Dog Chewing Paws--What Does This Mean?

Q: My dog has one paw that he chews and won't leave alone. I have tried everything I can think of to get him to stop (like aloe vera, vitamin-e, even putting a sock on his paw). I just got him a cone (Elisabeth collar) to see if it will help discourage him from chewing. So far soaking the paw in black tea seems to help soothe it. If you have any other suggestions I might try that would be great. Thank you for your time. KT

A: Dear KT: When dogs are chewing on their paws, it is due to allergies. They may have an environmental allergy to grass or it could be overall environmental allergies. Usually though there is some type of yeast overgrowth and the more they chew, the wet saliva can create a yeasty, smelly overgrowth inbetween the toes. I have a couple of suggestions:

1) First, take a look at your pet's diet. It is really important to feed your dog a completely hypoallergenic, grain-free diet. Please watch this free food allergy webinar that will help you determine the best food to feed your dog. http://askariel.com/pages.asp?pid=Pet_Food_Allergy_Webinar

2) Use a yeast formula that kills intestinal yeast. We have had excellent results using the K9 Yeast Defense Formula

3) Get a medicated, antifungal shampoo from your veterinarian to soak the foot.