Puzzling problem…

Sandy in CT said:
Try using white vinegar in your fabric softener dispenser with wool dryer balls in your dryer. Fabric softener is horrid stuff... clogs plumbing, builds up in clothing, dryer sheets gum up dryers. Vinegar is KING of fabric softener... I buy by the case at Costco cuz it does so much so well! Hope you figure out the culprit!
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Interesting…I’ll try it Sandy! Thanks for the tip!
 
Piper's mom said:
Interesting…I’ll try it Sandy! Thanks for the tip!
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Let me know your thoughts if you try!

Not sure your water source, we are on a well with hard water. I add Biz (powder - cheap from Walmart in the US) it contains some of the good stuff they took out of laundry detergents years ago. I also never use liquid, never add in what the box says, and every so often I run a long clean cycle on my washer when it's empty. If you have one, I would run before you make any change in your detergents as it can clean out anything leftover that Blueberry may be reacting to. Look mid-cycle to see what the suds level looks like and if high, run again. Most people use too much 'stuff' when doing laundry and it builds up everywhere. Even if you change,, without a deep clean of stuff, she can still be exposed which could make you think your change isn't effective when she's just getting access to old, leftover 'stuff'. :)

Have you ever checked out Gussy's Gut? Supposed to be good for addressing sensitivities through better gut health. It's a freeze dried fermented foods product. I believe you already give your puppers fermented foods but this has a wide variety of.

Not sure if you have access to Tide Free & Clear (it is one liquid that is a good one particularly for allergies and sensitivities). Charlie's Soap is another decent product but doesn't do well keeping whites white.
 
Sandy in CT said:
Let me know your thoughts if you try!

Not sure your water source, we are on a well with hard water. I add Biz (powder - cheap from Walmart in the US) it contains some of the good stuff they took out of laundry detergents years ago. I also never use liquid, never add in what the box says, and every so often I run a long clean cycle on my washer when it's empty. If you have one, I would run before you make any change in your detergents as it can clean out anything leftover that Blueberry may be reacting to. Look mid-cycle to see what the suds level looks like and if high, run again. Most people use too much 'stuff' when doing laundry and it builds up everywhere. Even if you change,, without a deep clean of stuff, she can still be exposed which could make you think your change isn't effective when she's just getting access to old, leftover 'stuff'. :)

Have you ever checked out Gussy's Gut? Supposed to be good for addressing sensitivities through better gut health. It's a freeze dried fermented foods product. I believe you already give your puppers fermented foods but this has a wide variety of.

Not sure if you have access to Tide Free & Clear (it is one liquid that is a good one particularly for allergies and sensitivities). Charlie's Soap is another decent product but doesn't do well keeping whites white.
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We are on city water Sandy…and it’s not a terribly hard water either.
Right now Blueberry gets fermented vegetables, homemade kefir and I give her a pro/prebiotics called Love Bugs by Adored Beast and medicinal mushrooms and spirulina plus Chaga tea I make them (they all get this)… trust me she has a very healthy gut! I don’t even think she’s ever been on antibiotics in her lifetime to mess up her gut!
I’ve cut out the store bought cookies and she’s just getting pork right now and I haven’t seen her licking a paw lately…almost looks like the back paw is getting less pink as well. Hopefully it’s the cookies but I’m still limiting her to a one ingredient treat unless I’ve made it.
 
I think I’ve determined what Blueberry’s issue was with her paws….
Fast forward to a week ago (Sunday) and my mom had to go to the hospital by ambulance. The fire department had put some sand down on the sidewalk because of a big icy patch (it was a very fine sandbox sand). I was at the hospital all day and didn’t get back until late so by the next day Blueberry had been running through it over and over (as had all the dogs) to get the the window.
That day (Monday) I checked the dogs via the camera and I could see Blueberry going to town on her paws! By the time I got home later her paws were all red and wet from chewing on them.
I ended up giving her a Benadryl (and a paw wash) and after her second dose the chewing stopped.
I also swept all the sand off the sidewalk!
It was so sudden the only thing that made sense was the sand! Something that I hadn’t even thought about in December when this issue first arose. I had been using sand in my yard last November (and periodically all winter if I was out of the pet friendly kind) and the dogs often ran through it.
I’ve since looked it up and turns out it can cause chafing and allergic reactions!
No more sand! Sometimes the least obvious thing is the cause!
 
SheepOfBlue said:
Does the sand have an additive for melting? Before you said you had bought it also my first thought was something like the CaMg mix of stuff.
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Not that I know of…it’s certainly possible for the stuff the fire department used, definitely not mine though. Mine was traction sand.
And it didn’t bother the other two dog’s paws and they ran through it just as much as blueberry did.
 
That all makes sense, Lisa! Wow, two diagnostic mysteries solved here at the same time, Blueberry and Benny....are we in for a spell of good luck, dare we hope?! I'm so glad you found a reason for the paw problem. Things like that are so frustrating when you can't find a reason. Good news for sure, and I'm sending the very best wishes for your Mom, I hope she's improving. Hugs to you. :hugs
 
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