Why does my dog continually lick his paw until it is raw and causes him to limp?

Question

My dog goes through phases were he will lick his paws until they are raw. i have tried perscription powder and nothing works. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Answer 1

Have the vet check his feet. He may have an embedded grass awn way up between his toes or way up beside the nail...YOU can NOT get them out. Don't try.

You didn't say what breed he is....if it is a breed that normally gets their feet shaved at the groomers;...maybe that's what he needs. the hair may be irritating to him. Or visa Versa. Either way, the vet needs to check. He could also be allergic to a certain grass or pollen outside.

Answer 2

This is a question without a simple answer. Anytime there is a "behavior" involved, it is most important to first rule out an underlying medical reason for the behavior. If all medical concerns are ruled out, then the problem can be approached as a behavioral one, and behavior modification techniques can be employed.
Some questions to consider: is this a new behavior? Is it both front feet or all feet? Are there any other conditions present such as limping or swelling in the foot? A foot licking problem can start out as a medical one and later become a habit or compulsive behavior.

Your veterinarian will be the only one to fully determine what is going on with your dog's feet, but here are some things your veterinarian will want to know and will be looking for on examination:

Are the feet red, swollen, or crusty/flaky?
This could be indicative of a local irritant (such as deicer) or inflammation/infection from bacterial, fungal and/or parasitic sources.

Even if the inciting cause is no longer present, constant licking and chewing can become a self-propagating cycle of continued trauma to the skin and continued inflammation.
Is licking present in the absence of any noticeable pathology of the feet or toes?
This could be from inhalant allergies causing general itchiness, arthritis or other painful "interior" conditions causing pain in the area without visible infection, etc. on the foot.
Are there any irregular lumps or bumps deep between the toes or foot pads?
Cysts or other growths or small abscesses can occur, causing discomfort and licking.
My dog is just licking without any visible signs of something wrong on the foot!
Foot licking can be simply a habit behavior as well; seen when the dog is relaxing, stressed, or bored. Some dogs even chew at their nails with this type of behavior.
Depending on what your veterinarian finds on examination, treatment to stop this behavior will be aimed at the underlying cause. For cases of allergy or infection, there are medications and/or dietary changes that can be made to assist with the problem. In situations where pain is the underlying cause, that should be dealt with directly to alleviate the licking. Growths or abscesses are usually treated surgically. Pet owners should always be vigilant about environmental hazards to feet; such as deicing compounds in the winter and very hot pavement tar in the summer.
Behavioral modification to stop paw licking and chewing, like any behavioral modification, takes time, patience and consistency. There are several topical products that can be used to discourage this behavior (bitter, hot taste, etc.). Physical restraint, such as an e-collar is often used for medical conditions to allow the foot or paw to heal and thus take away the inciting cause to lick. Distraction is also a good technique: playing games, offering other toys and incentives to keep your dog occupied coupled with positive reinforcement will help break the cycle. If additional behavior help is needed, consider working with a specialist in veterinary behavior

Answer 3

When does it happen. Spring, Summer, Winter?

My dog did that. It could be an allergy to food or an allergy to grass. Some dogs have to avoid food and treats with soy products. It could be an allergy to other things as well. I washed her paws with an anti itch or an oatmeal dog shampoo and rinsed it well. Then my vet gave me a cream to put on it. In the winter, I made sure to wash her paws well after her walk because the salt on the sidewalks irritated her paws.

My vet didn't believe in allergy tests. But he suggested an allergy pill as well. You must ask the vet for the correct dosage and the type of pill.

F G

Answer 4

It could be anxiety, or in the case of my dog was a fungal infection. The treatment is to bathe the paws in an antiseptic shampoo daily for 3-5 days, making sure you work the shampoo in between the pads. In either case ask your vet for recommendations.

Answer 5

He might have stepped on something and cut his pad. My dog was licking his front paw for several days and was limping, I found out that he had a piece of glass in his pad. If you can, spread his toes apart and see if you can see anything. If not then I would call your vet if it continues.

Answer 6

Possibly a thorn or allergic reaction. Check it out, if you don't see anything...I would recommend a vet check him out. What do you mean by raw though....he rip/lick all the hair off to where it is nothing but skin? I'm sure that looks a bit goofy.

Answer 7

Some dogs have a nervous-like habit that makes them lick perpetually.We have a chihuahua who licks his paw all the time , and we have to distract him from it.Usually if he's kept busy he won't do it.

Answer 8

Called OCD. I cured my dog with human products for nail biting and thumb sucking. Amazon has lots of products. Mavala Stop, Barielle No Bite, Jessica Nibble No More.

Answer 9

Does your dogs food and treats contain wheat, soy, or corn? It's probably an allergy to it. My old dog chewed his feet raw for years and we couldn't figure out the problem. The vet gave us meds but nothing worked. We switched him to a food with no wheat, corn, or soy and he stopped after a month. You should try it.

Answer 10

get a cone thingy to put around his head. he may have a splinter or a bug bite that causes it to itch. Get some ointment from a vet or petmeds.com and get a cone so he cannot lick and allow the paw to heal.