I live in Spain and have a 5 year old American Bull Terrier that has a serious problem with eczema on her paws.  She licks them to the stage where they are raw and bleeding and then gets a secondary infection in the wounds.  My vet tells me that it is a common problem in bull terrier breeds.  Antibiotics clear it up but once they stop the problem returns.  I am at my wits end as I have tried everything.  Has anyone any experience of similar problems or any suggestions as to a way forward.  Thanks.

Bella

If you fill a jug with half vinegar and half water then heat it in the microwave (so it's hot but not too hot for the dog) dip the foot/feet in then apply sudocrem (or another cream for sore bottoms....... do this 4 times a day and you should see an improvement.

Good luck!

Interesting suggestion. Do you dry the foot before applying the cream? Sudocrem is a barrier cream. Will you not be sealing in any infection that is present?

I can't really throw any light on the above treatment, other than acetic acid would not be very friendly to bacteria :), but I don't really see any danger in "sealing infection in".  Infection is dealt with internally by white cells, or antibiotics, in the blood stream the regular bathing should remove any pus or sloughyness and the cream would help prevent further bacteria entering through the broken skin.  Ideally a wound or open skin area should be kept dry as bacteria like warm, wet conditions but thats not easily achieved with a paw so maybe a barrier cream is the way to go, just a theory anyway :)

I was always told that wounds should be kept as open as possible (especially deep puncture wounds that should never be stitched shut without a drain) and of course dry. A barrier cream may well prevent bacteria getting in, but by the same token it would also prevent bacteria being removed from the area ...
:)

But if infection is present the bacteria is already in :)  I agree a wound is better left dry to prevent the bacteria multiplying but this is always difficult with paws, bottoms etc, hence a barrier cream can be useful, the regular bathing is going to be very important with such an approach.  Deep punctures are generally left open to facilitate healing from the bottom of the wound and not the surface, the drain removing any serous fluid gathering.

I remember when Harry had his toe amputated, we were told not to put any cream or similar on the wound but to leave it open to the air as much as possible. If the infection had spread then it was likely he'd have lost his entire leg (they don't do partial leg amputations - if the entire foot has to go it's taken off at the shoulder).

The cream is to stop the dog chewing it's foot more than anything else - BT's have a nasty habbit of chewing their feet which makes the problems worse.
It really does seem to work well.

Jo

Maybe you are right :), I am just trying to rationalise it in my head, but we are talking about a, probably, surface infection resulting from broken skin here not an amputation down to the bone.

Hi I have a friend with the same problem in her stafford bitch. After going down all other roads suggested to her she has now finally cracked it by using good old zinc and caster oil cream. Its very similar to sudo cream. and is really done the trick.
All the best Gwen