What Does It Mean When A Dog Licks Its Paws

Dogs often lick their paws excessively if they are itchy irritated or painful.

Or he could have been stung or bitten by an insect or another animal. Boredom actually increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol and paw licking reduces that stress hormone. If the licking is limited to one paw then this often suggests that the source of trouble is right there on the paw. Licking one paw may indicate a sudden injury.

This would explain why a dog may lick their paws if they are bored. If your dog suddenly starts licking their paws then it is usually indicative of pain or irritation especially if they are licking only one paw. Flea allergy dermatitis often abbreviated fad. Licking one paw only.

Atopy the equivalent of hay fever in people food allergies. Allergies and parasites can cause itchy paws and aggressive licking. An older dog licking near a joint is a frequent first sign of arthritis. Skin cancer and tumors in the feet can cause the pet to lick their paws to relieve the sensation caused by the disease.

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As with humans a dog s experience of boredom is subjective. A paw injury or foreign object may explain a sudden onset of paw licking. Occasional paw licking is normal. Not only does excessive licking cause discomfort for your dog but it is often due to an underlying medical problem.

How do i stop my dog from licking its paws. A change in diet can help. In rare cases the licking could be due to cancer.