Why Does My Dog Lick Their Paws?
Licking paws from time to time is very common among dogs. A sudden change in behavior is typically a sign that something is wrong. The moment you notice excessive chewing and licking is when it becomes an issue. Keep reading to find out if your dog chews his paws due to relaxation, allergies, injuries, or parasites.
Reasons Your Dog Licks Their Paw
1. Relaxation
Occasional paw licking is normal. My dog sometimes chews on one of his front paw as a way to soothe himself. He does not chew on it excessively but rather chews to relax while laying down. It almost looks like he uses his paw as a pacifier. He sometimes falls asleep with his paw in his mouth and it is the cutest thing. As long as it is an occasional, rare paw-licking, I am not worried, but usually you know when it is time to be concerned.
2. Allergies
If your dog starts to chew on his paws it might be due to an allergy. It is a little more difficult to determine if the paw-licking is caused by an allergy. You might not see a change in your dog’s paw but it might tingle or itch regardless. To find out if your dog is reacting to an allergy, ask yourself the following questions.
Since your dog’s paws have started to itch…
…did you change your dog’s food recently?
…did you wash your dog’s bed with a detergent he/she might be allergic to?
…did your dog walk on grass that might have had a toxic treatment?
…did you buy other treats than usual?
…did anything else change since the itching started?
Allergy reactions can come in different forms. You could also get an allergy test performed on your dog, but allergy testing for dogs is very expensive and might not give you the answers you are looking for. The testing is called RAST in case you are interested.
If you suspect that your dog is allergic against weeds or grass outside, clean their paws whenever you come back from a walk to wash off whatever might cause discomfort.
My dog Luke reacts to chicken in his food with diarrhea and it took me a long time to figure out that he is allergic to chicken. You can read a little more about chicken allergies here.
3. Parasites
Your dog’s paw might itch due to a flea or mite infestation.
Fleas are very common among dogs and are easily treated. Sometimes fleas have nests in between the toe beans, which might cause your dog to chew his paws excessively. If you suspect that your dog has fleas, check out this blog post to see how to get rid of them.
A mites infestation might cause mange, which is a very painful skin condition that can grow very quickly if left untreated. It shows as redness or scaling of the skin, hair loss, or crusts on the skin. The easiest way to get rid of mange is to clip hair and use mange shampoo during a bath.
4. Injuries
Take a close look on your dog’s paws, especially if they keep licking one paw in particular. Apply pressure to different areas and touch the in-between areas of your dog’s paws to evaluate where it hurts. Your dog might have a thorn or small stone stuck in between the toe beans.
I went on a bike ride with my dog after the rain once. The water on the street softened his skin on his paws to a point where he suffered multiple blisters on his two front paws. He was chewing and licking a lot on his front paws due to the pain. I did not go to the vet but asked my friend who is a veterinary what to do in this situation. She advised to disinfected the area with an anti-bacterial spray and cover his paws. I used socks that I taped around my dog’s legs in order to prevent excessive licking. The cone does not work for my dog, which is why I use socks. It healed after a few days and my dog Luke started to walk normal again.
If none of the reasons above apply to your dog, see a veterinary immediately. Especially when the paw licking is very excessive, it is best to seek advice from a professional. In the meantime, strap a cone or a travel pillow (Yes, a travel pillow is a great alternative if you do not have a cone on hand) around your dog’s neck to prevent excessive licking.
Every dog and situation is different, so always trust your instinct and do what is best for you and your dog.
Let me know in the comments how your dog is doing!
Feel better!
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