The dog licks his paws when he wants to clean this part of the body well, perhaps after a walk or simply as a daily routine. In addition, this gesture relaxes him, and we can define it as a “self-cuddle” that the little darling gives himself every day.
But what happens if the dog licks his paws insistently or even obsessively? In this case there may be physical, environmental or behavioral causes.
Today, therefore, we explore why the dog licks his paws in an abnormal way and we see what actions and possible remedies to adopt to help our four-legged friend regain health and well-being.
Why is this little paw in such a bad state? The reasons can be different and lead the dog to lick his paws insistently.
Why dogs lick their paws: the possible causes
When the dog licks his paws insistently it is good to carefully observe his behavior and investigate if there are any abnormal aspects in the body, especially in the paw area.
In fact, there are common causes that lead the dog to lick himself:
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Care and hygiene: licking as normal behavior
The dog licks his paws to do the so-called “grooming”, the process with which he removes dirt, debris or parasites from the little paws. This licking is natural, healthy and also pleasant. Can it be daily? Of course, and it is good that the little darling does it, but without overdoing it, because otherwise problems loom on the horizon that need to be identified and tried to solve quickly.
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Wounds: the dog licks to relieve pain
Wounds, abrasions, foreign bodies that have entered the paw or the little nails are all factors that lead the dog to lick himself repeatedly. How can we not mention the very dangerous foxtails, the spikes of some grasses that can insert themselves between the skin of the toes and walk upward, even reaching vital organs such as the heart. In these cases, if the dog licks a red paw, most likely he is doing it to find relief from itching or even from pain. We must be very careful if the dog licks a red front or hind paw, because it means that there is inflammation ongoing. It is therefore necessary to understand the cause, relying on the precious support of our trusted veterinarian, who can disinfect the wound and, possibly, remove the foreign body from the little paw.
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Dermatitis and skin infections
When the dog licks his paws obsessively, the cause can be dermatitis, or skin infections caused by bacteria or fungi, such as for example Malassezia. Malassezia in the dog is the situation in which the fungus, naturally present on the little furry one’s skin, proliferates excessively and becomes pathogenic. This can derive from food allergies or also from atopic dermatitis, but the result is the same: our little four-legged heart licks his paws in a spasmodic way to relieve the itching caused by this condition.
And licking dermatitis? In this case we can talk about cause-symptom because if the dog licks his paws continuously and with force, the skin can begin to become irritated and abraded. The result? Itching and even very strong pain, with flaky skin, hair loss and extreme situations such as that of the dog that licks his paws until they bleed. Naturally, the watchword is to intervene immediately, to understand the reason that is at the base of all this and allow the little darling to find relief and well-being.
This dog licks a bleeding paw: the reasons can be many, but what matters is to intervene immediately to give him relief and well-being.
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Parasites, fleas and ticks: the causes of itching
Gli insetti molesti sono insidiosi e abilissimi a nascondersi. Le zecche, in particolare, sono delle campionesse in questo, perché si posizionano negli spazi interdigitali e, naturalmente, causano prurito e dolore. Anche alcuni nematodi (vermi parassiti), possono insediarsi nella cute delle dita e originare infezioni. Purtroppo, anche la Leishmaniosi può causare delle piaghe e ferite che portano il cane a leccare le zampe in modo ripetuto. Il cuore del discorso è uno solo: prestare la massima attenzione e far seguire al nostro amico una corretta profilassi. È fondamentale sapere cosa fare quando il cane ha le zecche, intervenendo tempestivamente e adottando i metodi più sicuri per la loro rimozione e per la prevenzione. Inoltre, è importante seguire alcune semplici regole dopo aver applicato l’antiparassitario, per garantire il benessere del cane.
Here she is, the unwanted tick that is moving forward to bite our little darling’s paw. Let’s always remember to do specific antiparasitic prophylaxis to ensure him the right protection!
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Food or environmental allergies
Environmental and food allergies are among the common causes of insistent paw licking. Environmental allergies can derive from contact with aggressive products, such as for example disinfectants for outdoor surfaces to which the dog is hypersensitive, while food ones can derive from intolerance to some foods or from an incorrect diet. The dog can be subject to a variety of diseases that can affect the quality of his life, and it is therefore important to rule them out when we notice that he licks his paws insistently, because they could be the cause of the continuous licking. If we rule them out and we fear that food or environmental allergies are the cause, it is necessary to act to identify products, “incriminated” foods and incorrect eating habits that can be the cause of the “torment” that our little darling is living and showing with the continuous licking of his paws.
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Digestive and intestinal problems
Digestive or intestinal problems, including the alteration of the microbiota (the system of bacteria that live in the dog’s intestine), can cause alterations that manifest with skin eruptions, also located in the paws. Here, to find relief, the little darling can continuously lick his paws. Also in this case it is necessary to investigate, even better by associating any other symptoms such as diarrhea or conversely constipation, which can suggest problems of a digestive or intestinal nature.
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Stress, boredom and anxiety: obsessive licking
The dog that obsessively licks his paws can be subject to psychological and emotional problems such as stress or anxiety. In this case, our four-legged friend can feel frustrated, have relational deficiencies or a lack of satisfaction of his needs or an outlet. The dog that licks his paws due to stress is a situation that must be investigated thoroughly, and that is often associated with other abnormal behaviors such as stiffening, barking in an abnormal way or becoming aggressive even without a clear cause. Boredom must also not be underestimated: if the little darling has few stimuli, spends little time outdoors and a lot at home, perhaps alone, he could get bored. This can give rise to a cycle of dissatisfaction and sadness that leads him to lick his paws continuously. For example, the dog that licks his paws at night, when instead it is time to relax, can be a symptom of unsatisfactory night rest, the result of difficult emotional states. The advice, naturally, is always to investigate the possible causes of all this with the help of a veterinary behaviorist.
If the dog licks his paws occasionally it is a cleaning gesture, but if it becomes obsessive it is important to investigate what the causes are.
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Hormonal imbalances or autoimmune problems
Some metabolic pathologies can manifest with dermatitis, also located in the paws of our little darling. An example is Cushing’s syndrome, due to an altered production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Also some autoimmune diseases, such as for example Lupus can create alterations or skin lesions, which lead the dog to lick himself insistently. In all these cases it is fundamental to turn to your trusted veterinarian to do the necessary tests and proceed with the appropriate treatment.
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Joint or muscle pain
Limping, arthritis, sprains… some joint problems can be evident, while others not: here, in these cases, the little darling shows his discomfort by trying to find relief by licking his paws, a gesture that naturally relaxes him. When, however, the dog always licks his paws it is fundamental to investigate that joint or muscle problems are not ongoing. In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to breeds such as Bulldog, Bull Terrier and Labrador, subject to support problems which, over time, can lead to joint pain, inflammations and dermatitis. This can generate irritation and pain that triggers a compulsive paw licking by the dog.
When to worry if the dog always licks his paws
As seen, the dog licks his paws daily to clean himself and “self-cuddle”, but when is it good to worry?
Here are the main factors that can set off an alarm bell:
- Frequency and intensity of the behavior: if the dog does not stop licking then it is fundamental to ask for help from your trusted veterinarian;
- Presence of visible symptoms (redness, swelling, lesions): in this case the symptom is visible and it is necessary to ascertain the cause, which can be linked to a lesion or a trauma, or originate from food, digestive problems…
- Association with specific moments: does the dog lick his paws at night in an obsessive way? Or does he do it only after the walk? Every moment of the day (and of his life) has a meaning. Maybe our furry heart can lick his paws obsessively when he comes back from the walk because he wants to clean himself well and, if then he stops, it’s ok. But if he continues for too long, maybe until he bleeds, then there can be emotional problems that must be investigated and resolved. Or, for example, thorns or little stones can have inadvertently entered the little paw, then it is necessary to act promptly to remove them and disinfect the paw.
How to prevent the dog from licking his paws: remedies
What to do if the dog always licks his paws? If we see that the dog licks his paws continuously it is very important to ask for help from your trusted veterinarian.
If, instead, it is a sporadic manifestation, we can adopt natural remedies, perhaps to soften the paw pads that have become a bit dry, using a specific balm based on natural butters.
It goes without saying that it is necessary to pay attention to his nutrition, choosing high-quality foods, carry out a precise prophylaxis against annoying insects and pay attention every day to his well-being, both physical and mental.
Playing with him, cuddling him, showering him with little kisses is both a way to thank him for his boundless love, and a super pleasant system to check that from a physical point of view everything is in order, that is, that there are no lesions or inflammations ongoing that can manifest with persistent paw licking.
The health of our furry little darling is teamwork!
Today we have seen why the dog licks his paws continuously, even obsessively. If your dog frequently licks his paws, it is important to understand the causes and act promptly. For further advice on the health and well-being of your dog, visit our “Health and Well-being” section.
