I looked up the Penaten Cream and wondering which kind to get. It comes in cream, shampoo, lotions, for diaper rash, etc,,,,etc,,,,etc. Please advise. Thanks so much

I use this one, it's a thick cream:

http://www.amazon.com/penaten-Penaten-Cream-150-ml/dp/B000SI43LG

Geri, I just want to make sure you read this:

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Lori Hall

JMO, but I would take the dog to the regular vet for a culture on that paw before I started using any 'concoctions' for rinsing or soaking. I use the blue power solution too, but it is an antifungal/antibacterial so if you use that before you go to the derma vet w/o having the cytology done first, you and the derma vet will never know if there was yeast and bacteria there to cause the problem. .... At least if you had the cytology done you could take the results with you to the derma vet appt when that happens and they would have some history to work with.
Just a thought!

YES. Please have the cytology done. This dog hasn't been diagnosed yet, so maintenance advice is really for later, post-diagnosis.

If you remove parasites, bacteria, or fungi, the test will not reflect the true condition. Remember that the vet needs to know how many spores/bacteria/parasites there are, and not just which one(s).

Malassezia, for example, is found on healthy dogs. It's the large number that indicates an overgrowth, so we don't want to mask the number.

Malassezia is already a partly clinical diagnosis in many cases because of its presence in small numbers on dogs who do not have a yeast overgrowth (or what's called a yeast infection). We don't want to make it any more of a guessing game than it already is.

Thanks for the quick answer......Geri

Tracy I'd like to use this cream on his paws but I'm wondering if it is non- toxic. He wants to lick off anything we put on him. Thanks

We do not have a derm. vet in our area but I'll see if my regular vet can do some tests. I really think it is all the pollen we are having this year. It's been awful. I started him on a natural allergy supplement from leerburg. Hope it works.

RE: toxicity..is there an 800# on the container you can call, just a thought as I don't know.

I know of some with dogs that have known allergies to just the pollens swear by rinsing the feet completely off with just water and drying after every exposure to grass (ugh, I would imagine).

Thyroid, allergies to foods or a 'nervous' tick are also possibilities (sorry not quite sure where your post began in this thread)

Just be careful because if it didn't originate from a bacteria, yeast or fungus as mentioned previously the constant licking can turn into any of the above.

You could also try cutting the toe off a longer sock and putting that on the dog (like a legging) after applying the cream.

 Quote: Geri Gill

We do not have a derm. vet in our area but I'll see if my regular vet can do some tests. I really think it is all the pollen we are having this year. It's been awful. I started him on a natural allergy supplement from leerburg. Hope it works.

If you mean you bought the Herbsmith product, good.

Have you by any chance read any of the dozens (hundreds) of threads here about allergies?

I'm asking because I'm not sure what you already know.



How old is the dog? How bad is the paw-licking? Is the dog losing sleep?

Is there any other part of the body that the dog is licking/biting?

Is he breaking skin?

Is there any odor around the inflamed paw(s)?

Is he on fish oil (and vitamin E)? How much per day?

What food are you feeding (I am not thinking as much of actual food allergy, which is much less likely than environmental/inhalant, but more of the fact that a very good diet is immune support and allergies are an immune function; many dogs with inhalant allergies do so much better when taken off a grain-heavy food ... )

There are many steps you can take (and yes, not allowing the dog to drag in pollen after being on grassy land is a biggy -- if he has a pollen allergy and drags it in on his paws, then he is breathing it 24/7; I use a pan of fresh water by the door in the season of my allergic dog's worst allergens and then a thick towel to between that and the door so the dog rinses and then blots on the way in).

You will definitely get help here if you give us all the info listed; there are several allergy-experienced folks on the board.

Fish oil and E will be a good first step.

Yes I am giving him Herbsmith Allerqu Clear. Just started this week.
I have read a lot of the threads about allergies. I guess I want instant results from the things I am already doing.
He is 13 mos old.
He is not losing sleep as we give him lots of exercise and he is very tired at the end of the day. He usually licks before he falls asleep, mostly at night.
So far he is not breaking the skin, but he also licks the upper part of one leg and his rear hip areas.
No odor at this point.
I also have doggie benadryl, 2 to 3 a day that help a little.
He is on 1000 mg salmon oil and 400 mg vit E.
We feed him Wellness Salmon and rice. He has had stomache problems in the past and this has been about the only food that agrees with him.

I will also that your advise about washing off his feet after we come in from outside.
Thanks for all your time.

Geri