10 Ways To Treat Your Boston Terrier’s Itchy Paws at Home

There is nothing worse than when your dog won’t stop licking their paws. Most of the time it’s related to allergies or yeast. It’s also known that Boston Terriers are prone to itchy paws. I’ve tackled this myself with my two and I share our experience with you below.

For the most part itchy paws can be treated at home if you know what you are looking at. You need to understand the difference between yeasty paws versus allergic reactions. Treatments and remedies done at home should be done in a short time frame. Do not wait to go to your vet if the symptoms progress for a long period of time. I typically see improvement within twenty four hours and will not wait past three days before consulting with my vet.

When you look online you will find a multitude of articles telling you want to do. I list the different questions you may have as a dog mom or dog dad and different ways to treat your Boston Terrier’s itchy paws at home.

Keep in mind I am not a vet. I’m a dedicated dog parent who has experienced this with both of my Boston Terrier’s and we’ve gone to several vets (regular and holistic) to address their itchies.

What causes itchy paws in Boston Terrier’s?

Your Boston Terrier has itchy paws because they have an allergic reaction or yeast. Your vet can properly diagnose which end of the spectrum they are. Yeast typically comes with wax between the toes and a smell. Yeast is when the immune system is underacting. There might be a family history or the immune system is off balance.

Allergies are when the immune system overreacts to allergens. Typically their bellies are also rashy and itchy when it’s related to environmental allergies.

Food allergies don’t happen as often as you think. So typically it’s not a food allergy unless their muzzles are also rashy and irritated.

My Boston Terrier won’t stop licking his paws and licked them raw

At this point prevention is key. You can have your Boston Terrier wear a donut collar. If it extends past his or her muzzle this will prevent them from licking their paws. Sometimes you may have to put socks on them.

My Boston Terrier is chewing his paws and won’t stop

If they are chewing it’s time to call the vet. If they won’t leave their paws alone they can very easily give them selves lesions.

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Can I put apple cider vinegar on my Boston Terrier’s paws?

You can try this. I’ve seen it as a recommendation on several websites. We tried a diluted mix both white and apple cider vinegar and it did nothing for my Boston Terrier . I tried soaks and sprays and wipes.

What can you give your Boston Terrier for severe itching?

Zyrtec

During an allergy break out our vet prescribed Zyrtec. It was not the extended release one (D stands for Death) it was the regular Zyrtec. For Maggie who weighs 17 pounds half a tablet once a day helped her.

Maggie has allergies as opposed to yeast.

Why is my Boston Terrier so itchy all of a sudden?

They probably have developed an allergy to something they came into contact with. You really never know what that trigger is unless you visit a dog dermatologist and do testing.

Why is my Boston Terrier so itchy but has no fleas?

I would not be so quick to rule out fleas. Flea allergies occur more frequently that dog owners like to admit because the opinion is if I can’t see the flea then it must not be a flea. However fleas primarily live OFF the dog and only jump on to bite and then jump back off (assuming you have some sort of flea preventative you are using).

To find out if your dog has fleas use a flea comb. If brown dust comes off them (do this over white paper) and that brown dust turns into a rusty red when wet – that is flea dirt/blood. Then the culprit to your itchy Boston Terrier are fleas.

Why are my Boston Terrier’s paws red between their toes?

When your dog is licking their paws the saliva might cause lighter fur dogs to turn rusty red. Sometimes this is a sign of yeast as well.

Inspect between the toes to determine if there is any wax build up and if so you have a Boston Terrier with yeasty paws.

Will Baking Soda help my Boston Terrier’ to stop from itching?

I tried this – it didn’t work although I see it on different websites.

What home remedy can I use to stop my Boston Terrier’ from itching their paws?

I found that most of the natural remedies did not work and trust me I tried them all. What worked the best was understanding the difference between yeast or allergies and treating accordingly.

Eliminate Yeast if that is what is causing the itchy paws.

Spray for yeasty paws

Yeast that is waxy and sitting on your dog’s skin is a fungus and must be cleaned off and removed.

There a many different options out there available to you to apply to your dog’s skin. I have found that the active ingredients chlorohexidine and ketoconazole work best. I’ve used and recommended this product with almost all parents reporting success.

You can spray it between their toes and wipe off with a baby wipe.

Or you can dilute it 50/50 and soak your Boston Terrier’s paws for 30 to 60 seconds each paw.

Wipes to help prevent allergy triggers on paws

If your dog has allergies you can a product to keep them clean and allergens away. We use MalAcetic wipes.  MalAcetic Wet *Wipes* are medicated *wipes* that provide relief from hot spots and other skin conditions for *dogs* and cats. Medicated MalAcetic Wet *Wipes* help with mild fungal and bacterial infections. *Use* for cleansing and soothing any skin condition, including hot spots, stud tail and chin acne for both *dogs* and cats.

Shampoo

We have a very active life hiking or going to the beach. Maggie would often break out in rashes if I didn’t bath her.

I did some research and found a shampoo that has the active ingredients hinokitiol and phytosphingosine which help with the skin barrier. I wrote an earlier article about dog skin HERE.

We used this for 2 1/2 years.

We also were introduced to a new product from our vet. To our knowledge it is only available from the vet and it has the active ingredient Chlorhexidine, Ketoconazole, and Acetic Acid as well.

Recently this summer we went for a walk and Maggie was rashy. Overnight she scratched herself with her back legs making her belly very sore and red. I rushed her to the vet who suspected that Maggie had something on her paws that made her rash worse.

Lesson learned, always wipe paws down after a walk when you have a Boston Terrier with allergies because they could make it worse if they have a reaction to their own dirty paws.

Donut Collar

If your Boston Terrier won’t stop licking their itchy paws. A simple donut collar can keep them off it until you treat what is causing the itch so that it goes away.

Fresh Food

We are a huge supporter of fresh food. I cook for Maggie and Orbit. You can read about our foundation recipe HERE. I believe the more fresh food you can add to your Boston Terrier the stronger their immune system will be.

As the years have progressed Maggie and Orbit have less itchy bouts and I would like to think it’s also because they eat better food.

Fish

Every summer I go from adding fish to my Boston Terrier’s meals every three days to every day. The omega’s have anti inflammatory properties which have helped them be less itchy.

I prefer not to feed oils or capsules but look for oily fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines or anchovies to add to their diet. I get salmon and mackerel from the local grocery store and sardines from AMAZON. I get anchovies every now and then through our subscription treat and chew delivery service from Real Dog Box.

Avoid Triggers / Parks

Identifying what triggers itchy feet is key to avoiding it. I noticed that our local park sprays the grass with a pesticide from the spring to fall seasons. And I noticed my two would have itchy paws when we walked on the grass. Now I avoid that park altogether when I know it’s the months they are spraying the lawn.

Flea preventative

As I mentioned earlier a good flea preventative regimen will eliminate fleas as the cause. Talk to your vet as to what works best for you, in your area. We don’t have many fleas in the fall and winter months so we don’t use flea pills in San Diego but in the Summer we’ll put the girls on a program recommended by our vet.

Water

Cleanliness is key. Water rinses after walks or being outside is the most simple way to avoid any allergens that may be causing any triggers. And even if you have a Boston Terrier that is prone to yeast, keeping their paws clean is a simple way to avoid itchy paws.

In conclusion

On day one of your dog’s paws being itchy and you can tell the difference between allergies and yeast, you can treat this at home. But if by day three they won’t leave their paws alone and your home treatment doesn’t work it’s time to call your vet.

Every dog is different so treat the dog in front of you and don’t wait for the situation to get worse. Only continue the home treatment if you see your Boston Terrier ’s conditions improve.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hello my name is Hannah and I dance with my dogs.  A self proclaimed Boston Terrier addict, (aka breed advocate) I started this blog because there isn’t enough space to write on our Instagram.  Maggie is my socially awkward one; which I find highly relatable because I am completely out of place in large groups myself.  And Orbit is my sensitive flower.  Blow on her skin wrong (ok I might be exaggerating) and she breaks out in a rash.

You won’t read about cats here… but you will get a fairly large dosage of articles dedicated to the Boston Terrier.    Read more about us.