We are dogsitting for my brother who is on holiday. Skally(the dog) has a habit of chewing her front paws like we bite out nails!! She doesnt break the skin though, and it seriously looks like she is trying to bite her nails! A visit to the vet was inconclusive; sometimes this can be a symptom of anal irritation(!), but she has had the all clear regarding that. What could be the cause of it??Its very strange, and she does it mostly at night, and its quite loud as well!
2006-08-17 02:26:00 · 14 answers · asked by judithlaib2000 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
sometimes its a symptom of boredom
sometimes its a symptom of food allergies ( read the lable if the food contains - corn, wheat, soy, beef, pork - or any of her treats contain these that is probably it... dogs will allergies need to be on a quality LAMB AND RICE formula, avalilable from pet supply shops, if you are in Canada NUTRAM is the best... plus its better quality than any from grocery or wal mart so you feed less and get less poops)
sometimes its stress
sometimes its habitual - something learned as a puppy, particularly if it was from a pet store... NEVER buy from pet stores....
2006-08-17 02:47:00 · answer #1 · answered by CF_ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Smetimes dogs just do that. It might be because of irritated skin, maybe she got a thorn or something in her paws, or is just biting at her nails. If you really, honestly want her to stop, try picking up some 'Bitter Apple' spray from a pet store. It stops dogs from chewing on almost anything, even themselves.
2006-08-17 02:42:03 · answer #2 · answered by morowolfspirit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is the hair around the foot a reddish or rusty color? Is the skin between the toes and around the pads the same color?
My dog does the same thing. Its due to a skin irritation. The more they chew, the more irritated it gets, the more irritated it gets, the more they chew.
I have not found any way of stopping the irritation and have talked to several vets.
All you can do is make the dog stop everytime you catch it.
2006-08-17 02:34:23 · answer #3 · answered by urbanbulldogge 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my grandparents dog has this problem as well. A simple vet check up will probably determine that it has allergies. The vet will give it a simple injection to settle it all down and probably some anti inflam cream. You can also try putting a doggie sock on (avail from pet stores) so the dog cant make it any worse than it is.
2006-08-17 02:50:36 · answer #4 · answered by nicole 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to tell you the truth, if it were in fact and "anal gland" problem, you would so know it, cuz the smell is horrible. also, my parents dog does this as well... she is "biting her nails" it's just a habit, just like humans do... except we don't lick ourselves.. it's the same kind of grooming deal. Perhaps the dog is trying to tell you that she needs her nails clipped, but definetly get this done by a vet and don't try it yourself, had a friend who decided to save the money and almost cut his dog's paw off..
namaste
2006-08-17 02:49:12 · answer #5 · answered by ERnurse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be seasonal allergies. A lot of dogs get these during the spring and fall. If you look between her paws and its very red there's a good chance that is the problem.
2006-08-17 02:43:12 · answer #6 · answered by cherrydevil119 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be a number of things already mentioned, but it could also be stress since her person is away. She may be missing him and feeling bad, so she's engaging in this behavior. Dogs find these kinds of repetitive behaviors quite soothing and will engage in them if feeling nervous or upset. My dog licks his paws after he gets into an argument with our other dog. I scold him which upsets him, so he nibbles his paws for a while.
2006-08-17 02:41:32 · answer #7 · answered by tenzo0 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like an anxiety probelem. Sometimes a small amount of Prozac can work wonders. She may have seperation anxiety and it is comforting to her (possibly a reminder of nursing) like a human would suck their thumb for comfort.
If you will be having her for an extended period of time, I would suggest that you visit a vet that understands anxiety problems in dogs and prescribe something that will help.
2006-08-17 02:42:00 · answer #8 · answered by HipandChic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
friend of mine had a dog that would do that. turns out the dog was allergic to some of the ingredients in the dog food. try getting a bag of "natural choice" dog food from your local petsmart. it costs a little bit more but if the problem stops then it is well worth it.
2006-08-17 02:41:00 · answer #9 · answered by useless_knowledged_1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dog does this as well, he's just trimming his nails, he doesn't stay with us in our bedroom at night and I don't hear it, I've seen him do it a few times and it's actually convenient for me because then I don't have to try to wrangle him to trim them with the clippers! If she's not breaking skin or hurting herself then I wouldn't worry too much about it.
2006-08-17 02:33:44 · answer #10 · answered by jessicamarie0572 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋