Just got back from the vet. I posted before that Murphy was chewing his feet a lot. He also scratches and sheds quite a bit. I don't know of the shedding has anything to do with it, but he sheds massive amounts. He's not bald or thinning so who knows... Anyways... while we were there, we noticed a lump by his neck. The Dr aspirated it and ran a test. It was a type of white blood cell commonly seen when there is a parasitic or allergic reaction going on. He didn't know if it was coming from his lymph nodes or salivary glands. Or just something different all together. When I told him I wanted to do allergy tests on him, he said it wouldnt be the best idea. The blood tests arent very accurate and he's gotten lots of skewed data on them before. So I opted out of that. I don't really want to change his food. His BM's are finally a good consistency. So basically he doesn't know what the lump is. He gave us some antihistamines and sent us on our way. Said to call if they get worse. We also got a steroid spray for Murphy's feet. It's frustrating when you just want to know what wrong with your dog and no one can tell you!!!!!!!! I'm not blaming the vet or anything. Just want Murphy to be a happy healthy dog. He doesn't seem like he is. He doesnt like to be pet and hes itchy and he sheds like crazy. That can't all be normal.
Another vet trip... no answers
Steph
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Just got back from the vet. I posted before that Murphy was chewing his feet a lot. He also scratches and sheds quite a bit. I don't know of the shedding has anything to do with it, but he sheds massive amounts. He's not bald or thinning so who knows... Anyways... while we were there, we noticed a lump by his neck. The Dr aspirated it and ran a test. It was a type of white blood cell commonly seen when there is a parasitic or allergic reaction going on. He didn't know if it was coming from his lymph nodes or salivary glands. Or just something different all together. When I told him I wanted to do allergy tests on him, he said it wouldnt be the best idea. The blood tests arent very accurate and he's gotten lots of skewed data on them before. So I opted out of that. I don't really want to change his food. His BM's are finally a good consistency. So basically he doesn't know what the lump is. He gave us some antihistamines and sent us on our way. Said to call if they get worse. We also got a steroid spray for Murphy's feet. It's frustrating when you just want to know what wrong with your dog and no one can tell you!!!!!!!! I'm not blaming the vet or anything. Just want Murphy to be a happy healthy dog. He doesn't seem like he is. He doesnt like to be pet and hes itchy and he sheds like crazy. That can't all be normal.
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Why don t you change vet and get a second opinion..
if he s eating his feet it does sound like he s allergic to something..
inbetween his toes are they like very red..
if he s eating his feet it does sound like he s allergic to something..
inbetween his toes are they like very red..
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That to me is the best example of reason to get a second opinion
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I'm going to see if the lump goes down. I have to bring him back in a few weeks and I'll be seeing the normal vet that I love. Maybe he has some answers. But from my experience, vets tend to disappoint, so I'm not going to call another vet just yet. I've been to at least 4 in the Milwaukee area and a few elsewhere and weren't impressed with any of them. I posted a rant about this awhile back. Like when Murphy had that lump in his mouth. A few vets at the emergency clinic couldnt identify what it was. So either my dog is an enigma or I'm going to have to travel to a different state for a decent vet.
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A vet worth his salt would have diagnosed this from the start. Best vets I've found so far have no bedside manners at all but get the job done. I'd keep looking or ask for a referral to a specialist.
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I may end up doing that. I want to get a skin panel done on him and I think i have to go to a dermatologist for that.
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I hate looking for a vet... luckily at the shelter we have a GREAT one, and she's also the vet on post, and runs her own private practice, and helps rescue Greyhounds haha. I work with her 8hr every Tuesday so I ask her a ton of questions haha. Her assistant is super knowledgable too, and a dog trainer so she understand breeds and behavior a lot better. The only thing I'd say is they, like all vets, only know the medical way to fix things. Not the at home solutions. There are things I've shared with them that I learnt here that they didn't know either.
I saw a really good vet at the office where I was having Hudson's mange treated, but it's hard to get an apt with her. I may contact them for the surgery if the Doc I know from the shelter isn't available at one the other locations. It takes her under 5mins to neuter a dog. She's a pro in surgery haha.
I saw a really good vet at the office where I was having Hudson's mange treated, but it's hard to get an apt with her. I may contact them for the surgery if the Doc I know from the shelter isn't available at one the other locations. It takes her under 5mins to neuter a dog. She's a pro in surgery haha.
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I really love my reg vet. When he checked out Lucy, he talked to me in depth about her structure and what problems may occur. He even showed me pictures of her knee cap and used a model to show me how they do the corrective surgery. But he wasn't there today next time I have to make sure to request an apt with him only.
next time I have to make sure to request an apt with him only.
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It may not be a food allergy at all. It could very well be an environmental allergy.
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Yea I think I'm going to do that. I have not looked any up. But I'll be sitting in class doing nothing for 8 hrs tomorrow so I can look for some then.
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Yep yep. My absolute favorite vet (one of the ones that I worked with) was not great with clients but he was FABULOUS with the animals and he knew his stuff. He did both of the dental surgeries on Dylan as well as the internal lumpectomy. This doctor and I still keep in touch and if something happens to Dylan I will fly him to FL to have this particular vet work on him.
When they they got it, they got it.
I hope you can figure out what is bothering Murphy.
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i bet its an environmental allergy. go to a board certified dermatologist and have an allergy test done to see what he is allergic to. also, keep a diary every day of what he does and when he starts chewing his feet, this way you can find out what triggers it. like if you put stuff onthe carpet and vaccum and he then chews his feet it could be the powder onthe carpet. ot does he do it after he comes in from being in the grass, some dogs can be allergic to wool, grass, etc...
i wouldnt bother with the food trial, as its probably airborne...
i wouldnt bother with the food trial, as its probably airborne...
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Maryellen, it's possible. If it's environmental, I don't think it's anything outdoors since it's winter here. I don't put anything on the carpet, but it's possible it's something else. He chews his feet in the morning after he eats and in the evening after he eats. However, those times also coincide with the times his benedryl wears off and we have to give him another one. So it's all a big question. We really don't have any extra money right now, but as soon as I save some up, I'll be taking him to a specialist.
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keep a journal anyway, this way you might be able to find a trigger. also ,has he chewed his feet allthe time on the food he eats? have you noticed him chewing his feet other times? what kind of water do you have? tap? well? was he worse on other foods or has he gotten worse on this food? what about treats? does he chew his feet more after eating treats? or bones? or heartworm pills?
you can do a food allergy trial yourself , but that would be no treats at all except for the allergy food, DVP Natural Balance LID has 4 allergy foods, one protein/one carb, so if you want to do a food trial you can get one of those kibbles and only give him that food for 3 months and see how he does. no table treats, no regular treats,no heartworm pills, no flea/tick meds- he would have to get nothing but the LID food. then after 3 months (or sooner depending on if he shows an allergic reaction ) you then add one new protein for 3 months and see how that works, etc, rinse, repeat...
you can have a regular vet draw blood and send it to HESKA or ELISA for airborne allergies, its cheaper then a dermatologist , so you might want to try that too, it should run between $70-100 for a blood test for airborne allergies from a regular vet...
also, it doesnt matter if its winter there, airborne allergies are all around, even if you think snow and ice and cold weather will not show airborne allergies it can.
you can do a food allergy trial yourself , but that would be no treats at all except for the allergy food, DVP Natural Balance LID has 4 allergy foods, one protein/one carb, so if you want to do a food trial you can get one of those kibbles and only give him that food for 3 months and see how he does. no table treats, no regular treats,no heartworm pills, no flea/tick meds- he would have to get nothing but the LID food. then after 3 months (or sooner depending on if he shows an allergic reaction ) you then add one new protein for 3 months and see how that works, etc, rinse, repeat...
you can have a regular vet draw blood and send it to HESKA or ELISA for airborne allergies, its cheaper then a dermatologist , so you might want to try that too, it should run between $70-100 for a blood test for airborne allergies from a regular vet...
also, it doesnt matter if its winter there, airborne allergies are all around, even if you think snow and ice and cold weather will not show airborne allergies it can.
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No he has been on this food for maybe 4 months now and it started beginning of February with the feet chewing. He also licks his groin area a lot. Before that he was on Kirkland lamb and rice and was okay on, but his belly turned red from licking it so much. He didn't chew his feet though. He is not on any heartworm or flea/tick right now. I asked the vet to draw blood for both food and allergy tests and he said its not a good idea. That they aren't very reliable. He only chews his feet in the morning and evening. As soon I catch him doing, i stop him. So when he is with me, he doesn't have a chance to do it much. However, he is alone all day and he could be doing it then. When i come home on break, i always check his feet and they are never wet. The only treats he gets are beef RMB's, beef rawhide, and peanut butter kongs. I thought I had it figured out when I stopped giving him the glucosamine tablets, but nothing has changed with that.
I hate to say it, but he's just not an attractive dog right now. His fur looks bad, he sheds like crazy, his tear stains are gross, he lays around all day... I never wanted the English Bulldog health problems, but it looks like thats what I got.
I hate to say it, but he's just not an attractive dog right now. His fur looks bad, he sheds like crazy, his tear stains are gross, he lays around all day... I never wanted the English Bulldog health problems, but it looks like thats what I got.
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