We had a fab walk yesterday in a very muddy wet wood. However, when we got home Maisie started to zoom around and jump madly all over the furniture. Now that part isn't unusual as she often gets the zoomies if she is still a bit wet and will zoom around and dig at anything soft, like cushions . But this was way over the top and she seemed distressed. She then started throwing herself on the floor stopping as if she was about to pounce and then started all over again. After about 15 minutes she then started madly chewing at her feet. When I looked at them her front pads were very pink and slightly swollen. I tried to bathe them but when I touched them she just started to chew more intensely. After about an hour she took herself off to bed and slept. All was find after that, and her pads looked less pink. Her pads have gone back to normal and there are no signs of discomfort today. A couple of dog owners have said that it was most likely an allergic reaction to something in the woods and that I should give her half a tablet of Piriton if it was to happen again. What do you think? Would you use Piriton for such occasions without consulting a vet?
I wouldn't give my dog anything without asking a vet - but I'd ask a vet in advance. So I have a few things my vet has prescribed in case things happen again. So I'd chat to my vet about piriton. I think the itchy feet thing is caused by young spring nettles.
@JulieT Thanks Julie, my gut feeling is not to give any medication without advice from a vet. Yes, someone else said it could be young nettles. I'll pop into the vets next week and have a quick chat. There's lots of new growth coming through at the moment, bluebells, etc. This is normally a tiny stream!
It was Kate that suggested it might be nettles. Anyway, I think it was. I've been a bit more careful at noting where he is going since, and definitely when I see him tromp over small, emerging nettles I watch his paws later. I usually wash them and stop him nibbling, and it goes away quite quickly. I don't know whether piriton would help nettle sting - probably. But if I got stung by a nettle, I'd just leave it alone and wait for it to go away, so reckon that's what I'll do with my dog too.
Mine is chewing his feet at the moment and throwing himself about, it is the new stinging nettles coming up, they are very sharp. My other Lab is not the slightest sensitive to nettles! If he is really upset, I do give him a Piriton, have had advice from vet.
Oh yes, the dreaded nettles Trouble is , at this time of year the blinkin` things are just emerging and are hard to spot . Sam doesn't seem affected but Millie is, and badly too .I gave Piriton too , best thing according to our Vet .
Thank you, I guess it was nettles then! My friends lab that we walked with wasn't affected either. At least I'll know what it is if it happens again. Poor girl was very distressed.
Hmm nettles, could this be why for the last few days Charlie has come back from his walk and tries to rub his face/nose on anything he can including the rugs, chairs, us,I had to give him a real good scratch this morning to help him, his eyes closed with relief? Charlie does spend a lot of time with his nose planted firmly on the ground!
As well as the piriton , I did put a bit of sudocreme on Millies pads , just a tiny bit and watched her to make sure she didn't try and lick it off, it seemed to be soothing .
I couldn't get anywhere near her pads, touching them seemed to stress her even more. Definately going to check with the vet about Piriton.
