How To Stop My Dogs From Chewing His Paws?

Dogs lick and chew on a variety of items, including themselves. However, you are not alone in asking why dogs chew or lick their paws.

Paw licking may be a good grooming practice or a dog’s way of dealing with pain, inflammation, and discomfort. So, how can pet owners know whether their dog’s paw chewing and licking is a problem?

In this post, we will explain why dogs lick, gnaw, and bite their paws. We’ll also explain when it’s an issue and what pet owners can and should do to address it.

Reasons Why Dogs Lick Their Paws And Nails?

There are several reasons why dogs lick and bite their paws and nails. Abnormal causes of paw licking and chewing include:

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Allergies

Dogs with allergies often have red, scratchy skin and paws. Allergies are among the most prevalent reasons dogs lick their feet. A dog who has allergies may do this regularly and repeatedly.

The inflammation of a dog’s paws is uncomfortable and itchy. Allergic dogs may bite, chew, and lick their paws and nails to alleviate their pain. These dogs frequently nibble on all four paws rather than just one. Allergies develop worse with time.

Dogs with environmental or dietary allergies may develop red, irritated feet. They may begin to lose fur from their paws. Environmental allergy is much more frequent than allergy to food in dogs. Only approximately ten percent of dogs with allergies have a real food allergy.

Unfortunately, over-the-counter antihistamines are ineffective for the majority of allergic dogs. Apoquel is a prescription oral allergy treatment for dogs that gives quick and effective relief. Your veterinarian can help you discover, treat, and manage your dog’s allergies.

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Injuries

Paw and nail injuries are prevalent. Our dogs do not wear protective shoes as humans do, therefore they are more likely to injure themselves when out and about. Your dog may have injured or wounded their paw when treading on something sharp. Walking on hot surfaces may also cause dogs to burn their paw pads.

Dogs sometimes tread on acorns, gravel, or other tiny things, which get wedged between their toes. Their nails might also be damaged, ingrown, or broken.

If your dog is licking their paws due to an injury, they will concentrate on one foot in particular. If this is the reason, the behavior often begins suddenly. Dogs with paw injuries may or may not limp, depending on their pain threshold and the location of the cut.

Examine your dog’s paws from top to bottom, as well as between the toes. Minor scratches and irritations are likely to heal with some basic at-home first aid. However, a veterinarian should inspect cuts, wounds, and nail damage. Most paw injuries are minor. Your dog will heal well with appropriate wound care, antibiotics, and pain meds.

Some dogs are particularly wary of their feet and might not let you check them. In these circumstances, it is advisable to see a veterinarian. A specialist can help you look for any painful or significant issues.

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Parasites

Parasites, such as fleas or mange, may drive our dogs to lick and chew their paws excessively. These parasites’ bites cause redness and inflammation in the skin. Dogs with flea or mite infestations often bite all four feet. You may also notice red or itchy areas on your dog’s body. Ticks may also cause itchiness. If a tick becomes attached to your dog’s paw or between their toes, they may chew on it to relieve the itch and remove the tick.

These pests may be difficult to detect, so just because you don’t see any parasites does not indicate they aren’t there. Your veterinarian may use specialist procedures and tests to establish if parasites are to blame for your dog’s paw licking.

Pain

A frequent reason our pets lick themselves is to relieve discomfort. Dogs that are in discomfort in or around their paw will often lick the region. This is often observed in dogs with arthritis, but it may happen with any painful disease affecting the leg or paw.

Dogs licking their paws and nails in discomfort may often concentrate on the paw that is unpleasant. Most types of joint discomfort or arthritis will not cause visible redness or swelling on the exterior of the paws until they lick the region raw. To confirm this diagnosis, your vet may take scans (or X-rays) of your dog’s paws.

Paw Pad Disorders

Dry or chapped paws may be uncomfortable, causing our dogs to constantly lick or chew them. Certain autoimmune conditions, like as pemphigus, may produce painful sores on the paw pads. In certain situations, dogs are inclined to bite all four paws. Other concerns include paw pad corns, which are common in greyhounds.

Treatment for these disorders will be determined by the underlying cause. If your veterinarian suspects an autoimmune condition, a biopsy may be necessary. Corns often need to be surgically removed. Over-the-counter paw balm is often an excellent treatment for dry or cracked paws.

Infections

Another reason for paw licking in dogs is bacterial and yeast infections in the paw pads, nail beds, and/or skin on their feet.

Infections may affect one or all four paws. The afflicted paws will often be red, hairless, and swollen. Infected nails sometimes become dark brown toward the base, and pus may occasionally be visible in the nail bed.

Toe infections are frequently treated with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory medications. In addition, the vet has to figure out what caused the infection.

Anxiety

To comfort themselves, overly worried dogs lick their toes and nails repeatedly. It may help them avoid their worried thoughts and offer them something to focus on. Anxious dogs sometimes lick the front paws. The paws seldom show indications of redness or discomfort.

Dogs acquire anxiety for a variety of causes. Consulting with a veterinarian or a dog trainer can help you choose the best strategy to ease your dog’s tension.

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Boredom

If you and your pet’s veterinarian have ruled out any health or behavioral reasons for paw licking, boredom might be the culprit. To keep themselves entertained, bored pups will lick, scratch, and chew on their paws and nails. Increase your playtime to burn off excess energy. You may also increase training sessions to help your dog’s mental drive. Giving food puzzles, safe chewing treats, or motorized toys might help take their focus away from their paws.

Is it normal for dogs to lick and chew their paws?

Paw licking and chewing are natural dog grooming practices. Dogs will bite and scratch their feet to clean them, particularly after a walk or play session. Some dogs may also engage in this activity as part of their nighttime ritual. They may lick their paws when they settle into bed or during the day as they rest.

Yet, if your pooch has suddenly begun vigorously licking or biting their paws, this might indicate a problem. It’s also reason for worry if your dog continues to lick, bite, or chew at their feet.

Grooming sessions typically run between 5 and 10 minutes. Your dog is not supposed to leave with raw or red paws. It’s unusual for your dog to remain up all night fussing about their paws. Dogs should not stop on walks and during playtime to lick or chew their paws. These circumstances are a solid cause to check your dog’s feet and make an appointment with your dog’s veterinarian.

When to Worry About Paw Licking?

Each dog is unique. Knowing your dog’s daily behaviors might help you realize when anything is wrong.

Dogs are supposed to lick their paws. However, persistent licking and chewing are not typical. Dogs are not supposed to bite or nibble their paws so severely that they become red, raw, or injured.

If paw or nail biting, gnawing, or licking goes above and beyond typical behavior, your veterinarian should handle it. If paw licking is followed by other symptoms, you should see a veterinarian. These include stumbling, bleeding, redness, swelling, loss of hair, discomfort, sores, and infection-related symptoms such as odor or discharge.

Wrapping Up

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To stop your pooch from licking and biting their paws, you must first identify and correct the underlying cause of the activity. Parasites and infections must be addressed. Allergies should be controlled. Injuries and pain should be treated. Also, you will need to manage boredom or any sort of stress.

Wrapping your pet’s paws to prevent chewing and biting is a bad idea. Many pets will pull off the bandage, and others may even eat it. This may cause intestinal blockage. If the bandage is put excessively firmly, it might cut off blood to the paw, resulting in tissue death. Furthermore, infections might develop if the dressing is kept on for too long or gets moist or unclean.

Working with a veterinary professional to discover and treat the source of your dog’s paw and nail licking is the most effective strategy to stop it.

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