Hi Marilyn --- I have had the same experience with a little dog. He had mites and they burrowed deeply under his cuticles. So with Ted's mange bath or just standing in Borax water for a while, should deal with mites. But it can by now be a habit hard to break. It is part of frustration I think.

But I found upon close inspection that he was suffering from a fungal infection as well, which is very itchy and if not treated, a pain. So, again, Ted's fungus treatment with a good anti fungal topical treatment. For this a soft collar would prevent the dog to lick the infected toes.

Please look under "Ted's Mange and fungus treatment" on EC's special sections and good success.

Namaste, Om

She goes to the groomers every 4 weeks. The vet says she has allergies, but I don't want to keep putting her on prednisone. I just want her to stop licking her paws.

Hey Marilyn!

There are a couple of things you can try to help with your dog's itchy paws.

First is diet; when allergies appear it usually means it is time for a switch. Read your ingredient label; if you see grains such as corn or corn gluten or others, then for sure it is time to switch to a higher quality kibble that is grain free. Next look at any thing else your dog eats or chews on; all treats and rawhides should be made in the USA, be free from dyes or added colors and sugars. Cleaning up the diet and anything taken internally is the first step in treating for allergies.

Next, alkalizing your dog's drinking water may help. Start off by adding 1 teaspoon of baking soda into 1 liter of water and have this be your dog's only source of water. After 7 days you can drop down to 1/2 teaspoon; after 7 days you can do a maintenance dose of 1/4 teaspoon into 1 liter of water. If your dog won't drink the baking soda water at full strength, go the reverse route of 1/4 teaspoon and work your way up to 1 teaspoon and then work your way back down to the maintenance dose again.

Adding probiotics- healthy bacteria for the gut - can help. Consider any of the brands available in the health food store in the cooler section; rotate the strains of probiotics frequently so your dog gets as wide a variety as possible.

The addition of colostrum and quercetin - also found at the health food store - may also help boost the immune system and help with the inflamation associated with allergies.

These are not instant fixes, and generally will take a few weeks to show improvement, however some report rapid results with diet change alone.

Lastly, DITTO to Om's advice to try Ted's antifungal remedy as a topical for the paws.