. It healed and never recurred. But Teddi's don't look that bad. His look pretty simple! I could go on (and on)about my toe adventures but I don't have time to write a book right now lol. Other vendors have it cheaper probably then the product website. I got mine from kv vet.

Edited February 21, 2013 by racindog

[a_daerr]

Are the sores just in between those two toes? Or is the entire foot red and sore? If it's the latter, then I would probably do a vet visit. They can do a skin scraping to determine if the problem is bacterial, fungal, or an allergy. Food allergies can cause dogs to obsessively lick their body (usually feet, base of tail, bum) and that can turn into sores. So I'd keep that in mind too. Feel better, Teddi!

[Guest kkaiser104]

I've screwed around in the past when a dog had a skin problem: antibiotics and prednisone from the regular vet, skin scrapings, food changes, allergy meds, etc. And I kept her muzzled day and night to prevent licking.

 

I finally just took her to a veterinary dermatologist. A biopsy (no anesthesia required), lab samples, a culture, and we had the solution. It was a fungal infection as well as a bacterial one, so she needed meds for both at once--and the fungal never showed in the skin scrapings. The dermatologist and the biopsy were expensive, but they were the only thing that worked. This was after I'd already spent a couple of hundred dollars on vet visits and tests and meds, none of which worked.

 

In this case, I'd visit your regular vet and let the vet do a skin scraping to see if something specific shows. Make a list of things that have changed at your house, too: different carpet cleaner or laundry detergent, different food, different meds. If the vet has a good feel for what's wrong, try his/her fix. But if that doesn't work, I'd suggest asking for a referral to a specialist. The worry is that Teddi's licking will become a habit--an obsessive/compulsive behavior--and the longer it goes on, the bigger the risk that that will happen.

 

ETA: Also--different lawn care regime? Has someone sprayed your grass with something?

 

Nothing is different. We don't have a lawn, just walks, and his feet get cleaned really well when we come home in case he gets into salt (though, around here people mostly use sand on sidewalks/streets).

 

IMO that is not uncommon for greyhounds-his toes just rubbed together? That is why you always put a little cotton between the toes if you have to bandage their feet. I went through some mega toe problems with Slim. I would get some Tuf-Foot www.tuffoot.com and put it in a little spray bottle and spray it on his toes before he goes to bed at night. It really helped Slim by toughening up his feet! It will stain fabrics and you do have to make sure the skin is moistenend with it but all told that is a small price to pay for how well it helps. At first use at least everyday-later every other day etc. But from that first picture it looks like a typical toe rub to me and is no biggie. Now one time on one foot of Slim's there was actually bleeding. After spending a couple hundred dollars at a board certified vet who couldn't fix it I started putting a poltice of special pescalite clay($15) between those toes for 12 hours every night and after a couple weeks it drew out some little black specs of something that must have been deeply embedded. It healed and never recurred. But Teddi's don't look that bad. His look pretty simple! I could go on (and on)about my toe adventures but I don't have time to write a book right now lol. Other vendors have it cheaper probably then the product website. I got mine from kv vet.

 

He had cotton between his toes when I wrapped them, and it's been healed up for quite a while now (probably at least 2 months). His foot was fine after the histiocytoma, this is a new development...

 

Are the sores just in between those two toes? Or is the entire foot red and sore? If it's the latter, then I would probably do a vet visit. They can do a skin scraping to determine if the problem is bacterial, fungal, or an allergy. Food allergies can cause dogs to obsessively lick their body (usually feet, base of tail, bum) and that can turn into sores. So I'd keep that in mind too. Feel better, Teddi!

His whole foot is red though he isn't really bothered by me touching it. He's been on his food for several months and has been doing really well on it! I'll shoot an email to my vet. I'm just afraid of the sores becoming infected/leading to other problems.

[a_daerr]

His whole foot is red though he isn't really bothered by me touching it. He's been on his food for several months and has been doing really well on it! I'll shoot an email to my vet. I'm just afraid of the sores becoming infected/leading to other problems.

 

If he's letting you touch/manipulate his foot, then it sounds more like an allergy or a behavioral thing rather than an injury. I'd get the skin scraping and go from there.

Sometimes dogs can be on the same food for YEARS, then out of nowhere develop an allergy/intolerance to it.

[Sambuca]

If its the whole foot, I agree it could be an allergy. Check all his feet. He may have just gotten itchy and licked himself sore.

[tbhounds]

I say ask Dr Kellogg :-)

[Guest kkaiser104]

I emailed Dr. Kellogg and she suggested wiping the area with unscented baby wipes and trying him on generic zyrtec for the next few days. 10-20mg each day. He just got his first dose and he seems better--definitely less itchy, at least. She thinks it's an environmental allergy.

[tbhounds]

I emailed Dr. Kellogg and she suggested wiping the area with unscented baby wipes and trying him on generic zyrtec for the next few days. 10-20mg each day. He just got his first dose and he seems better--definitely less itchy, at least. She thinks it's an environmental allergy.

My boy takes Zyrtec too-makes a big difference. Glad Dr Kellogg was able to help-isn't she a wonderful asset to the greyhound "club" ?? :-)!

[cleptogrey]

as i looked at the pics i immediatly said...mmmmmm fungus. my vet's newest thing- has been recognizing fungal growth which inhibits healing. 2 of my greys have had great success w/ webbing problems- that looked a lot like that by spraying a human fungicide on the affected area. we used generic tolnaftate 1% a couple of times, it also helped w/ healing a split web. fungus will deter the healing process. spray once a day, spray well- and in a couple of days it should look better.

[a_daerr]

I emailed Dr. Kellogg and she suggested wiping the area with unscented baby wipes and trying him on generic zyrtec for the next few days. 10-20mg each day. He just got his first dose and he seems better--definitely less itchy, at least. She thinks it's an environmental allergy.

 

Yay! I hope that's all it is. Are you guys warming up in Ohio? We're supposed to get "thundersnow" today in Pittsburgh.

[Guest kkaiser104]

Alicia, I just took Teddi out for his morning P&P and it's solid ice out there. Luckily, he's a pretty good ice skater!

[Guest kkaiser104]

We went for a nice long walk tonight, and I made Teddi wear his boots because of the salt (I should have taken pictures). But, his toes are looking a little better! I think the zyrtec is really helping.