Worried about why your dog is consistently and excessively licking his paws?

It’s natural to get irritated, watching your dog chewing and licking paws continuously.

Just like us, they too get itchy skin, dry skin, skin irritation, yeast infections, food allergies, etc., and many more allergies with diseases.

Now you may be questioning, “Why do dogs lick their paws?”

How can I get my dog to stop licking and chewing?

What are various dog licking paws remedies?

In this article, we will direct you to numerous home remedies and when to call your pet for medical assistance if your dog paws are irritated and his health worsens.

Before addressing remedies…

first, let’s explore and learn the reasons…

Why Does My Dog Lick His Paws?

 

The Most Common Reasons for Itchiness

 

1) Environmental and Food Allergies

Symptoms of food allergies include dog licking his paws, hot spots on the dog, diarrhea, and also vomiting,

whereas environmental allergies include sneezing, running eyes, rashes, and the dog constantly licking paws.

Reactions of environmental allergies include atopic dermatitis, lick granuloma, the dog starts licking foot, and frequent itches or ear scratches.

Such allergies cause annoyance around the dog’s paws, ears, groin, and rump.

 

2) Injuries

In some cases, injuries like minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises can also cause severe itches. Any sore, arthritis, or joint pain can be somewhat a lead to achronic infatuation.

Sometimes, the owner forgets that their pet walks barefoot,

Which leads to minor cuts or scratches. These lead dogs to lick their paws.

These injuries between toes and at the entire pad on the bottom of the paw require a thorough inspection.

 

3) Dry Skin

This is the basic and most common cause of irritated, cracked, and flaky (dandruff) skin caused by environmental conditions or breeds specific.

Excessive bathing causes dry skin as it removes natural oil, and dry humidity causes flaky skin.

Dry skin symptoms include fur loss, redness, scabs, and itchiness.

 

4) Behavior

Behavioral reasons (anxiety, stress, boredom, pain) also play an essential role in itchiness.

There are Two Types of Behavior, that cause excessive paw licking is anxious Behavior and obsessive Behavior.

Other than these behaviors, Canine compulsive disorder (CCD) in dogs includes dog is licking paws, chew toys, tail licking, and chasing.

Lick granuloma or acral lick dermatitis is a self-alleviating behavior responding to anxiety or boredom.

 

5) Yeast Infections

Bug, bacterial & amp; fungal infections, fleas, and tick bites are localized generally around the rear end. Autoimmune disorders cause itchiness all around the body.

If a dog’s immune system overreacts to flea saliva then it is FAD – Flea Allergy Dermatitis.

This allergy results in an extremely itchy sensation.

Its symptoms are hot spots on the dog, thickened skin, fur loss, redness, and the dog keeps licking paws.

6) Gastrointestinal Issues

According to a clinical study, some dogs that showed signs of excessive licking were compared with healthy dogs, and.; Gastrointestinal (GI) issues were found in them.

The research found GIabnormalities like lymphocytic-plasmacytic infiltration, chronic pancreatitis, and gastric foreign body.

 

7) Hormonal Imbalance

Hormonal imbalance in dogs leads to the production of too much cortisol (Cushing’s disease) or insufficient production of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism).

Such diseases increase a dog’s sensitivity to developing skin issues like red hot spots, balding or more fur loss, and brittle hair.

When these spots are licked, a new secondary infection is a cause.

 

8) De-icing Salts and Cold Weather

This reason is found during the winter season.

If your dog licks its paws only during winter, sore paws may have been caused by ice balls.

De-icing salts are used to melt snow on driveways.

This toxic salt is ingested and can cause a chemical burn on paws.

When snow from iceballs gets caught between toes or in fur, it leads to cracking, bleeding, and hair-pulling.

Before you start treating your dog with the remedies available, examine the problems and causes of paw licking, and then proceed for medical problems.

A veterinarian diagnoses skin diseases in dogs on the basis of clinical observations and physical examinations.

You will be happy to know that common reasons for minor and mild itches can be treated at home alone.

If paw chewing is sudden, excessive, and persists for a longer duration, and if the itches are more than mild, I strongly recommend for veterinarian assessment.

Dog Licking Paws Remedies 

 

1) Spray the Apple Cider Vinegar Solution to Your Dog’s Paws

Apart from being a tasty ingredient in a salad, the apple cider vinegar solution also works as a powerful antibacterial and antifungal treating agent.

Making an apple cider vinegar solution is easy.

Just mingle 50% apple cider vinegar and 50%water in a clean spray bottle and stir the mixture. After mixing, spray the solution on your dog’s itchy spots.

If your dog’s paws are irritated, then use the mixture for a relaxing paw soak for five minutes.

NOTE: Do not spray the solution on raw skin or open injuries. In such cases, it can be very painful and can worsen the symptoms.

 

2) Massage your Dog’s Skin with Coconut Oil

Solidified coconut oil is best known for relaxing soreness that is associated with doggy eczema, allergies, skin infections, and bug bites.

The oil is massaged into the dog coat or skin.

To get double benefits, a small scoop of the oil can be into your dog’s kibble.

Always shop high quality, human-branded, organic, unrefined coconut oil.

NOTE: Before changing your dog’s diet, consult your vet.

 

3) Provide your Dog Colloidal Oatmeal Baths

A colloidal oatmeal bath proves the saying “old is gold” correct!

It works as an anti-inflammatory agent that washes away allergens trapped inside the fur.

It is produced by grinding the oat into a fine powder and then boiled to draw out the colloidal.

Being totally non-toxic, it reduces redness, swelling, and itchiness with ease.

 

4) Apply Aloe Vera to the Affected Spots

Aloe Vera is the best natural curing and a very powerful healing agent.

It works as a lifesaver in most injuries.

It reduces redness and removes the unwanted and uncomfortable heat from the skin.

What you need to do is just apply the aloe vera to your dog’s affected area.

Having an aloe vera plant at home can be the best medicine rather than having it from grocery or drugstores.

NOTE: Make sure that the aloe vera gel should not have alcohol else; it can increase your dog’s skin burning and worsen the symptoms.

 

5) Apply Baking Soda Solution to your Dog’s Affected Area

Baking soda has various uses other than making baked goods rise.

Mix 50%baking soda with 50% water and mix it thoroughly into a thick paste.

Apply the mixture to the affected spots for about 20 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

It dries out rashes on the skin, alleviating itching. It also helps in reducing redness and inflammation.

For moisturization, add only some amount of high-quality coconut oil to the mixture.

If your dog is having body-wide itchiness, add some baking soda to its bath.

 

6) Feed your Dog a Balanced Diet

In order to soothe and heal your dog’s skin from the inside out, feed your dog a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and healthy carbohydrates.

Ingredients found in chicken, meat, turkey-based dog food, and wheat or gluten ingredients are allergic to many dogs.

Fish-based foods or food including sweet potatoes lessen the doggy food allergy symptoms.

Omega-3 fatty acids-rich food tends to reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and promote skin health.

NOTE: Before changing your dog’s diet, consult your vet.

 

7) Chamomile and Green Tea Soaks Solution with Lukewarm Water

Use homemade protective foot soaks that fit your dog.

Chamomile and green tea work as the best soothing and anti-inflammatory agents not in humans only, but also in animals.

If your pet is having hot spots or itchy patches, then chamomile or a green tea bath is undoubtedly recommended.

You just need to fill your bathtub with lukewarm water.

Add a lot of tea bags for 3-5 minutes.

Remove those tea bags then and give your dog a bath in the mixture for nearly more than five minutes.

You can also apply complete cold tea directly to the affected spots.

 

8) Give your Pet a Paw Bath once a Day Regularly

Make sure you clean your pet paws regularly every day to avoid infections and itchiness increasing furthermore.

A daily paw bath can remove all the allergens.

Fill a bathtub or a sink with lukewarm water and mix sufficient povidone-iodine to make it appear as fresh-brewed iced tea.

Each paw should be dipped for 2-5minutes and then wipe dry with a towel.

 

9) Try to Distract your Dog from Licking its Paws

If your dog is anxious or bored, then the only way to stop licking its feet out of boredom is to distract him.

Play with him or give him a toy.

Give him a plethora of exercises.

Interactive and playful toys are very nice distractions. These toys help dogs to work a lot for them.

 

10) A Good Ointment is Sometimes Very Effective

If your dog’s paws are cracked or dry, or they have cut or abrasion, Then a good ointment is very useful and is only what your dog needs.

A triple-antibiotic ointment is enough recommendation.

When you bandage over ointment, distract your dog from avoiding him to rip off the bandage.

 

11) Just try a Different Dog Food

Food allergies and food poisoning are the most common causes caused due to improper dog food.

You should regularly visit your pet and get your dog’s regular medical check-up to know if the changes are to be done in dog food.

Switching food and observing if it helps require a lot of time and effort.

 

12) Pest Control Treatment

Bug bites, flea, ticks, and mites make your dog itchy crazily everywhere, not only on his feet.

An infestation can cause continuous and extreme foot licking. 

Give your dog a flea bath, dip, powder, or a solution to be applied on spots.

Treat his bed and living area very well to avoid reinfestation after the proper treatment.

 

13) Switch your Dog’s Shampoo

Some shampoos contain chemicals that may harm your dog’s skin.

A high-quality designed shampoo specifically for canines is unlikely to cause itchiness to paws.

Switching to a different shampoo can help in alleviating the itchiness.

Specific shampoos that address itchy skin have oatmeal or other natural, skin-nourishing ingredients to achieve the best optimum result.

 

14) Treat your Dog with a Topical Flea Treatment

Even if your dog’s excessive paw licking or chewing is not the result of a flea infestation.

It should be treated regularly with a topical flea treatment.

Not all fleas are irritating, but they can be tapeworms and other dog worms source.

Get proper flea medications from your vet.

 

15) Use a Chewing Deterrent or a Proper Chew Toy

Only if your dog does not have a yeast infection or flea allergy, this remedy is good.

Spray its paws with a chewing deterrent that is non-toxic and safe for his skin.

Another way is to give it a proper chew toy in case your dog is frustrated or irritated.

Sometimes in severe and emergency cases, diagnosing skin diseases in dogs is a must (ASAP).

In such cases, don’t try for remedies and worsen the symptoms.

Antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory medications are appropriately given by the vet.

Because, they take skin samples, diagnose the sample in the laboratory.

Then after they determine why your dog licks its paws.

In the above-mentioned dog licking paws remedies, consider various notes or warnings given.

If we have missed any of the other effective dog licking paws remedies,

Feel free to contact us!