Dogs can be quite unpredictable. Dog owners are often found questioning what their dog is up to. One such behavior that often puzzles pet owners is when their dog frequently licks its paws. Why Do Dogs Lick Their Paws? No one knows for sure. While occasional paw licking is normal, persistent or excessive licking can be a sign of something deeper. Today we will explore some of the common reasons why dogs lick their paws and when you should consider it a cause for concern. Here are 6 reasons why your dog licks its paw. Let us begin!
1. Allergies
Allergies are another usual motivation behind why dogs latch to their feet and paws. Just like humans, dogs can experience an allergic reaction to different substances in their environment, including pollen, dust mites, and even grass. These allergies can make their paws sore and itchy, and so they scratch, lick, or chew them to relieve them. Another could be food allergies; there are dogs that cannot tolerate beef, chicken, or grains and develop skin reactions that cause paw licking.
2. Injury or Pain
If a dog has recently started licking one of its paws more often than before it may be trying to treat an injury. A small cut, a thorn or just an insect bite could be the reason behind this. Dogs have a tendency to lick their wounds as a method of having it cleaned and treated. Although this is normal, licking can prolong the time it takes for a wound to heal or reopen the wound and become infected. Paw licking may also be worse in more serious cases such as arthritis or joint problems in senior dogs to the extent of licking the affected area constantly.
3. Parasites or Infections
There are fleas, ticks, and mites that can irritate a dog’s skin. These pests prefer to hide in between the toes; this causes itchiness and inflammation, and this makes the dog lick its paw. Inflammation from bacterial or fungal infections is also eligible for development while in the paws if moisture forms between the toes. These infections may have such signs as erythema, edema or dysuria, salivation, and foul-smelling discharge, and dogs may scratch or chew at the area.
4. Boredom or Anxiety
In some dog, paw-licking turns into a running habit to fight against boredom, stress, or anxiety. Dogs, too, require play that is both mental and physical, and in case they do not get it then what they do is that they start licking. This can be similar to how humans may bite their fingers or twirl them in their hair when nervous. This behavior is likely to be caused by anxiety or a shortage of activity as well as disruption of the normal schedule for a pet. Stress-induced licking can be relieved with sufficient physical activity, mental activity, and a quiet atmosphere.
5. Dry Skin
As much as people do know that their skin becomes dry and itchy, they should also know that the same thing happens to dogs as well. This could probably be a result of weather changes, taking many baths, or the use of too much shampoo. When a dog’s skin gets dry, the paws may develop cracks or become irritated, causing the dog to lick in order to ease the discomfort. Taking omega-3 and squid oil together and using greasy shampoos do prevent or treat this condition in most cases.
6. Behavioral Issues
Occasionally, paw licking could turn into a compulsive disorder. This occurs when puppies have a behavior of licking their feet for some time even if they do not show any health complications. Such exercises, if left to progress, will become compulsive and usually need behavioral training from a vet or an animal behaviorist.
Paw Licking: When to Be Concerned?
Some paw licking is normal from time to time, so it’s important to pay attention to whether your pet shows other signs of a disease. However, if the signs observed are redness, swelling, foul smells, limping, or bleeding, it is high time to take your pet to a vet. Likewise, if you notice that your dog is licking excessively or if the licking behavior hinders the dog’s normal functions, the guidelines of a professional are needed.
Conclusion
There you have it, everything regarding why do dogs lick paws. Paw licking in dogs. can have many causes but most of the time it is just their natural behavior and nothing to be worried about. But if you do catch some persistent licking then you should contact your vet to get to the bottom of the problem. Always prioritize your dog’s health over everything else. After all demanding love and care is their right!
