Anyone ever had problems with foot allergies in their dogs

[mccoy]

I have been taking Ozzie back to his
trainer and he has noticed that when
he starts getting aggresive the kids,
are around his feet knowing Ozzie from
before we decided to have his feet vet
checked before going any further so I
loaded him up this morning and took him.

The Vet did a few things with him came
back and said it was allergies said he has seen this before in the breed. Has anyone else ever had this problem? He
gave me some medication and cream to
put on them hope that it works.:):)

Back to the trainer, I got a good lashing from him too, Ozzie was one he
felt had came along way could not figure
out what had got into him unless I had
slacked on his training?? I admitted that I had then I got my A$$
chewed by him also so if by any chance
anyone has felt guilty over doing it
DON'T :p :p :p (Just joking.)

If anyone knows anything about feet
allergies please let me know. I know
I have had my RUMP chewed enough over
this dog lately any suggestions would
be appreciated Honestly.

[AngelBunny]

mccoy:

What're you feeding Ozzie? Sometimes alergies are caused by something in the dog's diet.

[mccoy]

Angelbunny,

I have been feeding him Nutro, but I
have been supplementing with chicken
and turkey but I have been doing this
since I got him a year ago.

[WorkinDogz]

There really is no such thing as a "foot allergy"....the feet are merely one of the favorite places for an allergy to become evident......because they usually lick their paws. Easier to lick their paws than scratch their whole body.

Diet most certainly would be the thing that I look at first; considering this time of the year a contact reaction to something on the lawn would be way down on the list.

I wouldn't search for reasons/excuses for aggressive behavior however. Many dogs have horrible allergies to the point that they self mutilate and never "get aggressive."

Allergies are a medical issue. Aggression problems; a behavioral, genetic, temperament one.

[mccoy]

No, I was'nt saying it making excuses for
his aggression this is totally lack of
disipline on my part. The trainer just
noticed the only time he has acted with
any aggression was when someone was around his feet. Just thought I would
get the vet to check them out.

WD, he also had me purchase a prong-collar I got one of the quick
release types and the trainer showed me
how to properly put it on him been using
it for two days and it seems to get his
attention QUICKLY. Now to undo the things we learned not to do in obedience
class the first time.

Guess I can be a little hard headed.
Thanks for the help! I think it's more my fault aggression wise but I do think
maybe my son bumped his feet the day he
growled at him, not making any excuses
for it though he no's better I just thought if he was in pain maybe that was
why he growled.

[Barbara Surplus]

McCoy, is your dog licking his feet? That's a sure sign of allergies but usually not the only one. Can you clarify please. How was the vet able to determine that allergies were present?

If there are allergies, medication and cream will do little to address the situation. One would look at the diet first and then make changes there to see if there's any improvement. Any topical treatment would seem, to me, pointless.

Perhaps he simply doesn't like his anyone messing with his feet in which case you need to do some work there, laddie, to desensitize him. ;)
Barbara

[mccoy]

Thanks for everyones replys but I am at
the crossroads here with Ozzie and my
Husband. When I came home last night my
Husband had another encounter with Ozzie
while I was gone, to keep from making
things worse I took him to his kennel
outside where he spent last night.

The problem with his feet like I told the Vet yesterday (regular Vet was out of town) he is in pain with his feet, I
am not saying he does not have allergies
but he is in pain with them. We are talking about a dog that two months ago
thought shaking your hand was a blast!!
To if he even thinks your going to bother them will growl.

I guess I will have to find other arrangements for him not quite sure what to do yet. This whole thing has me so
confused but it is not his diet he has
been on the same one for a year now, I
am not making excuses for his aggression but what other way does he have to show
he is in pain?? :):)
Thanks again now have to make some
heart-wrenching decisions!!!

[brunie's mom]

Even though he has been on the same food for a year... he can still develope and allergy to the food. What kind of Nutro is it? Nurto Max or Nutro Natural? Is it the Chicken or the Lamb??
If you think his feet are bothering him and he is nasty because of his feet... change his diet!!!!
See if you can get some California Natural made my Naturapet.. it has only 4 ingredients... it is worth a try:) And don't give him any rawhide chewies or treats.. at least for a month.. till you see if there is change.
Since you got the dog with "issues" and he is still has "issues"you may need to work harder in your training and I know we have told you before but neuter him.... it will be best for him and your family.. he is not breeding material.

Gina

[mccoy]

I agree that he had "issues" when we
got him and lately he has developed
a new "issue" this whole thing has me
so puzzled. I have no intention of breeding him he has been
going back for training again.:)

He has not shown any aggression towards
anyone until this incident started with
my son. How does everyone elses dogs show discomfort? His whole aggression
problem lays within his feet for whatever reason.

[WorkinDogz]

mccoy,

I'm going to say this as gently as I can. His whole aggression things lies within his GENES and lack of socialization at a critical age; not his feet.

He has gone from running into parked cars trying to FLEE your children; to growling at them.

It's time you face facts. Your boy is not socialized enough to be in a family setting. Sorry. His issues run a lot deeper than you think they do.

Unless you feel comfortable taking on the liability of placing a dog with a temperament that would never pass a Rescue evaluation, then I suggest you consider alternatives. You do know you can be held liable for placing a dog with known aggression (both fear and outward) issues if a bite results.....don't you?

[alexav]

Originally posted by mccoy
How does everyone elses dogs show discomfort? His whole aggression
problem lays within his feet for whatever reason.

A normal, well socialized dog with a stable temperament will usually let you know something hurts by a little whine and maybe licking your hand, or simply pulling away from you when you touch the painful area.

Your dog is learning that when he acts aggressively, the touching of his feet stops. (which for whatever excuse errr, reason, he just doesn't like) It's only a matter of time before he will decide that there are other areas that for whatever reason he does not like to be touched until the mere act of petting him when he is not in the mood will result in "aggressive behavior".

Ozzie is quickly becoming master of his domain, and that concerns me deeply. :(

[mccoy]

Originally posted by WorkinDogz
I'm going to say this as gently as I can. His whole aggression things lies within his GENES and lack of socialization at a critical age; not his feet.

He has gone from running into parked cars trying to FLEE your children; to growling at them.

It's time you face facts. Your boy is not socialized enough to be in a family setting. Sorry. His issues run a lot deeper than you think they do.

WorkingDogz,

This is not the dog that had the fear
aggression he is not running from my
children or is not constantly growling
I have plans tommorrow to take him to
his Vet tommorrow if he has the problem
I think he does with his feet I am going
to keep working with him because this
has just started lately if he doesn't I
know what I have to do. I posted another
thread about responsible ownership.

[mccoy]

I forgot to add that I have known him
since birth he was out of my ex's sisters bitch and they went thru great
lenghts finding the sire he has good bloodlines. He wasn't the one who was hitting "Parked Cars" that was another dog we took from someone else who didn't want him, and after reading the thread
Mick Trainer wrote on fear aggression we
placed him in a very good home he is doing great.

I owned his brother and am still in contact with alot of the others whom
got pups out of this litter none are
aggressive. Don't know what else to do?
The reason for no longer owning his brother is my EX hated the breed and if
I knew then what I know now it would not
have been the dogs address that changed
but hind-sight is 20/20. LOL

[mccoy]

Just got off the phone with the Vet
going to take Ozzie in the morning
and have his toenails clipped. Vet
says he has two torn nails and wants
to knock him out to cut them back.:(

I have been working with his trainer
one on one for a couple of days now
and he is like a whole new Ozzie. I
hope for the best tommorrow I hate to
have to have him go under but with the
way he has been acting don't blame the
Vet a bit.:)

He hasn't been showing any aggression
anywhere since the incident with my
Hubby. He said he was going to make
him ask himself "WHOSE THE DADDY" next
time he growls at him??? I'm just wondering if he hasn't already??