Why do dogs lick their paws?

Dogs licking their paws may be caused by various reasons such as injured paws, long nails, interdigital inflammation, itchy paws, dry weather, or boredom. Occasional licking of paws in dogs is a normal physiological phenomenon for cleaning. However, if dogs frequently lick their paws, pathological factors should be considered, such as injured paws, interdigital inflammation, itchy paws, etc., which can cause persistent itching and lead dogs to constantly lick their paws. It is recommended for owners to carefully observe whether there are any lesions on their dog's paws and seek medical treatment promptly if necessary.

1. Injured paws

If a dog's paws are injured, they will often lick the wound to alleviate pain. If the owner notices that their dog usually licks its paws, it is advised to check the paws for wounds and handle them promptly if found.

1. Long nails

A dog's paws are used for walking. If the dog's nail is too long, it will hinder their walking. In this case, the dog may constantly lick its paws or rub them against the wall to try to file them down. It is recommended for owners to regularly trim their dog's nails to prevent them from being too long and interfering with walking. If you are not skilled in doing this, you can also take your dog to a pet store for trimming.

1. Interdigital inflammation

If a dog's toes are often in a moist environment, such as after taking a bath and not drying them off quickly, or having water on their feet, they are prone to developing interdigital inflammation over time. When this happens, the dog will lick its paws frequently to alleviate itching and pain. Therefore, owners should regularly trim the hair on their dog's pads and dry and blow dry their feet after washing them.

1. Itchy paws

If dogs are not regularly given deworming medication, parasites can also cause skin itching. In this case, dogs will relieve the itch by frequently licking and biting their toes. Failure to address this promptly may lead to even bigger issues. Therefore, owners should regularly deworm their dogs both internally and externally.

1. Dry weather

If a dog only licks its paws during specific seasons, it may be due to dry weather causing the paws to crack. The simplest solution is to apply glycerin to moisturize the dog's skin and help it recover.

1. Boredom

Dogs also lick their paws when they are bored to pass the time. In this case, owners need to spend more time with their dogs. If the owner cannot always play with them, they can also prepare more toys or small snacks to help distract the dog and alleviate their bad mood.