What Does It Mean If A Dog Licks His Paws

Often times excessive licking of the paws is due to one of three underlying causes.

Dogs typically lick their paws as a part of self grooming. If your dog suddenly starts licking their paws then it is usually indicative of pain or irritation especially if they are licking only one paw. If the paw pads and feet appear normal the licking could be due to a skin condition dermatitis which often is the result of bacterial problems allergies or food sensitivities. Even dogs that don t do a lot of self grooming will occasionally clean their paws.

The second most common reason why dogs lick their paws is allergies lucas says. Yeast infections which are primarily caused by an allergy tend to begin either in a dog s ears or in their paws. But when your dog licks or chews too much even if their paws don t look dirty then it is time to start looking for the underlying cause for their behavior. Paw licking is a common behavior in dogs but a healthy dog should not excessively paw lick and a history of excessive licking could be a red flag for a more serious problem.

Boredom actually increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol and paw licking reduces that stress hormone. This would explain why a dog may lick their paws if they are bored. Flea allergy dermatitis often abbreviated fad. Frequent licking can lead to skin irritation and the action could mean your pet is already uncomfortable.

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Paw licking is a common behavior for dogs. Ears can itch and or become infected runny nose and watery eyes can be present but less frequently. Not only does excessive licking cause discomfort for your dog but it is often due to an underlying medical problem. Dogs tend to clean their paws by licking or chewing them when dirty.

If the licking is limited to one paw then this often suggests that the source of trouble is right there on the paw. Atopy the equivalent of hay fever in people food allergies. This is considered healthy and normal. While it s true they might simply be grooming themselves paw chewing could indicate something more going on if they are doing it all the time.

If your dog is a fastidious groomer you may notice him licking his paws after meals while settling down for a nap or after coming in from outdoors after meals. Similar to felines some dogs also like to lick their paws to clean their faces. In many instances it is harmless but when the licking becomes excessive a solution is needed. Why dogs lick their paws.

As we have mentioned dogs may lick their paws to make themselves feel better e g.