Question:
I have a Maltese, Dixie, who constantly licks and bites on her paws. I have taken her to two different doctors and they both gave her the same medicine, prednisone, which did not help, but put weight on her. I've tried changing her diet, I don't let her go outside on the grass -- I've tried everything. Nothing has helped. Everyone says it is probably allergies ... but to what? Please help.
B.D., Houston, TX May 30, 2004
Answer:
Prednisone is clearly not the solution for your dog's problem. It might provide some temporary relief, but in the long-term is likely to cause more harm to her already-impaired immune system.I am disturbed that neither veterinarian considered what you are feeding your dog, since food-related allergies are very common in dogs today and can cause skin problems and destructive self-chewing.Your dog needs a thorough clinical evaluation, including liver and kidney function, thyroid and an "elimination" diet to check for possible food allergies.Ruling out a physical cause is not easy, and a cost-saving approach is to give her some natural food supplements that may help, such as primrose or borage oil, nutritional yeast, vitamins A and C and zinc (which will also help boost her immune system). A holistic veterinarian can assist you in this regard.To locate such an animal doctor in your area, check the Web site of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association at www.ahvma.org for their referral directory.
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