Why does my dog lick his paws?

Is your dog frequently licking their paws? It may be because they have allergies or some skin irritation. If not, then the good news is that maybe they are just trying to groom themselves. On the other hand, paw licking is also a sign of your dog getting stressed or anxious.

3 Reasons why dogs lick their paws

Allergic reactions and skin irritations

When dogs are licking their paws excessively, this might be because of allergic reactions or skin irritations.

As they are experiencing more discomfort because of allergies, they tend to lick their paws to pacify themselves from what they feel.

One of the reasons why dogs can have allergies is because of environmental allergens, which are either pollen or dust mites.

It can also be due to food.

Skin issues, such as dermatitis, can also make your dogs lick their paws to alleviate themselves from the uneasiness that they are feeling.

Grooming and self-cleaning

If your dogs are not feeling itchy, then they may be just trying to clean and groom themselves.

Dogs usually lick their paws as one of the ways to groom themselves.

This can help them remove the dirt, debris, or any foreign objects that have lodged, especially in their paws.

Similar to cats who groom themselves by licking, dogs also use their tongues to make their paws cleaner and free from any irritants.

Stress and anxiety

If they do not have allergies or they are not trying to clean themselves, the other reason why your dog is frequently licking their paws is because of stress and anxiety.

This act is one of their ways to cope with what they are experiencing.

Just like human behavior, where we bite on our nails when we get stressed or anxious, dogs also lick on their paws to soothe themselves.

When stress and anxiety in dogs are left unaddressed, it can result in compulsive licking, which can turn into irritation or inflammation in their paws.

3 tips to stop dog from licking paws

Address any underlying issues

Before you try to teach your dog to refrain from licking their paws, you should first address any underlying issues that can be due to medical factors.

Bring the dog to a veterinary clinic and have them checked out by a professional.

Excessive licking on paws can be due to skin infections, allergies, or even injuries, so it would be better for them to get treated medically first. 

When it is healed, training the dog to refrain from licking their paws is much easier.

Use deterrents and protective measures

Using deterrents is a good way to prevent your dogs from frequently licking their paws.

Some bitter-tasting sprays or gels are specifically manufactured for pets that you can apply to their paws. 

The taste would be very unpleasant, discouraging them from licking their paws in the future.

You can also use protective items, such as:

• Socks.
• Booties.
• Cone collars.

However, as owners, it is still our responsibility to look after our dogs and prevent them from licking their paws.

Provide distractions and mental stimulations

Another good way to prevent dogs from licking their paws is to keep them physically and mentally stimulated.

This will get them distracted, which will help redirect their focus away from licking their paws.

Aside from regular exercise, you can use toys and puzzle feeders to make things easier when you are distracting them.

The activities mentioned will be a huge help in alleviating boredom, which is one of the triggers for your dog to lick in their paws.