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Do you know why dogs lick their paws?
Do you know why dogs lick their paws?
Just like other behaviors such as barking or eating feces of puppies, and they often have reasons why do dogs lick their paws for some health reasons that make dogs lick or bite their own paws. The main causes of this condition are due to dog injuries, skin problems, dog allergies to the environment, parasites or food, or dogs being bored or anxious.
Sometimes licking the paws is a normal behavior in their grooming process, especially when dogs have just rolled around on dirty ground. But if dogs frequently lick their paws, they may have encountered some issues that are not okay.
They are injured.
If your dog keeps licking its paws, especially focusing on one paw, you should check the dog’s paw to see if it is injured, if the nails are torn or if it is stuck with sharp objects such as stones, thorns, or gravel between the paw pads and toes.
Your dog’s paws may be irritated from stepping on something sharp like stones or gravel, from walking on hot pavement, or even from being bitten by insects. These issues can be resolved with basic and simple first aid methods. But if the dog’s problem is more serious, you need to seek the intervention of a veterinarian.
Your pet’s eyes may have a skin disease.
If your dog’s feet and toes look normal and are not externally injured, the dog licks its feet due to skin inflammation. Skin inflammation is the result of bacteria, allergies, or sensitivity to food.
Your pet dog may have skin inflammation due to allergies to the chemicals you use in the garden, odor-reducing products, or some types of weeds. Keep a bowl of water and a towel near the door to gently clean your dog’s feet when they come inside.
The following reasons why your pet dog licks its paws, let’s find out the following reasons to help you avoid your pet encountering the following problems:
Parasites
- If the dog is infected with parasites such as fleas or ticks, it can make their paws extremely itchy. The veterinarian may recommend treating the parasites in order to reduce the itching for them.
Food allergies
- Food allergies can cause itching in a dog’s paws, and such allergies are difficult to determine. The veterinarian will recommend a special diet for the dog or eliminate some ingredients in the dog’s food to minimize allergic reactions.
Pain
- Dogs may also lick their paws due to joint pain or other foot problems. Even if the pain originates from other parts of the body, dogs still try to alleviate the pain by constantly licking their paws. If your dog experiences such a condition, you need to take them for diagnosis and treatment at a veterinary clinic.
The behavior of these dogs
If you and the veterinarian have addressed the above issues, your dog may be bored or even anxious. However, this condition is difficult to diagnose. If the dog licks its paws excessively, this behavior will become a habit. But you can implement some methods to help the dog reduce boredom so that they stop licking their paws.
To make the dog less bored, take them for a walk, run, or play with you or other dogs to release their energy. You can also give the dog puzzle toys or safe chew toys to distract them and prevent them from biting their own paws. Engaging in play and physical activity not only helps improve the dog’s health but also makes them happier and more content.
If you think the cause of dogs licking their paws is due to anxiety, fear of noise, or fear of being left alone, you can still improve this condition to reduce the dog’s anxiety. Please consult with a veterinarian or an animal behaviorist.
Recognizing when your pet dog has a secondary infection
- The important thing to note is that licking and biting of the dog’s paws can be a sign of a health issue, and that issue can be harmful to them. You should work with a veterinarian to determine the cause and find an appropriate solution for this condition.
- Don’t hesitate to take your dog to the veterinarian right away because if the dog constantly licks its paws, the moisture on their paws can cause a secondary infection from bacteria or yeast. In that case, the dog’s paws will become itchier, redder, and may even swell or become inflamed.
Meanwhile, depending on the cause of the problem, the veterinarian may provide different treatment recommendations to minimize this behavior in dogs. The sooner you address this issue for your dog, the healthier and happier they will be.
Our pets deserve to receive the best, so give them your full attention and care. You will be able to timely identify any underlying issues that your pet is facing and resolve them before it’s too late.