Scooter has chewed hair off inside back legs

dianetavegia

Our 11 week old Lab has started chewing like he's chasing a flea and had chewed the hair off his back inside legs. He's scratching his tummy a lot too. The skin underneath looks fine and we did use Advantage on him just 2 weeks ago. It is HOT here! Very hot.... but he's moving his teeth like a typewriter up and down those back legs. HELP!

Another question: He was chasing a basketball in our red clay and steep back yard this afternoon and seemed to slip. Now he's favoring a paw. I've fooled with his leg and it seems fine with no yelping, etc. but he doesn't want to put that foot down. I'm thinking he stepped on a sharp stone and hurt the pad. We have to put him in the big bathroom while at church tonight so hopefully it'll be just a tender spot. No crying, yelping, blood, etc........

Diane

bradleysmum · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 11:18 pm Post subject:

Hi Diane,

Welcome to Labforums!

Great to have another member from the USA.

If the chewing and scratching has persisted this long, i'd advise you to take Scooter to the vets asap... could be an allergy or fleas/mange.

The vet can also take a look at his paw..i'm afraid with things like this i wouldn't like to leave it, just incase..probably best it gets checked out to be on the safe side. (Have you checked the pad for soreness/foreign bodies?)

Keep us posted, hope he gets on ok,

Have fun in the forums.

All the best,

Julie

Jessicayellowlab · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 12:06 am Post subject: just a suggestion

I am defentaly no expert on dogs but I would like to suggest a vet check to, because the pup is in uncomfortable. I think maybe mange, fleas, or an alegery. In the cace of mange it could get serious and humand can get it to.

dianetavegia · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 1:18 am Post subject:

This is all new. The hair chewing within 24 hours or so and the pad on the outside 'toe' seems to be sore. He'll pull away if I press on it. I don't see any foreign bodies but our back yard is covered with sharp rocks up toward the back. A few weeks back, he laid in fire ants. Thankfully, I was feet away with a garden hose and he only had a few bites.

The hair chewing began early yesterday. It actually looks like he's chasing a flea. The skin is NOT inflamed or pink I did the ear scratch test with no results and had shown him to the owner at our local feed store. Small town.... lots of farms and 'treat them yourself' mentality.

He saw the traveling vet (yep... they come to the Feed Store monthly) just 2 weeks ago for a good physical and puppy shots / worming. There's no hair loss anywhere else or sores/ etc. He goes Sept 6th for Rabies shot.

We have a large 8 X 8 sandbox and Scooter will dig in the sand trying to bury a basketball. He'll stretch out and sand covers his bottom side. Until yesterday, I would go out and rinse his underside until all the sand was off. The last two days or so, I've let my 10 year old do this. I've noticed dried sand on his tummy.

Other than not wanting to put his paw down, I can wiggle his foot/ leg, flex it, massage it and no reaction. He's laying on the sofa playing like a crazy puppy right now. He's using that 'foot' to trap his rawhide pieces for chewing. Still favors it when walking tho.

Thanks SO much for your help! We're very low income and were given this pup at 5 1/2 weeks outside Wal-Mart. He has a little white on him so I'm guessing there's a little ' stranger in the night ' blood in him. Wink

Diane

dylansdad · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 1:56 am Post subject:

_Mary_ · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 10:37 am Post subject:

From what I`ve heard/seen about fire ants they are vicious little bu**ers!!!, is there any way of trying to get rid of the nest?, not sure if they`ve been able to come up with something that destroys them yet Confused

, if there is be sure that Scooter is`nt in the area when you use it.

I agree with DD re the sand, it may be irritating him if your 10yo is not getting it all off him, plus it could (and probably does) harbour bugs of all kinds most of which bite. Brushing him would be a good idea too to get any sand/muck off him properly.

As for his foot could be a strain from slipping, but not an expert so would`nt know, as your vet only visits irregularly if he`s still limping ask him about when Scooter goes for his rabies shots, of course if your able to get him to a vet sooner that would be better.

Would also like to see pics of Scooter if your able to get some uploaded Laughing

dianetavegia · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 1:10 pm Post subject: Scooter

We got rid of the fireants quite easily. We have Cook's Pest Control in the south. Smile

Scooter isn't biting or chewing his legs today but, of course, his hair will take a while to grow back. I put some 'Bag Balm' on his legs last night. For those who don't know, that's a cream for cracked cow udders.

As for his foot, one pad seems tender and slightly swollen. He walks on the carpet but still puts it down gently where last night, not at all. No fussing tho... even if I try to look at it.

_Mary_ · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 1:27 pm Post subject:

Does`nt matter if he is "part stranger in the night" he`s gorgeous Laughing

, if he`ll let you look more closely at his pad try to see if there`s a seed or something similar stuck in it, will be quite small though so probably hard to see.

dianetavegia · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 1:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks Jesstiggs, We think so too! He's so much fun and so smart! He learns commands within minutes and doesn't forget one day to the next.

He's napping in the corner so I'll try to get a good look at his pad under a light when he wakes.

Diane and Scooter

Trina · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 1:52 pm Post subject:

Can't give any further advice than that you've already received but just wanted to say he's absolutely gorgeous.

Welcome to the forums.
Regards
Trina