Dog Obsessively Licking Paws

Excessive licking can lead to the formation of hot spots or red raw spots where the skin and fur is now missing.

Dog obsessively licking paws.

Take them for more walks play with them more often and offer them toys to hold their focus. A simple way to address behavioral paw licking is to distract your dog. Your dog may also obsessively scratch or chew at the spot. If this is happening read on.

It is important to first establish the reason why your dog is licking their paws before trying to modify this behavior. A study has also linked excessive dog licking with medical especially gastrointestinal disorders so a routine veterinary exam is the best place to start. Anxiety hormones dermatitis etc it is essential to seek advice from your veterinarian. Compulsive chewing or licking can also be a response to orthopedic problems including arthritis and hip dysplasia.

While it s true they might simply be grooming themselves paw chewing could indicate something more going on if they are doing it all the time. It is very frustrating when you watch your dog incessantly and obsessively licking their paws especially when they lose interest in everything around them. Often times excessive licking of the paws is due to one of three underlying causes. Excessive or compulsive licking is the repeated licking of an area on the body over and over until the skin or hair is gone.

If it is relating to a health issue e g. It doesn t help that all that constant foot licking can. If your dog begins excessive licking in old age or at any time you should take your dog to the vet. In severe cases your dog may have obsessive compulsive tendencies that lead them to obsessively lick their paws.

Once the health issue has been resolved you should notice the paw licking disappears too. Take your dog to the vet. Notice a red swollen inflamed appearance to the area between the paws. Is your dog licking at his paws constantly.

Paw licking is a common behavior in dogs but a healthy dog should not excessively paw lick and a history of excessive licking could be a red flag for a more serious problem. Excessive licking is a possible symptom for a number of different treatable medical conditions. What is excessive licking. There are specific reasons for this behavior and it is up to you as the owner to try to figure out what the problem may be.

Maxwell says if you notice your dog panting or furrowing their eyes as they obsessively lick the same spot in the carpet or on the couch it s time to have them checked out.