Puppy Sick :( Blistered, swollen, red paws- Have you seen this before?

[Box Boys]

Her foot looks so painful and raw. Just hoping you find the reason soon and she can start getting better. I too, would definitely suggest a better food than Costco. In any event, sending healing vibes your way!

 

[Cami]

Have you tried Domeboro? You can buy this in your local grocery stores medicine section. If the store has a pharmacy just ask the pharmacist where it is located. Stores like Walgreens or CVS will carry it as well.
It won't cure the allergy but will help the affected areas untul you can make some headway in that dept. I used it on my girl when she had a terribly bad staff infection on her tummy. It is an astringent, antibacterial and anti-fungal. No script needed. Comes in a powder form that you mix with water and apply to the affect areas with a compress (washcloth, etc).
Here is a link to further info about it:
http://www.bayercare.com/Domeboro_faqs.cfm

 

[jamkaywill]

Checking to see how yoy baby is doing?

 

[bayleel]

Poor thing is still miserable. The last 3-4 days she was vomiting and wouldn't even get out of bed. I took her in again and they did a skin scraping and found demodex AGAIN! Darn mange!
SO, looks like the last vet didn't treat it aggressively enough. This vet pulled out the 'bible' and it said it needs to be treated for 3 months PAST a clean scraping. Poor thing- she is so icky. Looks like we have a girl with a poor immune system and that we may need to recognize as being sickly.
It's just so hard to see her miserable. She will now get Ivermectin (horse wormer!) every day for the next 6 months or so. (which is going to be interesting to keep up on!) She also has meds for infection from the mange.
It's good to have a diagnosis, the vet was starting to talk "how long can we let her go like this." Which was very hard to hear. She gave they analogy of "if she was a car, she would've been recalled." So, not the best of news, but its news!

Michelle

 

[ELubas]

Any suggestions on boots?? I got some from WM and they were garbage. They were a little too small and she wouldn't keep them on.
The vet suggested the costco brand of food, so that is what she has been getting here, but she also like to go visit her aunts house and her boxers dish! SHe is also outside. It's SO hard to try to figure this out, but the poor thing is so icky :(
keep the suggestions coming!

Michelle

I use Muttlucks. They are a little pricey but last forever. Your poor girl-it looks so sore. As for food have you tried grainless? My boy had allergies to wheat so we went grainless and that really helped him. If you tried grainless and she improved at least you would know you were on to something. Allergies are so frustrating as all you can do is eliminate things and then wait. Can you ask her Aunt to pick up the bowl while your girl is visiting? To figure this out you really need to know everything she is eating-treats too. I hope you get the answer quickly. If she is the type to settle, my boy was, I used to put warm washcloths on his pads at night while he was lying down and it seemed to soothe him Best of luck to your sweet girl

 

[Gruntsmom]

I'm very sorry to hear your baby girl is still not doing well. :( And sad for you that her poor immune system has been established. My boy was challenged this way too, and it was hard. Sending out more healing and positive vibes for your girl - I hope she's feeling better soon.

 

[buffylvangel]

I bet her immune system is compromised because she has severe food allergies. I would take her off ALL grain. Try a food that has potato or tapioca as its grain source. There are plenty on the market.
Wellness Core, Solid Gold has a line, too.

Check out the feeding forums.

I am sorry she's suffering.

 

[nerosmyhero]

I sooo know exactly what you are going through. My Nero is allergic to "26" things including 5 types of grass! My best suggestion for doggy boots are Baby socks! The ones with a little rubber pads on the bottom for traction. They are way cheaper than Pet Store boots and you can get several pairs as you will be going through them a lot. Use cloth tape to hold them on. The red feet definately indicates a contact allergy, but it is most likely that your boxer is allergic to more than just one thing. I highly recommend allergy tests. Some allergens you can control (food) and some you can't (environmental), but knowing what your dog is allergic to can help you eliminate some of the allergens that you can control and therefore reducing her discomfort. Another helpful tip is to wipe off her feet when she comes in, but make sure you dry them completely as the moisture just makes it worse and is a breeding ground for infection. I also suggest a daily cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide to kill bacteria. (see my post "RED FEET WARNING!). If your pup has to be outside a lot, Benadryl (1mg per pound, 2 to 3 times daily was my vets advice) will help with the discomfort but it won't cure it. If her feet get really bad, the vet can prescribe a drug called Vanectyl which is a steriod/antihistamine. It works really well but, again, won't cure the problem. My Nero couldn't take the Vanectyl as it made him jumpy and nervous (which is unacceptable in the show ring). The vet assured me though that his reaction was rare. You obviously can't get rid of allergies but you can learn to cope with them and, thank goodness, they are usually seasonal.

 

[Bridgetgirl]

I'm so sorry!

Our girl has struggled with Demodex and we kept thinking she had allergies. In the end, we believe, the hives break out only due to the mites. Maybe the paw problem is just her immune system reacting to the stress of the mites? I'm sorry that last scraping was positive. The Ivomectin really does make a huge difference, though. Hang in there. You probably can't wait to see that baby feeling good and looking normal again.

 

[kathysboxer]

Just wondering how your sweet girl is doing today. Hope she's doing better. Tyson sends hugs and kisses to help her feel better soon.