Blisters in paws?????

[RuebenRed]

Rueben has constantly over past year had blister type sores in between his toes, he has had numerous tests and surgery a few times to "search for grass seeds" to no avail. Cortisone settled it slightly but seemed like a quick fix and didnt really eliminate the problem. I have tried 3 different vets and none have come up with any solution. At the moment the one on his front paw is huge and bleeding slightly from his constant licking. Over the last few weeks he has now developed a bald spot on his back as well, dont know if this is related.. Mange possibly??? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as we all hate to see our best friends in a state of bother...

 

[gmacleod]

You don't suppose it could be allergies? Do the paws form blisters themselves, or are the sores the result of him chewing? Hmm - not sure that question is really clear, but I'm asking whether there would be blisters if he didn't chew them, or if it would just be red and itchy - whether the sores are produced by him chewing on itchy skin.

Anyway, allergy testing might be a good option for you. Red itchy paws is a very common symptom of allergies, and if chewing those paws may be what's causing the sores, then it's worth investigating. Possibly he has a sensitivity to something like grass (which although rather difficult to manage, would at least give you a starting point).

Another possibility is a food allergy. Environmental allergies are actually more common, but that doesn't make food allergies uncommon And they're generally much easier to deal with (ie. eliminate the problem), so worth investigating also. What do you currently feed him?

 

[RuebenRed]

Thanks for the interest.........I think he would still have blisters without the licking, we are quick to pull him up, so they dont get really licked constantly. His food is currently BARF patties with chicken necks, or wings. Previously he had Royal Canin and Eukanuba, the whole time he has had these sores. As for grass, that is a possibility, but i have tried to change parks on a regular basis when i see the blisters and even sticking to just pavement. I should check out our own backyard, but there isnt much grass to worry about....

 

[gmacleod]

OK

There was a member not that long ago that posted with a very similar problem to yours. As I recall, what finally solved the problem was a raw diet that included no vegetables at all. I will try to find the thread for you (though it might take a while!) since there was a bit of detail in the management also.

 

[gmacleod]

Well, I cannot locate the thread I was looking for, unfortunately.

However, the condition is likely to be interdigital cysts - and you may find more useful information with an internet search. Here are a couple of previous threads from the forums about it, one with a home remedy that may be worth a try:
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89844
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88584&page=2

 

[garvinsmum]

This is a local link which describes this

http://www.balgownievet.com.au/1_gen_derm_pad_podo_nodules.htm

Check carefully for the plants here, I don't know if your vet has shown you, they are very common allery causing

http://www.balgownievet.com.au/1_gen_derm_allergy_wandering_jew.htm

Bailey had similar problems last summer, but not so bad. Garvin had a bad reaction to 'Moses in a boat'.
Bailey was also very allergic to fleas, he got 'hot spots' all down his back. He is still having problems at his new home, with the grass. A lot of dogs do.
I was able to give him some relief by keeping the fleas really under control, keeping him away from longish grass and weeds and using a sensitive skin laundry liquid. Maybe you could try getting dog boots?? Or putting socks on his feet before you go out at all. That might help to narrow down the cause of the problem.

 

[rupertpeeter]

Jep, that's me. My boxer boy had the blisters for 9 months last winter and they solved finally after dropping all the veggies from the barf diet. Actually he can't have anything plant-based at all, not even canned fish that has been in vegetable oil, even after puoring the oil out. I'm still waiting to be sure he's ok and then I'll write about it in barf forum.

He didn't really chew on them either. I bought boots for walks, I think he went through 3-4 pairs of them (he was clearly uncomfortable walking barefoot). I'd suggest to dry the paws real well after walks - the dampness spreads the infection. I avoided steroids at all costs and tried one course of antibiotcs, but the blister's were back soon after (and then I read that's what usually happens). Vets were stumped, but they mentioned "immune disorder" and "furunculosis" (basically probably the same thing).

Good luck and keep us posted. I'm always on the lookout for this subject because I still don't understand what the heck was that on his paws. So glad he seems to be well now.

 

[rupertpeeter]

Oh, I forgot to mention that while searching this board on this subject last year, I found one or two cases where he "interdigital cysts" solved finally after a real expensive antibiotic course. Some newer drugs I guess.

And about the management — when he was still on kibble (and changing kibbles and homecooked diet did nothing), we were constantly giving him ocean salt baths and putting 100 different kinds of ointments on them. Those might have helped to keep it somewhat under control, but it didn't heal them.

He also had one homeopathic remedy, but that was only useful when he had abcesses - and it helped a lot.

I searched for similar cases on the net and found one case where the condition solved after 2 years of barfing (with veggies) by itself. And a couple of cases where people have moved (somehow they all moved nearer to sea - salt thing again?) an it solved. And only 2 cases where dropping veggies and avoiding anything plant based has helped.

Hope this helps..