Staffie with itchy toes - common complaint?

I am dog sitting my mums staffie bitch and for the last few months she has had terrible itching between her front toes. Is this common in Staffies as a rule or just random bad luck? Vet suggests allergy testing (approx £500) but Mum cant afford that. She is using Fuciderm at the moment and it helps for a wee bit, but as soon as she stops after the 5 days it comes back within a week. She is also on Piriton once a day which also helps a bit. She seems to get itchy ears at the same time which are also getting treated regularly. Just wondered if someone has a similar problem and can give us an alternative angle to look at it from? thanks.........

It sounds to me like doggie hayfever (Considering the itchy feet, probably to grass). They dont get the symptoms we do but instead get itchy skin.
treatment is the same - anti histamines. If the Piriton isn't too effective try another, but be aware the "non-drowsy" ones don't usually work as well on dogs. I would advise checking doses at this website

http://www.ingleburnvet.com.au/antihistamines.htm

However, if you would prefer to try a drug-free “treatment” first, I was advised by a homeopathic specialist to try giving my dog a teaspoon of LOCALLY PRODUCED honey once or twice a day - it must be local to contain similar pollens to the ones affecting your dog. I have tried this with Beau & have reached September with an itch free black lab!!

I did actually hear the thing about local honey before, but forgot! I will go and get some asap.........
I will check out the other bit about anti-histamines, and thanks again. Fingers crossed! x

Try Quistel....have seen some very good results with it

Bob grass skin cure cream worked wonders on Toro, with the bob grass skin cooling tablets, you really need to be giving her 3 piriton a day for piriton to work, thats what the vet told me to give my wee shar pei...
aloe vera cooling gel from the sun care bit at tesco is good too...hope shes better soon x

Sounds like a food allergy to me - I would switch to a gluten free diet and zero treats for 2 months ....

She has been on that for months with no success. It also seems to get worse just before summer and then eases off after autumn starts. Vet said it was definately an allergy but not food associated and she seems to be right..............time will tell.

bruno gets itchy feet if been in the longer grass.
as you say he only gets it in summer.

Staffs are prone to skin conditions. Tonks get bumpy legs, chest and armpits every time she charges through undergrowth and long grass, fortunately it doesn't seem to itch them. She only gets it in these plases because her coat is so short there .....in fact almost no existent!

Last week i started to give her one piriton a day and that seesm tmo have reduced it.

Bathing in week salt water might help to, each time after a walk.