Mastiff with poorly toe

[Dr Meat]

Hi everyone, I have a mastiff with a poorly toe, it hurts him for a day then as soon as it feels better he charges around then the next day or so he's back to square one. I've not walked him to give it a chance to heel. I haven't taken him to the vet yet as he is fine in himself and we are already probably one of the vets best earners. He's 18 months old and 10 stone, also on a steroid for his skin. Would it be a good idea to tape his toes together, thanks

[Dr Meat]

It's on he's back left foot, went to bed fine woke up with a swollen toe. It's defo he's toe and the vet checked all his joints last week.

[Dr Meat]

Took him back to the vets today,he said he didnt think it needed a x-ray and to let him rest for the next five days.That in itself is the problem as I said before as soon as he feels beter he charges around till it hurts then the circle starts over again.
The steroids unfortunatley is not short term,hes had a problem with hes skin since he was six months old. We have tried everything, first skin scrapes,then blood tests,food trails,from antihistermines to atopica all with no success.the only thing that calms hes skin down and stops him ripping himself apart is the steriods.

[Dr Meat]

Jasandjules said:

Try a raw diet.
Try homeopathy.

Both cheaper and IME more effective than drugs

He is fed raw with mainly potatos and some veg,which has helped as it does'nt dry his skin out as much.
A pic of my boy with his sister.

[Dr Meat]

I know that the steroids are bad, but we have spent nearly 2k trying to get to the route of the problem and we still have no clue what is causing it. Don't get me wrong it's not the cost, if it took 10k to fix him I would find the money from someware. It does scare me the use of the steroids as french mastiffs dont have the longest lifes as it is, they give a far greater quality of life and surely he deserves to be happy while he's with me.
Back to the raw feeding, am I right to be giving him carbohydrates?

[Dr Meat]

Thanks for all the replies, I will a cut the spuds right down and will try different meats. I not sure if I can afford to give him whole rabbits all the time and have the time to butcher them, what with all the meat lying around defrosting each day and the skinning of the rabbits my kitchen would look like some think out of the texas chain saw massacre! I feed him about 1 kilo of meat daily over three meals to reduce the risk of bloat.

[Dr Meat]

I've tried the minced rabbit but he's not a big fan,he likes tripe which I mix in with the beef. Chicken carcasses cost me £ 20 for about 15kgs, The meat I buy him is all frozen prize choice from the local pet shop.Ill have to have a look at local farms for some prices. I must say he does fancy the idea of a rabbit, if he see's one he bolts straight for it but at 10 stone they run him ragged!