Hi guys I've got one for you!!

I took my dogs out for walk with my mum's pup today. The pups is 14 weeks tomorrow. We went for a lovely stroll around the lakes that are behind my house and the dogs were running up and down investigating in the grass and paddling in the lakes. A great time was had by all, BUT, when we got back to my house, my mum's pup started to act a little peculiar. She started to chew on her front and back paws, nothing major to start with. After about twenty minutes her paws were driving her insane and she kept running around really skittish and then stopping and stamping her paws on the floor and then chewing them again.

Now my pup occasionally has a chew on her front paws as she going to sleep but it's more of a comfort thing for her. But this was driving my mum's pup completely insane!!!! What do you think it could be?? I thought she may have ran through stinging nettles, but, I'm not sure whether they have the same affect on dogs as they do on us??

It sounds similar to something which happened to mine. During the foot and mouth, when walks were restricted we took them to a park we didnt normally use, and one day in particular they behaved like that. We thought perhaps the grass had been treated with some kind of fertilizer - and we did hear of the same thing happening to someone elses dogs after going to the same park. They had gone in the river, so now I've heard your tale, perhaps I was on the wrong track and it was some chemical in the water - I doubt fertilizer would be down where you have been! I used Aloe Vera gel - lots of it, as the pads did feel quite warm, bathing every half hour or so and then piling on more gel. Cant say whether it just wore off, whether the bathing cured it or the gel, but the gel did seem to stop the itch!

Hi Fillis,

I did wonder about putting on Aloe but wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not cause she was biting and chewing the paws.

The other two dogs were fine though and they were all swimming, running and walking in the same places. Maybe the pup was more sensitive. It is a bit worrying that it could be a chemical in the water as these lakes feed all our rivers running through our town!

I'm only guessing at that, as water seemed the common thing. Aloe vera will not harm the puppy if licked - you can drink aloe vera juice - just check what else is added.