Dog Licking Paws

nfp147 · August 2013

I think I mentioned here or on the FB group a while ago that our chocolate lab started licking her paws in the spring. She's licked them so much now that she's taking hair off and we noticed last night that one paw is red and bleeding. She doesn't seem to be in any pain and she lets us touch her paws. She wags her tail the entire time she's licking (although, she often wags her tail in her sleep too).

So, we're off to the vet tomorrow morning.

I don't know what to expect. She'll be far too excited for the vet to get a good look at her paws. Will the vet likely just prescribe something for allergies?

ILoveRedVino · August 2013

My dog is a paw-licker. Always has been. The vet said it was NBD, but (this is gross) he once got a yeast infection in his paw from it always being wet. It could be allergies if it just started, but it's just habit for my dog.

Panderp · August 2013

Aww, puppy.

Sprouty licks her paws after grass walking. I think she may have a mild allergy. I hope they figure out what's up and fix puppy up quick!

TudorRose11 · August 2013

Our pup is having the same issue. We took him to the vet and the vet didn't seem too concerned, just mentioned that it was definitely allergies. He also had some irritation in his eyes from allergies. He gave us an antibiotic, which cleared his eyes up in just a day or two, and a locally made oil to rub on his paws. Either way, he said it should pass.

Hopefully it's just that and no biggie!

seahorse01 · August 2013

Another vote for allergies. Hopefully something OTC will be able to help. Benadryl does the trick for our pup.

LuckyAngel07 · August 2013

Definitely sounds allergy-related. You can wipe her paws down daily to help (baby wipes do the trick), or more often if you can determine it's from grass or something else specific. Beadryl doesn't work for all dogs, but a short course of prednisone always does the trick for our kitty, eho got so bad several months ago she licked all the hair right off the base of her tail (seems to hold her over for several weeks after the meds are finished too).

GL at your vet! I hope your pup's paws are cleared up quickly.

amandaf6383 · August 2013

Poor puppy!! :-( I bet it's allergies. I hope her paw gets better soon!!

nfp147 · August 2013

Thanks ladies. When I called this morning the receptionist didn't seem too concerned and said "it is allergy season".

sandollar1010 · August 2013

Sounds like allergies. One of mine had a recurrent infection in his front paw, and he makes it worse by licking. We ended up doing two rounds of antibiotics to knock out the infection. Anytime he went outside we would soak it in warm water with epsom salts... he would only hold still for a minute or two, but that really seemed to help - he hasn't had any issues in about two months.

poppies717 · August 2013

My dog is a paw-licker. Always has been. The vet said it was NBD, but (this is gross) he once got a yeast infection in his paw from it always being wet. It could be allergies if it just started, but it's just habit for my dog.

My dog is just getting over a yeast infection in his toe. Good luck, nfp!

transponster · August 2013

Aw, I hope she gets relief quickly!

islandmonkey8 · August 2013

Everyone has given great advice. GL at the vet!

sushilover0214 · August 2013

Our dog has allergies and our vet recommended that we wipe down his paws with a baby wipe or something similar after taking him for a walk. It has helped.

nfp147 · August 2013

sushilover0214 said:

Our dog has allergies and our vet recommended that we wipe down his paws with a baby wipe or something similar after taking him for a walk. It has helped.

Do you just use normal baby wipes?

LuckyAngel07 · August 2013

nfp147 said:

sushilover0214 said:

Our dog has allergies and our vet recommended that we wipe down his paws with a baby wipe or something similar after taking him for a walk. It has helped.

Do you just use normal baby wipes?

Yup; regular unscented baby wipes! I get a big pack of Target brand.

DangerMuffin23 · August 2013

I used to have to give our dog allergy shots when she was a puppy bc she was allergic to Everything. Including like 5 different types of grass, bird feathers, tobacco, lamb, you name it. I don't know if they really helped or if she grew out of them but she's a lot better now. Just occas Benadryl for itchiness. GL

sushilover0214 · August 2013

nfp147 said:

sushilover0214 said:

Our dog has allergies and our vet recommended that we wipe down his paws with a baby wipe or something similar after taking him for a walk. It has helped.

Do you just use normal baby wipes?

Yup. I bought the big box at Costco and they're working great.

LittleLady77 · August 2013

Our dog did that once and she had a fox tail lodged up her foot. She needed surgery to get it out. That being said we did find a bright red bump on her foot between her paws. FX you pup just has allergies.

agoodse · August 2013

Paw licking is typically allergy related. It's either related to things your baby is touching (like the grass) or things your baby is ingesting (the food). My dog tends to lick more with salmon protein food than with red meat product food. We went grain free totally with the food, and the licking subsided for a while, but now she's taken to licking her under belly so much that she knots her fur and actually hurts herself. We've done cones (she's freaked out by them), cortisone shots (which help), and many other things. Hopefully we'll land on something eventually that works full time. Good luck with your pup. Sometimes it can feel like a science experience, trying to see what works best and what doesn't.

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