• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
DogsBestLife.com logo

Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Understand 5 reasons dogs lick their paws and learn to stop it

Posted August 30, 2022

Siberian Husky puppy licks its paws. Dogs lick their paws when they're bored. They also lick paws due to injuries or reactions to allergens, injuries, or insect bites or stings. 
Dogs lick their feet when they’re bored. They also lick feet due to injuries or reactions to allergens, injuries, insect bites, or stings.

If you are a dog owner, you likely want to know what to do if dogs lick their paws excessively. Generally, dogs lick their feet to keep them clean and prevent infections.

Dog saliva works as an antibacterial and cleanser for the most infectious parts of its body. It contains an enzyme called lysozyme that breaks the chemical bonds in bacterial cell walls and the antibody IgA (immunoglobulin A), which directly attacks bacteria. 

Therefore, it’s good for dogs to lick their feet if they are dirty or wounded. But when dogs lick their feet obsessively, that could be problematic. 

This article will identify the causes of dogs licking their paws and discuss the cures, tips, and tricks to tackle this issue.

Why do dogs lick their paws?

Contents

  • Why do dogs lick their paws?
    • Infections
      • Cause 
      • Cure 
    • Allergies
      • Causes 
      • Cure 
    • Injuries or wounds 
      • Causes 
      • Cure
    • Arthritis
      • Cause 
      • Cure 
    • Boredom 
      • Cause 
      • Cure 
  • Why do dogs lick their paws?
  • Does your dog lick its paws when bored?
  • Should you let your dog lick its paws?
    • Related Posts

First and foremost, dogs lick their paws as a natural way of cleaning and maintaining hygiene. However, if it’s happening more often, you may be concerned that something may be wrong. There could be several reasons dogs lick their feet excessively.

Infections

A dog’s paw is considered one of the most vulnerable parts of a dog’s body. Feet are sensitive to harsh chemicals, irritants, and pesticides. Similarly, walking on a dirt path or sidewalk can cause several infections. 

Cause 

Fungicides, herbicides, pesticides, mosquito repellents, or dirt paths create an unhygienic environment that can cause infections.

Cure 

Clean your dog’s paws by soaking them in warm, soapy water. Then rinse them with clean water before drying them thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Allergies

Allergies commonly cause dogs to lick their paws. Just like humans, dogs also suffer from allergies. Dogs with itchy feet lick them to get relief. 

Causes 

Mosquitoes, tick and flea bites, allergens, toxins, environmental conditions, food, or flea allergens can cause itchy paws.

Cure 

If your dog is allergic to its food, you’ll need to find another healthy food. You must clean the area to remove the irritant if the problem is something in your dog’s environment. First, eliminate the pest when flea, tick, or mosquito bites cause an allergic reaction. Then focus on treating the allergy.

Injuries or wounds 

Watch where you take your dog for walks. Watch for dangers like broken glass or rough surfaces like rocks or gravel that can injure your dog’s paws. 

Causes 

Several factors, including broken glass, nails, or gravel, can cause wounds or injuries. 

Cure

Check the paws and clean them if you suspect something’s stuck to your dog’s paws. If you notice your dog has a minor scrape or abrasion, you can use basic first-aid to treat the injury. But if you discover your dog has a severe cut, take your dog to the vet.

Arthritis

As your dog gets older, it may experience arthritis or joint problems and start licking its paws to self-soothe. 

Cause 

Arthritis and joint diseases cause pain and discomfort.

Cure 

If your dog suffers from arthritis or joint disease, keep your dog at a healthy weight, feed them the right food and give them joint supplements.

Boredom 

If you plan to adopt a dog, you should know most dogs love to play. Because they are pack animals and get attached to their humans, when you leave your dog alone, it may feel bored or stressed. In those situations, dogs may start licking their paws to self-soothe.

Cause 

When your dog is left alone for too long without anything to keep it busy, it can become bored and destructive.

Cure 

You can try several options to help your dog. To help your dog spend time home alone, establish a schedule, create a safe space, and entertain and exercise your dog before leaving. 

Why do dogs lick their paws?

If your dog is excessively licking its paws, try to figure out why and find a solution to solve the problem. Unsure what to do, consult your veterinarian to determine the best treatment options. 

When dogs lick their paws, it could be a natural way of cleansing, but if your dog excessively licks its paws, it could signify any paws-related health issues.

There are several reasons why dogs lick their paws,

  • Injuries or wounds
  • Arthritis or joint pain 
  • Boredom 
  • Allergies 
  • Infections 

Does your dog lick its paws when bored?

Yes, when dogs are bored, they may start licking their paws. Dogs also lick their paws due to injuries or reactions to allergens, injuries, or insect bites or stings. 

Should you let your dog lick its paws?

Generally, licking is natural, and if your dog doesn’t do it excessively, it’s OK. 

But if your dog licks excessively, you need to discover why and find a solution. 

Clean dirty paws. If your dog’s paws are wounded or infected, treat them.

Suman Khan has been a dog lover since she was born. She’s a poet, an activist, and a freelance writer for dogsgeek.com. She enjoys animal rights activities, walking outdoors with her German Shepherd, and writing about dogs. You can reach [email protected].

 

Related Posts

  • Golden retriever with injured front leg. If your dog is limping, take action. A limp may mean a minor injury or a severe problem such as hip dysplasia or a bone tumor.
    Help! Why is my dog is limping? Understand canine lameness causes

    If your dog is limping, take action. A limp may…

  • Owner applies ointment to dog's paw. Practice good paw care by using a balm or ointment to prevent your dog's paws from becoming rough or cracked.
    Use 7 simple paw care tips to keep feet and nails healthy

    Practice good paw care by examining your dog’s feet every…

  • Golden Retriever with injured leg wears an e-collar. When an emergency strikes, it can be helpful to follow a step-by-step list of things you should do when your dog needs immediate care.
    How to take immediate care of your dog in an emergency

    When an emergency strikes, it can be helpful to follow…

  • canine arthritis
    Canine arthritis: 7 tips to keep your dog healthy

    To help keep your dog healthy, monitor his weight and…

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Email Share on Reddit

Filed Under: Dog Health Tagged With: Allergies, Health conditions

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

  • Adoption
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Facts
  • Dog Fun
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Inspirations
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Travel
  • Holidays
  • Home Page
  • Puppies
  • Top Stories

Featured Posts

  • Tricolor Australian shepherd in front of white background. Take steps to stop dog pawing.

    Canine body language: What’s your dog saying with his paws?

  • Cute corgi puppy wrapped in a blanket. Talk with your vet about starting your dog on medication to protect him from parasites including flea and tick prevention, as well as heartworm prevention.

    Puppy training 101: 10 tips to prepare your dog for success

  • Thinking of getting a furry friend? Use the DogsBestLife.com perfect dog breed quiz to find the perfect canine companion.

    Take our dog breed quiz to discover the perfect breed for you!

Tags

Pet parentsPotty trainingValentine's DayPawSmall dogsPandemicPuppy kindergartenPit bullWaterVeterinarianRottweilertraining tipsYorkshire terrierPetfinder.comTwo dogsPuppy-proofPoodleWorking dogsRescue dogVacation dog careService dogsSeparation anxietyPomeranianTicksSheddingOutdoor activitiesPet sitterOld dogsThanksgivingSocialization

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • Dog bite accident: What compensation are you entitled to?
    Dogs can cause serious injuries. Protect yourself and your wallet by understanding dog bite compensation laws. […]
  • What is canine pyometra? Understand causes, symptoms, treatment
    Canine pyometra is a serious uterine infection that affects around one in four unspayed female dogs. Spaying provides the best protection. […]
  • Can dogs eat potatoes? Are starchy vegetables safe for dogs?
    Can dogs eat potatoes? Keep your dog healthy by occasionally adding potatoes to its diet. Before changing your dog's diet, consult your vet. […]
  • Does my dog have Addison’s Disease? Understand symptoms, treatment
    Early detection and treatment are essential for canine Addison's Disease. With quick action, most dogs will make a full recovery. […]

Get Our Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

© Copyright 2023 DogsBestLife.com online magazine · All Rights Reserved · Privacy
Get Our Free Monthly Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.