Dog Licking Feet Pads

Paw pads provide insulation for a dog s feet provide traction aid with balance slowing down and stopping and act as shock absorbers for the bones and joints that make up the dog s feet and legs.

Dog licking feet pads.

Your dog s feet are swollen. Occasional paw licking is nothing to get worked up about. Other changes that may occur include. These conditions are referred to as lick granulomas.

Whether it s a strange new. Paw licking sometimes. If licked further and undetected the area hardens up and sometimes the skin breaks and bleeds. If the paw pads and feet appear normal the licking could be due to a skin condition dermatitis which often is the result of bacterial problems allergies or food sensitivities.

You may notice them biting their paws and nails a lot. Sometimes their dog paws crack and bleed. A generalized swelling of the feet. Your dog may pick it up out and about at a dog park for example and it may lead to pododermatitis in his paws.

Your dog will lick his paws to clean them but excessive licking is a red flag that there is a serious problem. If the paw pad is cracked or skin is inflamed it s likely your pup is suffering from either dry skin allergies or an insect bite. Excessive licking and chewing may result in secondary infections which cause much more itch as well as an unusual odor. Bacterial infections symptoms of bacterial infections include licking or biting the feet itching pain redness swelling hair loss crusting draining sinuses and possibly an abscess.

This gnawing in turn often leads to irritation and swelling of the area. When your dog keeps licking its paw continuously and obsessively the body hairs in that area start falling off and exposes the skin which then becomes red and shiny. Do you see any foreign objects like glass pebbles seeds or ice balls. Dogs frequently lick their paw pads as a reaction to the discomfort of their allergies whether to dust cleaning agents or anything else in their living spaces.

The first thing you should do is inspect your dog s feet. Is a burr stuck between its toes. If you re uncertain of the culprit behind your fluffball s allergies take him to the veterinarian so you can figure out exactly what s bothering him. Excessive licking of their foot or feet.

Conversely your dog could be doing the irritating paw licking or chewing his paws in response to an injury or infection. Dogs spend the majority of their time on their paws walking running and fetching so it s easy to see how important it is to make sure that you take good care of your dog s paws. Apart from licking of the pads you might notice your poor pooch gnawing on them too. This could be a sign of injury or infection which may be caused by habitual licking or chewing.