Dog Licking Paws? Here’s What It Could Mean

Introduction

I wish I could write the sound a dog licking their paws makes, but I can’t. You know the one, though, right? It goes “shlurp, shlurp, shlooooop”? Again, and again, and again? If your dog is incessantly licking their paws, you’ll know the one I mean. And you’ll also want to know why your dog won’t stop licking.

Of course, a little bit of dog paw licking is normal – everyone’s gotta have clean feet! - but when it’s non-stop, it’s a red flag. As a vet, excessive dog paw licking is one of the most common problems I have to deal with, so in this article, I’m going to give you the low-down. We’ll find out why dogs lick their paws, when it’s a problem, and how to help your dog out.

Dog Licking Paws? Quick Facts

• Dogs lick paws to clean them, soothe an itch, relieve pain, or out of boredom or habit
• Persistent licking can lead to infection or hair loss, which can be permanent
• A vet visit is needed to help figure out the cause of your dog’s licking

When Paw Licking Is Normal (vs. Not)

Dogs can’t wash their hands in the sink, but they’ll clean their feet after a walk just the same – by licking! It’s also common for dogs to lick their paws after a meal – again, this is normal grooming behavior.

What’s not normal, though, is incessant licking. If it’s going on in the middle of the night, or you can’t distract your dog away from licking, it’s a problem. If the fur is discolored (most commonly white fur looking reddish-brown), they’re doing too much licking (even if you haven’t caught them), and you may notice thinning hair or red or swollen skin. And of course, any limping or whining is a big red flag that should alert you to something not being right.

Common Causes of Paw Licking

Break this section into clear sub-sections with short, easy-to-read explanations.

1. Allergies (Environmental or Food)

The single most common cause of chronic paw licking is environmental allergies, aka atopy or atopic dermatitis. Your dog’s skin comes into contact with the allergen – say, dust or pollen from trees or weeds – and their immune system overreacts, causing intense itching. Some dogs will be allergic to a single allergen, which may mean they only get itchy paws seasonally, while others may be allergic to several things, or things that are present year-round.

About1-2% of dogs are allergic to something in their diet, with beef and chicken being common culprits. Paw licking is rarely the only sign of a food allergy, but you may spot dog paw licking along with an itchy body and chronic or recurrent upset stomach.

If allergies are the culprit of your dog’s paw licking, they’ll likely have red - maybe even swollen - skin between the toes. They usually target more than one paw, although not necessarily all four. Your pup may also suffer from ear infections, anal gland issues, or general itchiness. You’ll need to go to the vet for a full investigation, as allergies are difficult to diagnose and manage.

2. Irritation from Walks or Chemicals

Unless your dog is wearing shoes, their paws touch everything wherever they go. Some things can be irritant to the skin or cause damage that causes your dog to lick and lick and lick. Common culprits are salt for icing the roads (watch out, as this can be toxic when ingested!), fertilizer or weed spray from lawns and fields (which can also be toxic!), or cleaning solutions in the house (did you put bleach in the shower and leave the door open?). Even carpet scent (Shake n Vac) can cause irritation and leave your dog trying to soothe the burning or stinging.

If your dog is mostly licking straight after a walk, take a look at their feet. A gentle rinse in cool water can help remove irritants and help you see any sore areas more easily. If you suspect an irritant you can’t avoid, consider using dog boots and always wash paws when you get home.

3. Parasites

Some types of parasites particularly affect the feet. A tick lodged between a toe can cause limping and licking, which can be quickly solved as soon as the tick is removed. Some types of worms can enter through the skin of the feet, although they’re thankfully rare in dogs living indoors. Some mites can make the feet particularly itchy, too – these are too small to see without a microscope, but need ruling out before other diagnoses are explored.

4. Pain or Injury

If your dog’s licking is confined to one foot, then pain or injury becomes much more likely. A splinter, a thorn, a migrating grass seed – a foreign body is a common finding. You should also look out for cuts, grazes, burns, and lumps, which can be painful or irritating. This sort of problem normally needs a check-up with your veterinarian, both to find the problem and to make sure it’s treated promptly.

Some dogs also lick to soothe joint pain from arthritis. You might notice your dog targeting a single joint or a pair, like both wrist joints. Getting this checked by a vet so they can have pain relief is important – there’s a lot we can do for canine arthritis pain these days!

5. Nail Diseases and Conditions

Several conditions affect the nails and can be painful or itchy enough to cause paw licking in dogs. Nail bed infections are a common reason for dog paw licking, or a torn nail that has exposed the quick. Some dogs can have autoimmune diseases affecting the toenails, or even some sorts of cancer that target the nail beds. These things are usually picked up by a veterinarian during an exam, but it’s worth making sure you check the nails thoroughly at home if you spot your dog paw licking.

6. Anxiety or Boredom

Some licking is behavioral. My old dog, Jazz, licked and licked her paws when suffering from canine cognitive dysfunction (doggy dementia). It’s often a self-soothing behavior in dogs who are under-stimulated or anxious, but in Jazz, we never saw any sign of that - it was just repetitive, and if she couldn’t lick her feet, she’d lick my leg, or the table leg, or the carpet, or anything she could reach.

Once medical causes of licking are ruled out, you can try increasing mental stimulation with play or more walks to see if that helps. Providing a good licking outlet – like a safe dog chew or a lick mat – may help dogs with busy brains take some time out. In some cases, behaviorist intervention may be needed. They can help you put strategies in place to stop your dog from damaging themselves through repetitive paw licking.

Bonus: Secondary Infections

Any of the above causes of licking can also come with a bonus cause – a secondary infection. Yeast and bacteria don’t normally cause enough damage to be itchy – they live on dog skin normally without any problems at all. But constant licking damages the skin and creates a moist environment that can cause a skin infection (pyoderma) or a yeast overgrowth, and this in itself is super itchy. Your vet can take samples to look for this, and may recommend bathing in medicated shampoo to help shift it – although it’ll soon come back if the underlying cause isn’t treated.

How Vets Diagnose the Cause

The first thing your vet will do is check your dog over, head to tail. Then, they’ll focus on the skin, looking for redness, spots, or bald patches, and checking between the toes and pads. They may take samples – skin scrapings can help to identify mites, while tape strips can check for bacterial overgrowth.

Once they have a clearer clinical picture, they’ll recommend further testing. This might mean starting a food elimination trial – an essential step in atopy diagnosis – or doing intradermal allergy testing (please note – allergy tests available to the general public are worthless, especially if they claim to diagnose food allergies!). They may also suggest a pain relief trial or imaging to check for arthritis.

This might sound like a lot of investigation for dog paw licking, but finding the underlying cause is the only way to get to the bottom of the problem and stop the repetitive, schlurpy licking sound for good. If you have cost concerns, you should raise them with your vet – they can help you find a solution that suits, even if it means skipping some steps by making some assumptions, or trialing treatment before a definitive diagnosis is found.

Treatment Options for Dog Licking Paws

It’s always best to get treatment recommendations from your vet. Don’t attempt home remedies, which are usually ineffective and waste money. Human medications and creams should never be used on dogs – their skin is different, and there’s a high chance of ingestion, which the human cream won’t have been designed to be safe for. Some of the likely vet-recommended treatments for dog paw licking include…

If It’s Allergies:

There are lots of management options for allergies, but nothing that can treat them indefinitely. The closest we get is immunotherapy, which aims to teach the body to cope with the allergen. For many dogs, regular prescription medications that stop the itch are needed. They may also need a permanent diet change. Physically preventing the allergens from reaching the skin can help, too – dog coats, paw covers, regular bathing, and air purifiers may reduce the allergen load.

If It’s Irritation or Injury:

Hopefully, once you’ve identified the irritant, you can avoid it in the future. Doggy boots can help, as can rinsing paws clean after a walk. This can also help you to check for splinters, ticks, or grass seeds before they bury themselves in your dog’s skin. Of course, your vet will need to treat the current injury too – this could involve surgery, antibiotics, or some cream and monitoring, depending on the injury.

If It’s Infection:

A pyoderma or yeast overgrowth rarely needs antibiotics or antifungals – a good medicated shampoo and a cone to prevent further licking should be sufficient. Follow your vet’s directions, and make sure you’re also treating the underlying cause.

If It’s Anxiety:

Try increasing mental enrichment by adding an extra walk (a dog walker can be a valuable resource!) or a play session. Food puzzles and safe dog chews can also provide entertainment and stimulation, as well as give them a safe way to lick. If you’re seeing other signs of anxiety, you can talk to your vet about calming supplements or referral to a behaviorist.

Preventing Paw Licking

The best way to prevent paw licking in dogs is to treat the underlying causes as they arise. Washing feet down after walks and checking them for injury is a good habit to get into, too. If your dog has long fur around their feet, keeping this trimmed can reduce the risk of foreign bodies and enable you to spot problems sooner. If you know your dog's walk could have something irritating (road salt, or a field that has just been sprayed with something), invest in dog booties to keep allergens and irritants off their paws. I also recommend keeping a plastic cone at home to apply in any situation where your dog is paw licking, and you’re awaiting a vet appointment.

When to Call the Vet

You should visit your vet the same day if your dog carries on licking its paws after you’ve rinsed their feet and let them dry for a couple of hours. Also, call if you spot any blood or oozing during this process, or if you see signs of pain, such as limping.

If you suspect your dog’s paw licking could be related to allergies, you’ll also need to schedule a vet visit – while this isn’t emergent, getting them seen in the next 24-48 hours will bring them relief.

FAQs

Conclusion

Dogs lick their paws for lots of reasons, some of which are normal. But incessant dog paw licking is a symptom of irritation or pain that needs investigation by a veterinarian. Before your appointment, try to note when the problem started, if they’ve ever had it before (and when), which paw(s) they’re licking, and whether it happens at certain times of day. This information will help your veterinarian find the underlying cause of dog paw licking.

Bio

Dr Joanna Woodnutt BVM BVS MRCVS

After graduating from the University of Nottingham, Dr Woodnutt initially worked in companion animal practice in the Midlands, UK, where she developed a love for chronic conditions. Since moving home to Alderney in the Channel Islands, Dr Woodnutt does less clinical work, and now mostly writes articles about pets – including writing a column for the local newspaper, writing articles to help educate other vets, and writing for several websites across the internet.

Feature image: istockphoto