Table of Contents
Table of Contents
why is my dog licking his paws
This is a super common veterinary appointment and regular DM question that I get on a daily basis. So why is my dog licking his paws? I have four with me, a super cute Frenchie with a ton of energy, and foot licking and chewing are things you should always talk to your veterinarian about. Have them assess your dog’s feet to make sure there’s no redness, swelling, odor, infection, or something stuck in their foot causing them to lick.
When to Worry About Paw Licking
Most dogs who lick and chew at their feet are either bored or cleaning for no clear reason. But when they lick or chew a lot, it could be something more serious like cancer or autoimmune disease. A vet needs to evaluate it to rule those out.
Allergic Skin Disease: The Most Common Cause
The most frequent reason for this behavior is allergic skin disease. If no other cause is found, allergies are usually to blame. It can be triggered by grass, cleaning supplies, insect bites, or even food. Yeasty skin or hormone imbalances also make it worse.
Treatment Options
Your vet may prescribe antibiotics, allergy pills, or shots. These conditions are treatable.
What Happens If You Ignore It
Dogs can harm themselves from nonstop licking, leading to swelling, infection, and even fever. I’ve seen cases where the paws split open, exposing tendons and muscle. It’s painful and completely preventable with early care.
Advice
If your dog is licking or chewing their paws, don’t ignore it; get them to the vet. It’s usually treatable. Share your own experiences in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe.
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Three Primary Reasons for Paw Licking
Why is my dog licking his paws? There are three primary reasons why. I’m going to show you what’s going on and, more importantly, what you can do about it.
1) Allergies
Dogs that have allergies love to lick their paws. I especially find it common on the front of the paws; they’re excessively licking the top of the paw, and it’ll often, if you’ve got a white-haired dog, unfortunately, get stained all dark. It could be a food allergy, it could be a flea allergy, but most likely it’s atopy or an environmental allergy. If you’ve got an allergic dog excessively licking his or her paws, the first thing I suggest to quickly stop that licking and itching is:
Licorice Root
Licorice root is considered the natural corticosteroid, meaning it can often stop the licking quite quickly. We’re looking at standard dog doses of about half a milliliter of tincture for 20 pounds of body weight twice daily for a maximum of 10 to 14 days. That’s half a milliliter of licorice root tincture.
(Learn more about natural remedies for pets at EffortWiz.com.)
2) Photodermatitis
Number two, a condition called photodermatitis. It means inflammation or infection in between the foot pads. So, the area between the footpads can be red, inflamed, and swollen. I’ve trimmed some hair in between Tula’s footpad, and you can see the redness in here, right up over a little carpal pad, right below between a couple of the digit pads. It’s red, it’s been inflamed, and I would partly explain why she’s doing some of that licking.
If your dog has photodermatitis, it could be from bacteria that are growing in between the surface of the skin, it could be from yeast that are growing in between the surface of the digits, or it may even be just primary inflammation. It could be your dog’s been walking outside, they’ve got salt, and you’ve got this red, inflamed area of the pads. Regardless of the underlying cause, I want you to consider this natural antibacterial and yeast anti-inflammatory soak:
Anti-inflammatory Soak
Start with one cup of nettle leaf or green tea, coconut oil (I’ve warmed it up on the stove), and two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. The apple cider vinegar is a great antifungal and antibacterial. Then, last but not least, lavender essential oil. It is antibacterial, antifungal, and has antihistamine qualities to stop the itching. That’s 10 drops of lavender essential oil. You can then soak your dog’s foot in this concoction two to three times a day, ideally for about five minutes, for seven to ten days.
3) Interdigital Cyst
Lastly, dogs can get a type of cyst called an interdigital cyst. What that means is they’ll actually get a small lump or cyst growing in between the digits. Typically, say right in between these two digits, you’d see this lump or swelling; it almost looks like a little abscess, a small cyst that’s infected with bacteria. With an interdigital cyst, there are bacteria that are growing in between the foot pads, causing that cyst, and it’s filled with things such as staph. Most dogs are going to need some type of antibiotics. If you wanted to consider a natural antibacterial, what would I have you look at?
Natural Antibacterials
Olive leaf extract comes from the leaf of the olive tree. We’ve all had olives; those growing trees have leaves, and they can extract important nutrients from that leaf itself. Many holistic veterinarians consider it the most important natural antibacterial. If you’re going to try to treat your dog using olive leaf for a dog that has an interdigital cyst, you’d be looking at doses of about one to two milligrams per pound per day. These are 500-milligram capsules; Tula weighs 20 pounds, so you’d give about half a capsule a day. I’d be more inclined to give her a full capsule a day; you don’t have to break open the capsules. Do that for 10 to 14 days, and I would expect after a week to a week and a half, you should see a result. It’s a moderate-sized capsule; obviously, it’s this powder, which is much easier to give if you’re just going to keep it as a capsule formation instead of breaking it open.
If your dog has an interdigital cyst, I’d also suggest that you soak it twice daily as well, either with an antiseptic flush like chlorhexidine or black tea, or you could actually consider using the remedy we just assessed earlier for photodermatitis, using nettle or green tea, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and lavender oil.
So, for those of you who have dogs that are constantly licking their paws, I hope you have a better understanding as to why your dog is probably licking their paws all the time and, more importantly, what you can do about it. Thanks so much for watching this edition of Veterinary Secrets on why your dog is licking his or her paws and what you can do about it.
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Final Thoughts on Why is my dog licking his paws
Honestly, paw licking isn’t always a big deal, but it can be. I’ve seen dogs just bored or grooming, but I’ve also seen some lick until the skin splits or gets infected. If your dog keeps chewing or licking the same spot, especially if it looks red or swollen, don’t wait. It might be something simple like allergies or something deeper like an interdigital cyst. Even yeast or just dry, irritated skin between the toes can cause a lot of discomfort. I always tell folks—just look carefully, and if you’re unsure, let your vet take a look. Most of the time, it’s treatable. And catching it early makes all the difference. Trust me, your dog will thank you later.
Real-Life Dog Owner FAQs – No Fluff, Just Honest Answers
1. Why is my dog licking his paws more than usual?
This stumped me the first time too. One day, it’s just a little licking; the next thing you know, they’re at it constantly. Sometimes it’s nothing, sometimes it’s allergies. Either way, I watch for red skin or weird smells.
2. Could it just be boredom or habit?
For sure. Dogs get into routines just like we do. Mine licks after dinner, like clockwork. But that doesn’t always mean something’s wrong.
3. My dog started this out of nowhere. What gives?
I remember thinking, why is my dog licking his paws when nothing’s changed? Turns out, it was something small stuck between his toes. Easy to miss, but once removed, the problem is gone.
4. What if I don’t see anything wrong, but it keeps happening?
Then it’s probably internal, like an allergy, joint pain, or even stress. I’ve had that with mine too. You won’t always see the problem.
5. Could grass or floor cleaners be causing this?
Absolutely. If your pup licks mostly after walks, it might be something they stepped on. I started wiping paws with a damp cloth, which helped more than I expected.
6. Why is my dog licking his paws if he’s stressed?
Yep. Mine does it during thunderstorms or when we have guests. It’s their version of stress-eating, I guess.
7. Why is my dog licking his paws at night only?
I’ve wondered that too. It’s like when everything goes quiet, they focus more on what’s bothering them. That’s often when the licking kicks in.
8. What’s the difference between licking and chewing?
Good question. Licking is more soothing; chewing usually means it’s gotten worse, maybe infected. If they’re chewing, I don’t wait; I call the vet.
9. Are there breeds that do this more?
Frenchies, Labs, and Bulldogs—yep. I’ve seen it more with those. Could be genetics or skin type.
10. Is food the issue?
Sometimes. A food allergy can show up through skin reactions, and paws are one of the first places it hits. If nothing else makes sense, I review their diet.
11. My dog’s paws are red and smell weird. Normal?
Nope. Smelly paws usually mean yeast or bacteria is involved. That’s one time I don’t wait around; I book a vet visit.
12. Can I treat this at home?
If it’s mild, yeah. I’ve done green tea soaks or used coconut oil. Helps calm the skin. But if it lasts more than a few days, I get help.
13. What if only one paw is getting all the attention?
That often means something’s stuck or irritated there. My dog once had a splinter I didn’t even notice for days. He sure did, though.
14. Could it just be how some dogs are?
Partially, yes. Some are just more sensitive or prone to it. Doesn’t mean ignore it but sometimes it’s just how they’re wired.
15. So in the end… why is my dog licking his paws nonstop?
That question comes up more than you’d think. For me, I treat it like any other behavior: watch, ask, check, and don’t wait too long if it doesn’t stop.
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