Why does my dog lick her paws so much?

GoHawks

GoHawks

New member
My dog licks her paws all the time, and the noise is so annoying. Why is she doing this? Is it a comfort thing? Is she experiencing discomfort? Is she just trying to clean herself?
 
There's 7 main reasons pups might lick their paws:
  1. Injury - stepping on a thorn, a bee sting, etc. - examine your pup's paw carefully to find the culprit.
  2. Abscess or growth - if you see an abnormal growth on your dog's paw, contact your vet.
  3. Dermatitis (irritated skin) - this can be caused by allergies and sensitivities to things like grass, pollen, yard or de-icing chemicals, etc. If you get to the root of the problem you can correctly address it. More in our article linked below.
  4. Food allergies - can cause paw itchiness as well (in addition to other body parts). Your pup may be allergic to anything from chicken to dairy, wheat, and soy. You can try an elimination diet to identify the culprit (start the dog on only rice or a kibble that doesn't cause an allergic reaction and slowly add in foods). You may be interested in at-home dog allergy test or one of our picks for the best dog food for allergies.
  5. Parasites - fleas or mites.
  6. Pain - arthritis, internal injury, or other conditions. Contact your vet for assistance.
  7. Behavioral - Believe it or not, boredom and anxiety can also cause paw licking.
We delve deeper in our in-depth article on why dogs might lick their paws.
 
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