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My schnauzer's hair is turning red between on his feet. Is it a fungus that is causing this? How do I cure this? He is always biting his feet, like they itch.
Optional Information: Age: 3; Male; Breed: Schnauzer Already Tried: Malaseb Spray and it is not working.
HiCustomer It may be that your dog is having an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction is often the cause when a dog is excessively licking and/or chewing their paws. Thyroid problems can also cause paw problems as well. It’s possible your dog has developed a secondary staph or yeast problem from the licking which just makes it itch more. If yeast you can try some miconazole cream to see if it helps but it isn’t a cure for underlying condition. Your pharmacist should be able to point you to miconazole products that are over the counter medications. You can try baby socks to prevent your dog from licking them or an e-collar. You can also give your dog some Benadryl. The dosage is up to 2 mg per pound every 8-12 hours. Start with 1 mg per pound first and see if it doesn’t help the situation and provide your dog with some relief. Here is a site on dog allergies http://www.nhahonline.vetsuite.com/Templates/ContentPages/Articles/ViewArticleContent.aspx?Id=864 http://www.lbah.com/allergy.htm I hope this information is helpful to you.
Customer I forgot to address the coat turning red. Dog tears and saliva contain an enzyme that causes a chemical reaction on the hair turning it red. There are many products on the market to remove this. They are marketed as Dog tear Stain Removers. The website below has a different approach suggesting altering your dog's pH levels to prevent the staining which you may wish to look at. http://www.bhejei.com/tearsta.htm There is also an antibiotic that your vet can prescribe called Tylan that has been shown to be useful to stop tears and saliva from discoloring a dog’s coat. You will want to ask your vet about this.
Experience: Former vol Vet Assistant.Breeder 16+ years Dog trainer / behaviorist
Can the red fur on his paws be a fungus?
Customer The hair turning red is probably due to the saliva and the chemical reaction. Yeast is fungal in nature.