Summary
Excessive paw licking in dogs can stem from dry skin, injuries, pain (arthritis), anxiety, allergies, or infections. Home remedies include cleaning paws with pet-safe soap, moisturizing with balms or coconut oil, using anti-licking sprays, and dietary changes if food allergies are suspected. Chamomile, diluted apple cider vinegar, protective booties, oatmeal, medicated shampoos, honey, baking soda soaks, and CBD oil may also provide relief. Consult a vet if home remedies fail, paws are red/swollen/infected, or licking is accompanied by other symptoms like lethargy or diarrhea, as professional treatment may be necessary to address the underlying cause.
Why Do Dogs Constantly Lick Their Paws?
You will see your dog licking its paws many times a day. And there is nothing to worry about because licking paws is a habit dogs have.
But the problem starts when they lick their paws excessively. There can be many reasons for excessive licking of paws. For example,
Dry Skin
In the Winter season, just like humans, dogs’ skin also gets dry. The usage of excessively harsh soaps can also dry a dog’s feet. This dryness can cause itchiness. And itchiness is caused by excessive and continuous licking of paws by dogs.
Paw Injury
If your dog’s paws suffer from a cut, scrape, injury, or foreign material, they will start licking it. If you see your dog overlicking his paws, you can look at his paws to see if he is suffering from any paw injury.
If you spot any injury, then first clean the injury with water. Then, some antibiotic ointment was used and applied to the injury area.
Suffering from Ache
If your dog suffers from problems like arthritis, wounds, cysts, or other growths, he may start licking his paws excessively to show his discomfort to you.
Anxiety Problems or Boredom
Shifting to an entirely new environment, separation anxiety, extreme boredom, phobia, or compulsive disorder (like acral lick dermatitis and canine compulsive disorder) can cause excessive licking problems in your dog.
Allergic Reactions
Many things like food, dust, pollen, grass, And fleas can cause allergic reactions in dogs. In response to these allergens, dogs lick their paws excessively.
Swelling, itching, redness, inflammation, diarrhea, and sneezing are common allergy symptoms.
Infections and Skin Problems
In wet weather, dogs are at high risk of bacterial and fungal infections. These infections mainly occur in dogs’ feet. And in response, dogs start licking their paws. Some skin conditions like dermatitis also lead to dogs licking their paws.
Dog-licking paws home remedies
If your dog is excessively licking their paws, there are a few home remedies you can try to help stop this behavior. One possible remedy is regularly cleaning your dog’s paws with a gentle, pet-safe soap or cleaning solution.
This can help to remove any irritants, such as dirt, debris, or chemicals, that may be causing your dog to lick their paws. Another remedy is to apply a pet-safe moisturizer or balm to your dog’s paws, which can help to soothe irritated skin and reduce the urge to lick.
You can use a pet-safe anti-licking spray or bandage on your dog’s paws, which can discourage them from licking.
If these remedies do not help, or if your dog’s excessive paw licking is accompanied by other symptoms, such as redness, swelling, or infection, you should consult your veterinarian for further treatment.
Change Your Dog’s Diet
If your dog starts to lick their paws excessively and is accompanied by frequent diarrhea, it must have developed an allergy to their food. Some common allergens in a dog’s diet are chicken, egg, fish, grains, and dairy products.
If your dog has been eating the same diet for years or months, they might have developed allergens to some food product. Dogs don’t have allergies from birth; they create them over time.
So, you have to change your dog’s diet. For example, if you give your dog chicken for proteins, start giving him beef.
Changing your dog’s diet will slow down his excessive licking paws problem. Also, carefully monitor how your dogs react to newly added products in their meal.
Give Your Doggy Chamomile Bath
Herbal remedies are always preferred. So, without any second thought, you can give your dog a chamomile bath to treat his paw-licking problem.
Chamomile is an herbal product. It has antibacterial as well as antioxidant features. Mix Chamomile with warm water and soak your dog’s feet in this for some time. You can also put Chamomile tea directly into your paws.
This Chamomile treatment will help your dog by relieving paws-licking problems and helping manage anxiety problems linked with itching paws.
Treatment through Apple Cider Vinegar
The antifungal properties of Apple Cider Vinegar will help treat the excessive licking of paws if a fungal infection causes it.
In this treatment, you must mix vinegar and water in a 1:2 ratio. Then, soak your dog’s feet into the solution for 5-10 minutes.
To get effective results, you have to do this treatment to your dog’s feet two times in one day.
Remember, this treatment is effective only if the licking problem is because of a fungal infection.
Protective Booties for Your Dog
To stop your dog from licking its paws and prevent further damage to its paws, you can use protective booties. Any remedy for treating the problem of licking feet will take some time to show results, and in the meantime, you can use these protective booties so no further damage is done.
So, remember that you have to take care of your dog’s licking problem after using these protective booties.
Give an Oatmeal Bath to Your Dog
Oatmeal helps treat dry and itchy skin as it is a natural moisturizer with anti-inflammatory properties.
You have to mix oatmeal in warm water. Then, put your doggie’s paws into the bucket of warm water for 10 minutes.
Your dog will start feeling better, and itchiness will reduce only after a few oatmeal baths like this.
Go for a New Shampoo for Your Dog
Many dog shampoos are designed in such a way that they calm the itchiness as well as treat dry and irritated skin.
Oatmeal shampoos are also available on the market for dogs. Remember not to overuse shampoo because it might cause excessive dryness to the dog’s skin. Also, always look into the shampoo ingredients before buying for your dog.
Treat them with the Help of Honey.
Honey is a natural sweetener that prevents bacteria growth because it has low pH and contains hydrogen peroxide.
You can apply honey to its paws if your doggy is suffering from bacterial problems. To ensure your dog doesn’t lick the spread honey, you can use protective booties to cover the areas of your paws.
Apply High-Quality Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has the natural property of moisturizing. Even humans use coconut oil as a moisturizer. So, you have to apply some coconut oil to your dog’s paws. For better results, use high-quality coconut oil.
Give Your Dog’s Paws a Baking Soda Soak
Baking soda neutralizes acidic irritants, and they have natural anti-inflammatory properties.
To use baking soda:
- Put half a cup of baking soda in a bucket of warm water.
- Put your dog’s feet into the solution for 10 minutes.
- Use this remedy 2 to 3 times daily for better and more effective results.
Rub Your Dog’s Feet with CBD Oil
Pet CBD oil is scientifically proven to help with irritated paws. You can directly apply vet-recommended CBD oil to your dog’s itchy paws.
Is it Normal for Dogs to Lick Their Paws?
When thinking about self-grooming animals, puppies may not be the only creatures that spring to mind. On the other hand, dogs frequently lick their limbs, paws, and tails to eliminate dirt. This natural, typical activity indicates that your pet desires to be tidy.
Another reason is the self-rescue method. Insects, fleas, and worms may itch and scratch your dog’s entire body, especially his feet. Parasites may be why your dog licks his feet, particularly in hot months.
When to Take Your Dog to the Vet?
Excessive paw licking can be treated at home. But in severe cases, you must take your dog to the vet. So, when your home remedies don’t work, take your dog immediately to the vet to treat him.
Dogs can’t talk, and they try to tell humans about their problems through their particular reactions. Are they stopping a dog from licking its paws? Home remedies can be very useful. To know the reason for excessive licking, you must observe your dog carefully.
