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Of course, the best way to rule out serious issues is to consult your vet and have the paw pad checked out. Some dogs can have allergies to various ingredients found in dog food, including chicken, beef, and/or wheat or gluten ingredients. The first place you should look is between your dog’s footpads. Avoid letting your dog's paws come into contact with herbs like rosemary, basil, thyme, mint, or sage. These herbs may cause irritation or allergic reactions on their paws.
These dog boots come in sets of two so you can buy the correct size for the front and back feet. Had I not found this and put calendula healing salve and a bandage on it to protect it, I’m sure he would have been licking it all night. I walked upstairs after they finished and saw reddish-brown strips of color about 3-4” long on my gray carpet, like someone had dragged a thick crayon. These allergies can be caused by food, outdoor allergens, or indoor allergens. Learn how to raise your dog naturally, using holistic & natural products and training methods.
Chamomile and Green Tea Soaks
If you're more focused on holistic remedies, you may elect to book an appointment with a holistic veterinarian rather than a traditional vet. They are often more well-versed in home remedies than other practitioners. If you have found that your dog is suffering from itchy paws, it is advisable to consult with your vet before attempting any at-home remedies. Your vet might prescribe a topical spray or cream for the affected areas. A prescription should only be used after consultation with your vet, as some dogs may be allergic to certain ingredients in creams and sprays. When dog parents suspect their pup has allergies, one of the first things they want to try is an over-the-counter anti-histamine.
If you notice fleas or other insects on your dog's paws, you'll want to talk to your veterinarian about how best to treat them. As you have gathered, there are a variety of reasons for a dog to have itchy paws. The best way to get to the bottom of the problem and find the right remedies for your dog is to involve your veterinarian in the process. Hopefully, with a little help from your vet and some veterinary and at-home remedies, your dog’s paws will be less itchy in no time at all. If your dog’s paws have dry, itchy, irritated skin, apply some paw balm to irritated skin to help protect it from allergens, debris, salt, dirt, and other irritants.
How To Stop Your Dog From Licking Paws
At first, just use a small bit to make sure your dog does not react badly to it. If after an hour your dog's paw looks healthy, you can put on more cream and smear it over the entire area. Our balms are not formulated to reduce the length of your pup’s nails. However, if his licking and gnawing is due to irritation, the Paw Soother might provide relief, which might make him a little less anxious when it comes time to trim the nails. Checking between your dogs’ paw pads is a good habit to get into, especially in winter. Older dogs may lick their paws in an attempt to relieve pains caused by arthritis.
If this is the case, you may notice discomfort when you touch his leg. It is important to be careful and gentle when inspecting the paws to avoid being bitten by him in case you touch a painful spot. If the bleeding does not stop, then it is the right time to take your pet to the veterinarian. It is very important to know that dogs have arteries in their paw pads and if there is an inordinate amount of bleeding, then it can mean that an artery has been hit.
Check for wounds and treat naturally if necessary
Apply these products e carefully and consistently to the affected areas only. How much you need to apply depends on how bad the problem is, but generally speaking, one application per day will suffice unless advised otherwise by your vet. Isolate the trigger and help your pup to avoid it as much as possible. If you can't make sure your dog avoids the trigger, try to cover your dog's paws or clean them after exposure. There is a possibility that your girl’s issues are due to a food allergy.
Once upon a time, these animals would walk, hunt, and explore. Urban living, though, can lead to boredom and excessive licking. Your veterinarian may suggest a combination of medicine, behavior therapy, and adjustments to your lifestyle if, by any chance, your dog’s licking of its paws is a result of anxiety.
Instead of using human medicine, focus on getting rid of allergens by improving their diet. If your dog’s paws just seem to be irritated, try one of the following recipes and apply topically to your dog’s feet. This is by far the most common reason dogs are itchy and licking their paws, especially if all four feet are involved. There are other health benefits of turmeric for dogs as well, such as relieving itching from allergies due to its anti-inflammatory properties. If your dog suffers from arthritis, or inflammation from a chronic injury, adding turmeric to your dog’s diet can reduce your dog’s pain by decreasing inflammation.
Jillian Dara is a fact checker for The Spruce Pets, reviewing articles about pet care and pet products for factual accuracy and consistency. She has more than five years of experience in lifestyle editing and media and has been published in a variety of prestigious outlets. Dr. Juliane Evans is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist currently working as a relief veterinarian in general practice, treating companion animals. She is a licensed veterinarian in three states and is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association .
There is also the possibility that these infections are the result of an allergy. To prevent chemical burns, ensure your dog wears pet boots when going outside in the winter. If it has ice on its paws, you can prevent snow from getting between its toes by rubbing paw balms between the pads and into the fur. Your dog may lick its paw in response to pain or irritability.
An important consideration, especially if only one foot is affected and the licking and chewing started suddenly, is a foreign object stuck in the foot. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, so including them in your dog’s meals can be an important addition to their diet that over time will provide relief. Third, veterinarian and researcher Jean Dodds also points out that it’s important to remember that not all vaccines are considered to be essential. The need for non-essential, optional vaccines depends on the geographical exposure risk and the lifestyle of the pet and owner. For example, if you live in the city, your dog probably doesn’t need a leptospirosis vaccine .
Your dog’s paws are healthy if you can’t spot any redness, bleeding, or swelling. Check your dog’s paws after every walk when cleaning them as this will avoid issues down the road. Even if dog owners don’t check their dog’s paws regularly, some dogs will show signs of their own (don’t rely on that though). Sometimes your dog’s paws have roughened up over time during walks already and the paw pad finally started to peel off.
Keep the paws clean and dry them well after washing or going for walks. Even though they are thick, sturdy, and strong, your dog’s paw pads are not entirely impenetrable. Be mindful of how your dog’s paws may react to food allergies.
We realized that when Taco ran to catch the tennis ball, he slid like a baseball player sliding face-first into the base – paws extended forward as he slid. I tracked down Taco, lifted his front feet, and sure enough, one of his pads looked like it had been filed down with a piece of sandpaper – it was raw and bloody. Last week, my husband played a rousing game of fetch with my dog Taco for 5 minutes – not long at all. Try one paw first, for a shorter time, and give him breaks as needed.
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