Question:
My Lhasa Apso chews and licks his paws constantly. Is it some kind of allergy? It seems to bother me more than him. Can you help?.
S.P., Winston Salem, NC Feb 27, 2005
Answer:
There are many reasons why dogs lick their paws obsessively -- even to the point of chewing mutilation and saliva-soaked bacterial or fungal infection in the skin, especially between the toes. So even if you think it seems to bother you more than him, do have him attended to by a veterinarian. Paw licking and chewing can be an obsessive-compulsive disorder due in part to boredom or separation anxiety. Some dogs do it to get attention. But, often, there is a primary bacterial or fungal infection, or more rarely a contact allergy to certain surfaces and floor cleaners. Some dogs stop licking their paws when their groomer stops clipping the hairs between their toes; these hairs can be an irritant when they begin to grow back. You need to do some detective work with your veterinarian and find out why your dog is so obsessed with his paws. One of my dogs developed frost-burn due to the winter weather, and aside from not being able to find decent dog boots that stay on, I have had to medicate and wrap his front paws
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