There's several reasons why a dog may lick or chew at his toes, the pads of his paws, and even the lower portion of the ankle. The following list details reasons why a dog might exhibit this behavior.
1. Food allergies in dogs – Canine food allergies are a very common cause of licking, biting and chewing at the paws. Like all allergies, a dog's food allergy can arise very suddenly and the allergy can form in reaction to a food that the pet has eaten for years without experiencing any problems. The treatment for food allergies involves identifying the problematic food with an exclusion diet and changing the dog's diet accordingly. Prescription antihistamine medication is often used to treat the symptoms of food allergies in dogs.
2. Paw pad injury – Dogs will often lick, bite and chew the foot and paw pad if they suffer an injury like a sprain, strain or an injured foot pad. A broken nail may also cause the dog to exhibit paw licking. Dog owners should always closely examine the dog's foot, paw pad, and between the toes, looking for any cuts, embedded objects, sores or swelling. Gently manipulating the paw and ankle joints, while noting any tenderness or swelling can help identify a sprain-type injury.
3. Paw problems from chemical contact – If the dog walks on a recently-fertilized lawn, this may cause a form of contact dermatitis that causes the dog to bite, lick or chew his paws. In cold climates, problems can arise if the dog's paws come in contact with road salt or chemical salt melts. Road salt in particular dries the paw pads, leaving the paws more prone to drying, cracking and infection. To prevent paw injuries from chemicals, the dog's feet should be thoroughly washed with antibacterial soap and flushed if accidental contact occurs. Dog booties are a great solution to prevent paw injuries from exposure to road salt and ice melting chemicals.
4. Anxiety – Anxious dogs — particularly pets who experience separation anxiety — may chew the paws or ankle area. In this case, the dog may only lick and chew his paws when left alone or when exposed to a stressful situation, like a thunderstorm. Often, the dog's veterinarian will want to rule out other possible causes, like a food allergy. Treating the dog's anxiety with medication and behavioral therapy will help stop the dog's paw licking or biting.
Why does my dog contantly lick his feet?
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