WHY DOGS LICK THEIR PAWS - NATURAL APPROACH TO TREATMENTby Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM
Does your dog lick his or her feet? Have you been told that allergies are the cause? Do you find that no matter what you do or what special diet you were recommended by your vet, the problem remains? You are not alone. I must have heard this story a million times by now. Most people are sure that allergies are to blame. Even I, at the beginning of my career, used to think that allergies were to blame. WHY DOGS LICK THEIR PAWS - NATURAL APPROACH TO TREATMENTby Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM Does your dog lick his or her feet? Have you been told that allergies are the cause? Do you find that no matter what you do or what special diet you were recommended by your vet, the problem remains? THE UNEXPECTED CAUSE: DOG COLLARSA small percentage of dogs lick their paws because of obsessive nervous licking, long nails, contact with chemical agents, and secondary bacterial infection because of the skin trauma caused by licking. However, I’ve discovered that the majority of dogs lick their paws because of abnormal sensations in their feet. If you have ever had a neck injury or pain in your neck, you may have also experienced tingling or a "pins and needles" sensation in your hands. Dogs get this, too. It can feel like itching. They lick, presumably, in an attempt to make it go away, perhaps providing counter-pressure or counter-stimulation. And where are they getting these neck injuries? Dog collars The worst offenders are choke chains, prong or shock collars because of how they constrict and pinch the neck, which should seem obvious. But it may be a surprise to you that even the ubiquitous extension-retracting leash can cause serious neck injuries, too, especially when a dog runs, feeling like her freedom extends forever, and then she’s snapped back to reality by hitting the end of the leash. Neck and back injuries cause muscle tightness which affect the nerve supply to a particular area of the body. Here are a few examples: ...
2. If your dog licks the hind feet, stop him/her from sprinting, jumping up, leaping in the water or intense ball retrieving for at least a month and reduce this activity on an ongoing basis. 4. Ideally do not play tug-of-war or, if you do, let the rope or leash gently slide through your hand and definitely do not lift your dog in the air while tugging. 5. Feed a species appropriate diet, nourish your dog with whole food, all natural supplements for better cellular and muscle function, and detox. 6. If your dog has suffered a more serious neck injury, see your veterinarian for further evaluation, however, remember that most vets have not been trained in musculo-skeletal assessment as well as have chiros, physios or osteopaths. 7. Never use anti-inflammatory drugs such as Metacam, which causes serious side-effects, unless you think that stomach ulceration, blood clotting disorders and kidney damage are a good idea. I recommend Zyflamend as a healthy alternative that I have used for three years in many dogs, with great results and no evidence of side effects. For the whole article go to: http://www.peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015041-why-dogs-lick-their-paws-natural-approach-to-treatment We will be at this craft fair with my crafts and we also bring the dog bowl full of items for your pup. We'll be raffling the bowl off and all donations will go toward the pet emergency fund. We'll also be selling LCDL dog bandannas and Dog bows so your pet can look good this holiday season!
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