Dog foot problems,

feet injuries, paw and toe problems.

Is your dog licking his foot, paws, feet or chewing at his paws? 

Why is my dog licking his paws?

I hope to relate to you the type of injuries and thing you should look out for when your dog gets older and begins to have paw problems.  Nine times out of ten it’s either a foreign objects stuck in the foot or matted fur, even an allergy will cause so much itching a dog will try to lick it away.

I know I have had more and more problems as I have grown older.  Now my two dogs are having paw problems. 

Some of the most common problems a dog can have with his paws are;

1. Injuries
2. Splinters or pieces of glass
3. Burrs and weeds
4. Fungal infections such as yeast
5. Nail problems
6. Matted hair

I have two very hairy dogs and their paws, especially between the pads, can get so hairy that the hair matts and causes an uncomfortable condition and you will notice it as the dog walks.  He might be limping or keep looking at his foot.  Or he might lick his foot constantly. 

This was happening to my little girl.  She kept licking her foot.  Most dogs hate their feet being touched.  She is no exception.  In fact she throws a fit when I touch her feet so you have to be gentle and patient when dealing with a dogs foot problem.

Other problems that are common with dogs are nails that are too long.  If the nail is too long it keeps jamming it back into the dog’s foot causing pain.  So keep those nails trimmed.  If you can’t do it yourself, find a walk in groomer who will trim the nails for about $10.00.  I have a groomer who is in San Mateo and they will take in walk in nail trimming.  Take a look at my links page.  Their name is Super pups.

If your dog gets a splinter in his foot, the best thing to do is try to get it out yourself unless you can see that it’s really deep or very infected. 
Read more about splinters here:

Dogs that lick their paws and dog chewing feet can be indicative of an anxiety the dog may have because of perhaps a change in her surroundings or just about any kind of change.  A dog will become nervous if things do not stay stable.   A dog needs a natural, calm routine.  Break the routine and you might have a dog that will try to compensate for the change by showing signs of anxiety and anxiousness.

If your dog chewing feet is a problem and you have done all you can then a trip to the vet might be an option.

Pet portraits from photos of your dog created in oil on canvas

Dog Allergies can cause licking and biting, for more information

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