It is a common behavior among dogs that you’ll often notice. Generally, it’s nothing to worry about, but when the chewing and licking become excessive and you can frequently notice them doing the same, maybe it’s time you realized that something is going on.
Take a look at some of the most common reasons why dogs excessively chew at their paws:
1. Injuries
While chewing paws is normal, aggressive chewing might indicate pain or injury. There could be signs of pain, like limping or reduced activity, indicating that your pet is going through pain.
It can be caused by cuts, stings, ingrown nails, broken nails, fractures, or accidental burns on paw pads.
If you think your dog may have been stung, you must immediately look for it and remove it, as that can cause allergic reactions, excruciating pain, and make them sick. On the other hand, if you find a cut or suspect any other cause of pain, reach out to your vet for immediate diagnosis.
2. Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and ticks are very typical parasites that bother dogs, making them itch, lick, and chew their paws. These pests can live in any place, like bedding, carpets, toys, soil, tall grasses, or woodlands, and as a matter of fact, these are also the places that a dog visits.
The easiest way to see if your dog harbors fleas or ticks is by combing them with the help of a flea comb. Small bugs keep moving here, and you won’t even know when they’re on your dog’s skin. Most times, you may notice black spots that appear. This may be a sign of flea presence in your dog’s body.
Similarly, ticks are another problem that keep themselves buried between the toes of the paw, under the legs, and often behind those fluffy ears. If you notice a tick in their body, use a pair of tweezers immediately and remove it.
3. Allergies
Allergies can cause a reaction almost anywhere on the body of the dog. The difficult part is identifying the allergen that is causing it.
Their allergies can be due to:
- Food items like eggs, chicken, and other types of meat.
- Factors such as grass, pollen, or dust.
- Laundry detergents or other household products might be problematic.
For such issues, it’s best if you visit a professional veterinarian before the allergy worsens.
4. Pain
A dog often chews its paws when it is experiencing pain, and in some cases, it has been reported that the pain can be due to arthritis or a previously experienced bruise.
Most dogs try to cope with the pain by incessantly chewing and licking their front paws. This issue needs prompt veterinary diagnosis and treatment.
5. Behavioral Issues
If you and the veterinarian have ruled out all the above problems, then your dog may be bored or have a behavioral issue such as anxiety.
Again, this is tough to diagnose, although several things can be tried. Some dogs develop compulsive behaviors, paw-licking being one of them.
To fight boredom, plan more walks or runs for your dog. Spend quality playtime with your dog and other dogs to burn more mental and physical energy. Give your dog puzzle toys or something safe to chew on to divert its attention from licking its paws.
Conclusion
To avoid the above-mentioned issues, give them some booties to wear for walks and keep their furry paws and health in the best condition.
For persistent paw-chewing problems for no reason at all, you can try some vet-recommended paw balm. When the matter concerns your pet’s health, seek expert advice from your vet the moment you feel something is not right. Remember, your little actions can make a big difference for your baby.
