Is your dog licking his feet or chewing his pads?

Is the entire foot wet and smelly from your dog licking and biting at his paws? Is there patches of skin where the hair has been licked off?

Dogs lick their feet to clean them but when the licking goes on for hours your can bet that there is something going on with that foot and you should have a look at it..

I always start by clipping away all the hair where the reddest part can be seen. Short haired dogs don’t have this problem. You can pretty much see everything.

After you have clipped the hair away, check for any splinters and bumps. Some dogs will have blisters in between the pads. Since the pads rub together, it just causes more irritation and licking.

Some of the possible causes of paw licking are listed here

Injuries from cold weather
Splinters or pieces of glass in paw
Burrs and weeds stuck in hair
Fungal infections such as yeast
Nail problems such as long nails
Matted hair
Dog licking paws until they are raw & hair loss
Cuts from ice or raw pads from snow

I have two very hairy canines and their paws, especially between the pads, can get so hairy that the hair matts and causes an uncomfortable condition and you will notice it as the dog walks. He might be limping or keep looking at his foot. Or he will start licking his foot constantly.

This was happening to my little girl. She kept licking her paws. Most canines hate their paws being touched. She is no exception. In fact she throws a fit when I touch her feet so you have to be gentle and patient when dealing with a canines foot problem.

Nails

Other problems that are common with canines are nails that are too long. If the nail is too long it keeps jamming it back into the dog’s foot causing pain. So keep those nails trimmed. If you can’t do it yourself, find a walk in groomer who will trim the nails for about $10.00. I have a groomer who is in San Mateo and they will take in walk in nail trimming.

Splinters

If your dog gets a splinter in his foot, the best thing to do is try to get it out yourself unless you can see that it’s really deep or very infected.

Anxiety

Dog licking paws and dog chewing feet until there is no hair on the legs or paws can be indicative of an anxiety the canine may have because of perhaps a change in the surroundings or just about any kind of change - A canine will become nervous if things do not stay stable because they needs a natural, calm routine. Break the routine and you might have a dog that will try to compensate for the change by showing signs of anxiety and anxiousness and yes even cats lick their paws when upset.

Licking paws until you see hair loss is an interesting symptom. Dogs will sometimes lick an area when they are feeling insecure. The incessant licking can cause endorphins to be released and the dog feels better. And he keeps licking. I’ve watched my female lick her paw until I can’t stand it any longer. Her licking is almost on auto drive. Her eyes close and she’s in another world. An endorphin world.

Cracked paws from snow and ice

If your dog is from our eastern states or any state that has ice and snow should be prepared for cut and cracked paw pads.

Supplies you should have on hand in case of an injury.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Soft cotton cloth or flannel
Clean cotton balls
Vet Wrap
Warm water
Towels

Put your dog in the bath tub and fill it to about 2 inches high with warm water.

Clean the paws gently with a mild soap or baby shampoo so it won’t sting.

Dry the paws off and apply Hydrogen Peroxide to each cut or scrape. Hydrogen Peroxide is nice and gentle. It won’t sting as alcohol would.

Cover the paw pad with some clean cotton cloth, i.e. old flannel sheets are great for this.

Wrap the paw with Vet Wrap a few times around. Be careful you do not wrap it too tight.

If your dog starts to chew at the bandage (mine does), deter the chewing by spaying a product like bitter apple to the bandage.

Notice

Spooky
Any information contained on this site relating to various medical, health, and fitness conditions of Westies and their treatment is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing a dog's health - you should always consult your own veterinarian.