Why Does My Dog Lick His Paws

Why do dogs lick their paws?

Dogs usually lick their paws as part of self-grooming. If your dog is agile, you may notice him licking his paws after eating, settling for a nap, or after coming outside, after meals. Even dogs who don't do much self-grooming brush their paws once in a while. If you notice your dog licking his paws every now and then, there is nothing to worry about.

It is not normal if your dog appears to be frequently or aggressively licking their paws. Usually this is a sign of a health problem or behavioral problem

Palm licking health problems

If you think your dog is licking a paw, the first step is to determine if there is a health problem with its paws. Dogs often lick their paws excessively if they feel itchy, irritated, or painful.

A foot injury or foreign body may explain the sudden onset of palm licking. The dog may have stepped on something that is causing discomfort, such as something sharp or a hot pavement. Or it may have been stung or bitten by an insect or other animal. There might be an object or material stuck in their paws that needs help removing it. Foreign objects such as splinters or grass umbrellas can merge into the paws and cause irritation.

Another possibility is that your dog is experiencing an abnormal growth in one of its paws, such as a cyst or lump. Or the dog may suffer from arthritis or an injury to the soft tissues or the bones of the palm. The latter might not be something that you can see with the naked eye.

If your dog focuses on the paw more than the others, it is most likely a paw injury, foreign body, or growth. However, these problems can easily affect more than one paw at a time

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What to do if your dog licks his paws too much

If he feels your dog is constantly licking his paws, start by taking a close look at the paws. Examine the tops and bottoms of the feet, toenails and toenails, and the distances between the numbers. Look for strange things, cuts, bruises, bleeding, swelling, redness, peeling, cuticle, discharge, broken nails, and anything else that looks unnatural. Administer first aid if needed

Note that excessive licking often causes saliva stains on the hair around the paws. This dyed coloring is the easiest to spot the light hair color

It is important to contact a veterinarian whether or not the paws appear abnormal to you. A vet needs to rule out health issues before they begin trying to address a behavior problem

Behavioral problems and palm licking

If all health concerns are ruled out, your dog is likely licking their paws for behavioral reasons. It may be as simple as boredom. Or it may be a sign of stress, fear, or anxiety.

The licking may have started out of boredom, then developed into a relaxing or satisfying habit for your dog. In severe cases, your dog may have obsessive-compulsive tendencies that lead him to lick his obsessive paws.

A simple way to deal with behavioral paw licking is to distract your dog. Take them for more walks, play with them more often, and offer them toys that focus on them. Don't scold them for licking them, but don't reward them with rewards either.

If your licking continues, consider behavior modification techniques to help your dog. Consult a dog or behavioral trainer for help.

Tips

.Behavioral modification to stop paw licking and chewing takes time, patience, and persistence.

.Consider a pet-safe bitter-tasting topical product to prevent licking discourages. If that doesn't work, physical restraint like an electronic collar may be necessary.

.If additional behavioral help is needed, consider working with a dog trainer, animal behavior practitioner, or behavior veterinarian.