Dogs by no means stop to fascinate us with their uncommon behaviors and quirky mannerisms. From a traditional case of the zoomies to concentrated tail-chasing periods, the causes of our canine’s behaviors aren’t all the time simply identifiable. Paw licking is a type of behaviors that may both be utterly regular or indicative of a difficulty.
While some extent of paw licking often could be a part of your pup’s self-grooming routine, extreme or aggressive licking is usually a signal of an underlying well being concern. Read on to be taught extra about this conduct, together with what causes it and recommendations on find out how to cease it.
The 11 Tips to Stop Your Dog From Licking Their Paws
1. Addressing Underlying Issues
When it involves the well being of your canine, you by no means need to use band-aid options. Unfortunately, there are various potential causes your pup is licking themselves, which may make figuring out the underlying situation a bit difficult and even costly if you’ll want to take them to the vet to search out out what’s occurring. However, in case your canine is licking their paws extra usually than as a part of their self-grooming routine, it’s time to get your veterinary staff concerned.
2. Make Dietary Changes
If your vet thinks a meals allergy could also be resulting in extreme paw licking, they’ll most likely suggest you place your canine on a meals trial. This is an extended and generally grueling course of that may take months, however it can assist decide which meals(s) triggers your pup’s allergy symptoms so you possibly can eradicate them from their food regimen.
3. Tend to Your Pup’s Paws
After spending time outdoors, wash and dry off your pup’s paws to guard them from any environmental allergens or irritants they could have encountered on their adventures.
4. Hold Off on Spending Time Outside in Severe Weather
Things like scorching sidewalks in the summertime or salt-sprinkled walkways in winter could cause extreme irritation and even burn your canine’s paws. When your pup’s paws are aching, they’ll be extra prone to attempt to chew or lick them to alleviate the ache.
Hot sidewalks in the summertime could cause discomfort, blisters, and burns to your canine’s paw pads. A very good rule of thumb to find out whether or not the pavement is just too scorching on your pup is to position the again of your hand on it for ten seconds. If it feels too scorching in your hand, that’s an excellent signal to place off your stroll till the solar has set.
Most business ice melts utilized in winter to take care of the ice in your sidewalks are harmful not just for the burns and accidents they’ll trigger to your pup’s paws but in addition as a result of they often include chemical compounds that may be poisonous for pets.
5. Use an Oatmeal Shampoo
If your pup’s paws are itchy, likelihood is they’re licking them to attempt to relieve themselves of that annoying itch. Oatmeal has pure anti-inflammatory properties that may soothe your pup’s itchy pores and skin, so utilizing dog-friendly oatmeal shampoo on their paws may assist relieve the discomfort. These shampoos are usually used to assist soothe canine’ dry and itchy pores and skin, so it may very well be helpful.
Giving your canine’s paws an oatmeal tub may additionally assist.
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6. Try Dog Booties
You can use protecting footwear like booties while you go outdoors for walks when you discover your canine’s paw licking worsens after coming inside out of your adventures. Dog booties shouldn’t be left on for greater than an hour or two although as they aren’t breathable.
In the home you possibly can attempt a pair of youngsters’s cotton socks over their paws to try to make them inaccessible and break the cycle of compulsive licking. Just make sure that your canine isn’t prone to eat or chew socks when you use this feature, in any other case an Elizabethan collar can be a safer answer.
7. Use Paw Balms
Your canine could also be licking themselves as a result of their paws are dry or cracked. If that is the case, a paw balm may be an excellent possibility, as it might add some much-needed moisture and supply aid.
8. Try an Elizabethan Collar
Elizabethan collars, much less colloquially referred to as “the cone of disgrace,” is usually a momentary answer to your canine’s paw-licking issues. These collars are designed to suit round your canine’s neck and are used to forestall them from getting at surgical websites or wounds. Since the cone makes accessing the paws not possible, your pup may have no selection however to cease licking.
9. Give Your Pup a Routine to Look Forward To
Dogs that lick themselves excessively on account of boredom might have a extra predictable and enjoyable each day routine.
Ensure your pup is getting sufficient train and loads of psychological stimulation to maintain them pleased and wholesome. If your schedule is just too busy to supply the quantity of bodily exercise your canine wants, you may think about taking them to doggy daycare or hiring a canine walker to maintain them busy whilst you’re away at work all day.
10. Reduce Stressors
Dogs with stress could resort to licking or chewing their paws as a approach to deal. Other indicators of stress can embrace:
- Yawning
- Panting
- Pacing
- Licking their lips
- Whining
- Barking
- Shedding
- Dilated pupils
- Pinned again ears
If your pup is exhibiting these indicators, have a look at their residing preparations. Do they’ve a protected area they’ll retreat to when stress triggers (e.g., company, loud noises, and so on.) happen? If not, think about making a sanctuary on your pup in a quiet space of your house.
However, in case your canine is chronically confused, we suggest seeing your veterinarian. They could refer you to a coach or animal behaviorist to judge your pup’s stress-related issues or prescribe anti-anxiety drugs in the event that they deem it vital.
11. Know When to See the Vet
While paw licking isn’t sometimes thought-about an emergency, we do suggest seeing your veterinarian as quickly as attainable when you discover your canine exhibiting any of the next regarding indicators:
- Bleeding from the paws
- Swollen paws
- Limping
- Pus or discharge
- Whimpering or crying when touched or making an attempt to stroll
Your canine could also be injured in the event that they’re specializing in biting or licking a single paw, which might necessitate a veterinary go to as quickly as attainable. It may very well be one thing so simple as a thorn caught within the paw pad or irritation from a stroll on scorching gravel, but it surely’s all the time finest to err on the facet of warning.
Is Paw Licking Really That Bad?
Frequent licking can construct up moisture in your canine’s paws, which may finally result in bacterial or yeast infections. Such infections can exacerbate your canine’s licking downside, additional contaminating the world with micro organism and impairing the therapeutic course of indefinitely.
We suggest seeing your veterinarian as quickly as you discover your canine’s extreme licking. They can prescribe topical sprays to ease itchiness, steroids to cut back irritation, antifungals for yeast infections, and antibiotics if bacterial infections are guilty. The sooner you identify the reason for your pup’s problematic paw licking, the quicker you possibly can start remedy and supply much-needed aid.
Why Does My Dog Lick Their Paws?
The key to stopping your pup from licking their paws is to find out why they’re licking them within the first place.
There are a number of the reason why your canine may lick their paws. These embrace:
Final Thoughts
Some dogs lick themselves as a part of their self-grooming routine, but when your pup’s paw licking has turn out to be extreme or if different uncommon indicators accompany the conduct, additional investigation could also be vital. Excessive licking could cause a number of points on your pup, together with problematic secondary infections, so the earlier you identify why they’re exhibiting this conduct, the higher.
As all the time, we suggest retaining an open line of communication together with your veterinary staff so they’re all the time knowledgeable about your pup’s conduct and well being.
Featured Image Credit: KPhrom, Shutterstock
