Paw licking is a normal grooming behavior for dogs, but excessive paw licking can be a sign of an underlying health issue. Some key signs that paw licking has become excessive include licking that leads to redness, irritation, hair loss, wounds, or infection on the paws. Constant licking beyond normal grooming, licking that seems obsessive or compulsive, or licking that results in noticeable damage to the paws could all potentially indicate an excessive level of this behavior.
What is normal paw licking?
Dogs naturally lick their own paws to groom themselves and keep clean. A small amount of paw licking each day is generally normal. Most dogs will briefly lick between their toes or pad surfaces when self-grooming or after activities like walks. This helps remove dirt or debris. Paw licking after eating is also common as dogs lick their mouths and paws clean.
Brief paw licking sessions are a healthy part of regular dog behavior. The paws have many nerve endings, so licking may also simply feel pleasurable or stimulating for bored dogs. Excessive paw licking occurs when this behavior becomes prolonged, obsessive, causes injury, or signals underlying issues.
Signs of excessive paw licking
So how much paw licking is too much? There is no defined threshold, but there are several clear signs that this grooming behavior has become excessive:
- Licking that leads to wounds, infections, or irritation on the paws
- Constant, prolonged licking beyond normal cleaning
- Licking that seems obsessive, compulsive, or anxious
- Noticeable bare patches, redness, or damage from licking
- Licking at the paws for 30 minutes or more per day
- Licking that involves biting or chewing at the paws
- Bleeding, hair loss, or self-harm from excessive licking
Pay attention to any paw licking that goes beyond regular, brief grooming. Signs like hair loss, wounds, irritation, and raw or inflamed skin indicate the licking has become excessive. Dogs that suddenly develop a constant licking habit also require attention to rule out compulsive disorders.
Causes of excessive paw licking
Many possible medical and behavioral causes can lead to dogs excessively licking their paws. Common causes include:
Allergies
Dogs lick excessively in response to paw allergies from grasses, pollens, foods, flea bites, or other allergens. Licking eases uncomfortable itching or irritation. But prolonged, vigorous licking can cause additional soreness and infections.
Parasites
Mites, ringworm, yeast, and bacterial infections between the paw pads or nails cause itching, discomfort, and inflammation. Dogs lick persistently to try relieving irritation from parasites. But this can worsen conditions.
Foreign objects
Small objects like thorns, splinters, or glass caught in paw pads lead to inflammation and pain. Dogs lick to remove irritants but risk worsening wounds.
Skin disorders
Bacterial, fungal, and yeast infections between toes, hair loss disorders, interdigital cysts, and dermatitis cause paw irritation. Licking is an attempt to ease discomfort but can increase redness and itching.
Injuries
Cuts, torn nails, cracked paw pads, bee stings, burns, or other injuries often trigger excessive licking. The paw area has many nerve endings, so injuries are quite painful.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Bacteria in urine from a UTI can irritate paws after urination. The dog licks its paws in response, and may lick its genital area excessively as well.
Digestive Issues
Acid reflux and other gastrointestinal problems can cause nausea and paw licking. Licking may comfort upset stomachs in some dogs.
Stress, anxiety, or boredom
Licking can be self-soothing or calming for anxious dogs. Attention-seeking dogs may also lick obsessively for stimulation. Fear, separation anxiety, travel stress, boredom, and compulsive disorders are potential motivators.
Neurological disorders
Seizures, neuropathy, and nerve damage sometimes manifest in obsessive paw licking. The behavior may indicate neurological issues requiring medical diagnosis.
Arthritis or joint pain
Sore paw joints from arthritis may cause discomfort, making dogs lick their painful feet. Licking can worsen inflammation long-term.
Risks of excessive paw licking
Prolonged, obsessive licking poses many risks including:
- Infections – Bacteria entry through cracked skin can cause infected sores.
- Wounds – Constant licking wears away fur and skin, leading to stubborn wounds.
- Irritated skin – Saliva irritates skin, causing sore, red, swollen paws.
- Hair loss – Areas cleaned excessively can become permanently bald.
- Bleeding – Dogs may lick until their paws bleed without self-limiting.
- Self-mutilation – Licking may progress to biting/chewing toes or nails down.
- Toenail loss – Dogs may lick or chew their toenails until they fall off.
- Complications from ingesting hair or debris – Eating fur, dirt, blood, etc. can cause internal issues if excessive.
- Chronic pain – Constant licking can lead to a cycle of worsening discomfort.
Left untreated, excessive paw licking and its effects reduce quality of life. It may also signal an undiagnosed medical condition requiring treatment.
When to see your veterinarian
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian if your dog shows signs of excessive paw licking. Especially seek help if licking leads to:
- Visible wounds, infections, swelling, or bleeding
- Constant licking for over 30 minutes a day
- Obsessive, anxious, or self-harming behavior
- Noticeable hair loss or damage to paw pads
- Limping or not using a paw due to soreness
- Red, irritated skin between the toes or on paw pads
A veterinarian can diagnose and treat any underlying medical issue, provide medications to control itching or infection, and suggest behavioral remedies for compulsive disorders.
Relieving excessive paw licking
Treatment depends on the underlying cause but may involve:
- Allergy testing and allergen avoidance
- Antibiotics or antifungals for infections
- Medicated shampoos and foot soaks
- Topical sprays, creams, or ointments to control itching
- Oral medications to control itching or treat behavior disorders
- Elizabethan collars to prevent licking wounds
- Addressing parasites through medications
- Removing foreign material in the paws
- Joint supplements if arthritis contributes to discomfort
- Paw bandages to allow irritated areas to heal
- Behavior modification for anxiety or compulsion issues
- Providing stimulation, exercise, companionship to reduce stress or boredom
Get veterinary advice before applying any medication, restraint, or wrap to avoid harming your dog. Long-term behavior therapy and training may also help curb obsessive licking habits.
Preventing excessive paw licking
You can take some proactive steps to help prevent excessive paw licking:
- Groom paws regularly to remove dirt and debris
- Check paws after walks for injury or objects stuck between pads
- Keep paws clean and dry to prevent bacterial/yeast infections
- Discourage licking behavior when first noticed
- Provide plenty of stimulation toys and activities
- Minimize stress and anxiety triggers
- Use pheromone sprays/diffusers to reduce anxiety
- Keep allergy-prone dogs away from known triggers
- Talk to your vet about allergy, antifungal, or itch-relief medications
- Use dog shoes/booties to protect paws if licking is a stubborn problem
Stopping excessive licking promptly can help avoid long-term complications. Know your dog’s normal licking habits so that obsessive behaviors stand out. Paw licking due to stress or boredom can also be curbed through training, exercise, toys, and quality time together.
Outlook for excessive lickers
The prognosis for eliminating excessive paw licking depends greatly on the underlying cause. Infections, injuries, and foreign material lodged in paws can often be resolved quickly through medical treatment. Prolonged issues like allergies or behavioral disorders may require ongoing management.
Preventing recurrent infections and wounds is key to stopping the cycle of discomfort and licking. With patience, vigilance, training, and veterinary guidance, most obsessive lickers can be helped to break the habit, avoid self-trauma, and improve their quality of life.
Key Points
- Licking primarily the paws for over 30 minutes daily or to the point of wounds, hair loss, or bleeding is considered excessive.
- Allergies, skin issues, parasites, injuries, anxiety, and other problems can provoke prolonged paw licking.
- Left unchecked, excessive licking leads to complications like infections, soreness, permanent fur loss, and reduced quality of life.
- Have your veterinarian diagnose and treat any medical issue contributing to obsessive licking behavior.
- With treatment, training, prevention, and environmental management, excessive paw licking can be controlled.
Conclusion
While dogs naturally lick their paws some as part of grooming, excessive licking points to an underlying issue that needs attention. Paw licking that leads to fur and skin damage, bleeds, or persists beyond normal cleaning warrants investigation. Consulting your veterinarian can reveal if allergies, injury, infection, or physical and behavioral disorders are at play. Proper treatment coupled with training, prevention, and environmental measures can help manage excessive licking. Stay alert to this common dog behavior concern and seek help when needed so that paw licking does not impact your dog’s health and welfare.