Hi Dr Bruce doesn't seem to be available would you like help from someone else?
I'm not a vet but could help you or we can direct this to another vet?
Dear Nancy,
then what else you need to know?
I was just looking to see if you would accept help from someone else. I'll give you some info and you can see if that is what you were looking for.
There are different types of stones that can form in the bladder. Some are formed due to hereditary issues with handling certain food items but others can be formed due to urinary tract infection. You can read about different types of stones in dogs here
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/bladder_stones.html
With the bad odor to the urine I'd suspect possisble urinary tract infection might be behind his problems. You can read about infections here
http://www.pet-yard.com/dogs-urinary-tract-infections.php
Typically the dog is treated with antibiotics to clear up urinary tract infections.
I suspect the catheter has caused some infllammation or irritation which hasn't helped his ability to control his urine. Treatment for any infection may help resolve this. Your dog may be in pain and also need some pain meds.
It is possible the discolored and smelly urine is due to irritation of the bladder by a bigger stone. An x-ray may tell you if there are more stones that do need surgical removal.
Neutering him may help with the urinary tract issue as neutering tends to reduce the size of the prostate which can block some of the urinary tract. You can see a good diagram of the system here
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/anatomy/dog_ug.aspx#lower%20urinary%20and%20genital%20tract
Now for the foot issue. This can be a sign of allergies.
Many people find that soaking the dogs feet in a solution of Epsom Salts followed by drying the area and applying neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment helps. Cleaning with peroxide or betadine iodine solution may also help. But identifying and dealing with any allergies may also help resolve this sort of infection. You can read about canine allergies causing skin issues here http://www.lbah.com/allergy.htm You may also want to have your vet check for a thyroid issue. Particularly if the sore area starts as a hard lump and forms an interdigial cyst as you can read about herehttp://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/70800.htm http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/INTERDIGITAL-FURUNCLES.HTM
Paw licking, itching and skin chewing are often signs of allergies. You may see red staining to the fur in the licked areas or raw spots where the dog chews itself.
The skin itches from allergies, the dog licks and chews trying to soothe the itch, making the skin raw and allowing other infections to set in which may itch even more.
You can read about allergies and dermatitis in dogs here
http://www.lbah.com/allergy.htm
http://www.priory.com/vet/vetatop1.htm
Dogs can develop allergies to foods, even ones they eat all the time, and to inhaled items, and contact allergens such as rug cleaners, cedar beds, or chemicals including lawn chemicals or even flea bites.
You might want to try a different dog food that has no ingredients the same as what you feed now. Diets of Fish and Potato, venison, or rabbit etc. where the protein source is new and there are no grains in the food can work for many dogs for example. Another option is the hypoallergenic diet from your vet Hills ZD. Changing food does no good if you feed the same ingredients. Remember food changes have to include all treats and can take 8-12 weeks or more before you see results in skin and coat.
If this is an inhalant allergy you may find using a HEPA air filter in the room the dog uses most and wiping the dog down with a damp towel when it comes in helps reduce allergen exposure.
You might want to see if some plain Benadryl helps with the itching. A common low dose is 1mg per pound of dog every 12 hours. Do check with your vet about using a med but this one or another may help him a lot. If you choose to use that please read here about cautions
http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/diphenhydramine-benadryl/page1.aspx
You may want to consult with your vet and consider doing allergy testing.
You can try a Chlorhexiderm shampoo from the pet supply store in case the problem is a bacterial skin infection. Malaseb is another good one to eliminate yeast from the skin. Follow directions on the bottles if you try one.
Dogs can have low thyroid level issues and that can trigger skin allergies. The vet can check for that with a blood test.
If your dog is not on a flea prevention that might also help. Just one flea bite can make an allergic dog itch all over. If that is the problem then Frontline could resolve a lot of the reactions for you.
Some people find their dogs do better when they are given omega 3&6 fatty acid supplements such as Derm Caps or Linatone from the pet supply store.
If your regular vet is not able to help you then you may want to see a veterinary dermatologist and this page may help you locate one if your vet can't refer you to one
http://www.acvd.org/ not sure if it lists anyone in your area though.
Hope this helps you!
Dog Expert:Rescue, Train,Breed,Care
30+ yrs dog home vet care & nursing, rescue, behavior&training, responsible show breeding, genetics