sore paws

[gulliver1]

My Alsation x suffers with sore pads/paws when one clears up another breaks out, the vet has given me a tube of skin film, another said it was arthritis, they just break out and are extremly sore preventing her having the long walks she enjoys, I have to put the film on then a sock then a plastic bag before taking her out, they seem to heal in a couple of days then come back on another paw, a friend suggested sulpher tablets, has anyone heard of this and what would the dosage be for a 45kg dog. Please Help if you have heard of this before....

[lankeela]

Don't know about sulphur tablets, you can get sulphur blocks which you put in the water bowl and which cool the blood.

My old dog had sore places breaking out all over and she was put on a course of steroids. It took over a year, but I gradually got her weaned off them, but they did allow her to heal up and we gradually used less and less.

[gulliver1]

Thank you for the info on sulpher blocks, we live in Spain, but I'm sure we will be able to locate one either at the Vet or Pet shop.
Someone also suggested that it might be too much protien, I can't wait to get her sorted..

[tashare]

shepherds suffer badly with skin problems and often have to be put on cortisone which of course is a steriod to keep their condition under control. i used to breed and show these dogs and my last one was 17 when i had to do the right thing. 3 out of 4 of my dogs suffered with skin problems even though i watched their diet had regular vet visits for checks and used a flea control. i believe that a lot of these problems started when we had central heating. these dogs have a double coat, they have a lot of fur between the pads, this can sometimes cause sweeting. even in humans this can develope into blisters or ulsurs. im not saying that this is your dogs cause. sulphur comes in blocks or in powder form please check with your vet first before you give it anything inturnally. a block goes into the water so cant hurt.

[lankeela]

You could be right about the protein level in the food, unless a dog is getting a lot of physical work a protein level of about 19 - 20% is plenty. Any higher and it has to find a way out somewhere, as it is not being utilised, and it usually comes out through the skin. When I worked with greyhounds they often had tails that bled and it was put down to wagging them against the kennel walls, but I am sure it was too high protein in their food when they were not racing and using it up. Try a chicken and rice type food and avoid too much red meat or high protein completes.