Ointments or Creme for My Dog's Itchy Feet

Caring for a dog with itchy feet involves a combination of prevention and treatment. Preventive measures help to avoid the problem from recurring and to reduce the severity of symptoms. Prompt treatment soothes irritation and heals the condition before secondary infection can set in. Whether the cause of your dog's foot problems is allergies, parasites or disease, with the correct care the dog may have excellent quality of life, often without prescribed medication.

  1. Causes

    • One of the most common causes of itchy feet in dogs is allergies. The itching could be a result of a food allergy, or the dog may be reacting to seasonal grasses and pollens that it picks up while out walking. Insect and flea bites may also result in itching. The dog licks and chews its feet to relieve the itch and this causes redness and inflammation, dryness, flaking or scaly areas, lesions or scabs. Swellings or lumps may indicate a case of hives.

    Herbal Creams

    • Calendula cream comes from pot marigolds and has been in use for centuries as a topical anti-inflammatory and mild antiseptic. Provided it does not contain alcohol as a preservative, it is completely safe, even if the dog ingests it by licking.

      Tea tree, aloe vera and vitamin E oils and creams will also relieve the itch, moisturize the skin of the dog's pads and prevent dryness and cracking that could lead to infection. Fit the dog with an Elizabethan collar, which is a broad circle of stiff cardboard or plastic around the dog's neck that prevents it from licking areas of its body.

    Medical Creams

    • Corticosteroid creams are available from your veterinarian. These creams imitate the purpose of the adrenal glands and suppress the body's reactions to allergic conditions, such as the itching of the dog's feet. Corticosteroids occur naturally in the system, and the use of synthetics can result in a variety of side effects. Depending on the preservative ingredients of the creams, some brands may be toxic to dogs. Make sure that you prevent the dog from ingesting the creams.

    Preventive Treatments

    • Mix 1/2 cup of Epsom salts to half a gallon of warm water and soak your dog's feet in it every day. Made from magnesium sulfate, Epsom salts is a well-established remedy for cleansing and softening the skin of the pads. Massage the pads daily with a moisturizing cream and fit the dog with lightweight boots to relieve the irritation of walking on grasses and hard roads. Use the herbal or medicated creams and ointments only when the condition flares up.