4 Reasons Why Dogs Lick Their Paws

Don’t be surprised! Our furry friends are always ready to surprise us with their quirky mannerisms and behavioural patterns. One of them is uncontrollably licking their paws.

To get rid of this behaviour, pet parents often consult a vet online or look for different solutions. But, don’t you think you must first understand the real reason behind such behaviours of your pet? To get the best help for your pet or provide them with effective treatment and solutions, knowing the causes of excessive licking is imperative. Therefore, we have compiled some common causes of paw licking in dogs. Hope this helps you understand your dog better!

Ticks and parasites

One of the most common causes of paw licking habits in dogs is the burrowing of ticks and parasites between their paw pads. These tiny creatures are present in wooden and bushy areas and can easily get hold of your dog’s paw pads and inhabit there. This eventually causes trouble and discomfort in your pet’s paws, and that’s why they lick or chew their paws to get rid of them.

To aid your dog in the process, you can carefully remove the ticks with the help of a tick removal tool. And also include tick repellant sprays, shampoos, and solutions to keep your dog tick-free and reduce such occurrences in the future as well.

Anxiety and boredom

Other reasons to encounter such behavioural problems are anxiety and boredom. This repetitive motion is unfortunately soothing for canines. If not stopped, the area may appear to be thick, raised skin and can lead to lick dermatitis. No matter if your dog loves to lick and chew their paws, you have to explore some exciting and interactive activities or things to distract them effectively.

This may include dog toys or giving them their favourite treats like dog biscuits to reinforce them to not lick their paws frequently.

Pain

A dog with arthritis, bony growths, and fractures or ligament sprains can also show such behaviours. Even if the pain is associated with some other part of the body, some dogs tend to continuously lick their front paws. This is their way of dealing with the pain. Whatever the cause is, the paws will appear reddish and swollen because of continuous licking.

Consult your vet and once the problem is discovered, go for joint supplements and oral medications to provide some relief from these orthopaedic disorders.

Cysts and blisters

Cysts can occur on their feet and make them lick their paws. These fluid-filled swellings may pop up between the toes. This is a common discomfort caused due to unhealthy and unhygienic habits. Furthermore, some cysts grow bigger containing a thick material. It is better to contact a veterinarian to begin the cysts removal treatment as soon as possible.

Whereas blisters develop due to friction and paws are the main areas that get affected. This can be painful, thus, making dogs lick their paws. Oral antibiotics can do wonders in relieving pain and curbing the blisters well.

Sometimes your dog may behave strangely if there is some object stuck in their paws or toes. So you need to closely monitor your pet and their behaviour to determine the root cause. Moreover, it is observed that certain food allergies are also responsible for unnecessary licking and chewing habits in dogs. It can cause itchiness, and as a result, your pet ends up salivating their paws.

However, this cause is not easy to pinpoint. Therefore, it is advisable to visit a vet regularly. Or at least attend various online vet consultations from platforms like Supertails to gain enough knowledge about your pet behaviours. This will help you in knowing your pet and understanding their needs and wants in a better way.