Does your dog chew her paws?
Is she always biting at her feet, no matter how much you encourage her otherwise?
Does nonstop paw licking drive you and the dog to madness?
Licking and biting of the toes and paws is a common behavior among dogs. While some degree of licking is considered normal, dogs with red, swollen paws or chronic saliva staining likely have an underlying medical problem. If this sounds like the state of your dog’s feet, it might be time to schedule an appointment with the vet.
Why Do Dogs Chew On Their Feet?
There are several reasons a dog may chew their paws. If your dog can’t seem to stop licking his paws, he may be dealing with any of the following issues.
- Dry skin and wounds can lead dogs to paw chewing, causing further tissue damage.
- Skin growths, like cysts, lipomas, and warts, can cause discomfort on paws.
- Irritants like burrs or ticks lead dogs to lick until the offending item is removed.
- Anxiety in dogs can cause obsessive chewing issues.
- Allergic skin disease can affect not only paws but the entire body.
Whatever the cause of the irritation, paw-chewing can lead to pain, limping and secondary yeast or bacterial infections. It is important to consult with your veterinarian about your dog’s diet, lifestyle and environment so that he or she can determine the best treatment plan. Plus, the sooner you talk with the vet the better. A dog with sore feet certainly wants relief!
Only a professional can treat serious veterinary issues like lick granulomas, tumors of the paw, skin infections, and chronic allergies. But there are things you can do at home to reduce paw licking caused by dry skin or contact dermatitis.
Tips to Stop Your Dog From Chewing His Paws
Wipe Your Pup’s Paws
Every time your pooch walks outside, he or she comes in contact with potential allergens and irritants like pollen and lawn chemicals. If you have a paw-chewer in your household, try cleaning their feet with grooming wipes after each walk or romp in the yard. Be sure to choose non-toxic wipes if your dog chews on her feet.
Reduce Allergen Exposure
In addition to outdoor allergens that travel inside on our clothes and shoes, several indoor substances can also aggravate your dog’s skin. Potential household irritants include dust mites, pet dander, cleaning chemicals and cigarette smoke. And these are just a few of the allergens that affect dogs. While there is no way to completely eliminate certain molecules, keeping the dirt and dust to a minimum will help. Frequently laundering your dog’s bedding can work wonders too. Regular bathing and brushing can soothe itchy dogs as well.
Weather-Proof Your Home
Hot, moist weather can be particularly difficult for dogs with dermatitis, But winter’s utter lack of humidity can wreak havoc on dry-skinned pups too. Keep your home soothingly air-conditioned to beat the summer heat. And try out a humidifier to reduce irritation in dry winter conditions.
Choose a Healthy Diet
The more wholesome your pup’s diet, the better equipped their systems will be to fight off allergens and external irritants. If your dog has food sensitivities, be sure to check labels carefully. Ensure you are feeding your dog an allergen-free diet. Consult your vet about whether a limited ingredient, grain-free diet is right for your pooch.
Add an Omega Fatty Acid Supplement
Omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids are derived from fish oils and plant-based sources. They benefit your dog’s skin by helping to keep their own natural oils at healthy levels and acting as anti-inflammatories to reduce the intensity of allergens. Sounds like relief!
Happy, Healthy Omega-3-6-9 Select soft chews are excellent sources of omega fatty acids and have been recently revamped to contain krill meal rather than the salmon oil commonly used by other brands. Krill meal packs a significantly more concentrated and pure source of omega fatty acids. This makes it the superior choice to help your dog’s paw chewing problems.
The new formula was also designed to allow pups with food sensitivities to reap the skin-nourishing benefits of omega fatty acids. All this benefit without the risk of irritation. These delicious treats are now 100% gluten-free, grain-free and soy-free!
Learn More About Our Omega 3-6-9 Select Grain Free Skin & Coat Chews with Pure Antarctic Krill Oil To Help Your Dog Stop Chewing His Paws
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional.
Toledo, United States.
