Have you just noticed that your dog has been chewing its paws a little too much?Dog chewing is absolutely normal in most cases. However, it can sometimes mean that there is something lurking in your pet’s paws that only a vet can treat.One such occasion would be if you noticed your dog chewing its paws excessively. Since dogs roam around on their feet, it is very easy for them to develop an allergy or be infested with an insect. In such cases, only a professional can treat your pet and bring it back to health.At the same time, such behavior could simply mean that your pet’s diet just isn’t right and needs some more nutrients. These animals tend to be very energetic and develop such habits when left alone without any stimulation. Read ahead to know which of these reasons may be behind your dog’s distress!Why do dogs bite their paws?Dog owners tend to have many questions regarding their pooch and how they behave sometimes. Since these animals are unable to tell us how they feel, understanding their behaviors and looking for the underlying meanings is a great way of ensuring that your dogs are living their best lives.Licking and biting are very common in dogs since this is also their way of taking care of themselves and keeping themselves clean. However, a dog’s skin may have some irritation, and there may even be some serious problems lurking behind the rapid licking. The trick here would be to understand the difference between an itchy paw and an infected one. To ensure that your dog’s licking is just a healthy way of keeping itself clean and away from boredom, the best thing to do would be to address any signs of distress first. It is very easy to overlook a dog’s paws, however, this might just be an essential part of raising the pooch. The behavior that these animals show is a great signal towards their overall health, and paw chewing may just be the sign you were waiting for before rushing to the nearest veterinarian doctor.If you have had a pet dog for a while, you must now have become familiar with the fact that licking and biting are a normal part of its everyday behavior. However, when such behavior starts to look excessive, precautions must be taken. Through the course of their lives, dogs go for many walks outdoors and are exposed to many allergens within their houses. A dog may pick up some allergies from something its paws touched while in the park, or may simply be trying to relieve some pain through chewing its paws. However, your pet might not have the same opinion as the vet. Excessive licking and chewing in dogs may actually aggravate the situation instead of healing the injury or infections, which is one of the many reasons why you shouldn’t leave your beloved pet to do whatever it deems fit. Conditions such as dermatitis or a parasite infestation are definitely beyond what your pet can fix through licking. A definite sign to look for would be paw staining from saliva, any injury, ticks or fleas, or any general discomfort. Dogs also develop allergies from their surroundings. An allergy may be caused by anything starting from seasonal factors such as pollen, parasites, or smoke. Dust mites cause dogs to develop such conditions in their feet, which is one of the many reasons why vets recommend that dog parents wipe their pets’ feet after a walk in the park, where there is an excess of trouble-causing agents. If dog licking is something that is getting out of hands or you simply notice a change in its patterns, it might also be useful to check for any redness or inflammation in your dog’s skin. This would ensure you if there are any allergies, giving you ample time to contact a veterinary doctor.What does it mean when dogs bite their paws?Dogs chew their paws for many reasons. Some of these reasons can be very scary, while still others may have less meaning attached to them.Dogs lick their feet in order to rid them of any foreign agents. A dog’s paw comes in contact with many things in the course of their day, which makes the skin vulnerable in terms of catching allergies and infections. While licking and chewing is acceptable behavior to a certain extent, we must also know when it is time to contact the vet. Dogs chew their paws when there is some dry skin or discomfort in them. Paw chewing can simply mean that your dog’s paw needs more care and moisture, which can be fixed through some tweaks in the diet of the animal. A dog may also chew its dry skin off on certain occasions, which is something that definitely should be avoided at all costs. Licking and chewing can lead to further aggravation of the matter, hence, a vet would be the best judge of the situation. On some occasions, it is also possible to soothe your dog’s skin by using some pet-friendly wipes. Other at-home remedies to the situation may include wrapping the injured or dry skinned paw in some bandage. This would allow you some time off of keeping a constant eye on your pet.Paw chewing can also stem from psychological factors such as anxiety. It is common for dogs to start chewing on their paws when they are feeling anxious due to external or internal factors. In such cases, the best and most effective thing that dog parents can do is establish a healthy relationship with their pets. If you notice that your dog has been experiencing anxiety, make sure to sit with it and spend some time playing. You can also ask for tips from your vet and other pet parents who have gone through the same problems with their own pets.Mites, fleas, and ticks can also cause dogs to chew. These infestations are very serious and can affect the overall health of your dog. In addition to this, licking is no help when such insects are stuck in a dog’s paw, and would only make the situation worse. Veterinary doctors always suggest that pet parents keep a close eye on the cleanliness of their pets. It is always great to wipe your dog’s feet after it has had a gala time at the park so that any infestations can be spotted immediately and dealt with at the right time.Dogs chew their paws when they have an injury. Understandably, this is not the best way of curing the problem, which is why you should always be vigilant enough to notice any limping or discomfort in a paw. A dog may even let out some whimpering sounds when the injury is bad, which is a great sign to look for when wanting to rush to the vet.How To Stop Dogs From Biting Their PawsDogs chew on pretty much everything in their teething years, however, when the chewing stems from other reasons, the behavior is not as acceptable. Licking and chewing on an excessive level can be because of dry skin, allergies, parasites, pain, an injury, boredom, dermatitis, or anxiety, none of which sounds great!Often, dogs get some dirt stuck on their toes. While such dirt should not always be a cause for concern, it can cause serious infections sometimes. One of the greatest tips in this regard is wiping your dog’s toes after every walk outdoors. This ensures that you will spot any dry skin or skin allergies before your dog resorts to chewing and licking. Dogs sometimes also become reluctant in accepting help from their owners, and if this is the case after you have noticed some feet-chewing behavior, the best thing would be to take them to the vet.Itchy toes and allergic reactions are easier to address in the case of dogs, while parasites, fleas, and mites might be much tougher to deal with. Any mental distress that you might notice in your pet may also be behind all the dog chewing, and should not be treated as normal conduct.Dog chewing may also be caused due to inadequate nutrients in your pet’s food. In order to address such issues, you can always increase the amount of omega fatty acids in your pet’s diet with the permission of your vet. A treat or two can also be a great way of making your pet understand that if it has been just chewing out of boredom, it must stop doing so.Fatty acids also enable soothing itchy feet, since they increase the amount of natural oils that are released into the animal’s skin. With lesser dry feet, your dog will feel less discomfort in its feet and eventually stop chewing them. However, the process might take some training and positive reinforcement through treats and pats!What to do when a dog is biting its paws?Dogs chew things all the time, but it’s hard to know when chewing becomes something that needs to be addressed immediately. The most important thing here would be identifying the difference between normal chewing and an excessive obsession with it.Your dog’s paws are sensitive since they tread the world on their feet. This essentially means that any allergic reaction or mental stress that may be causing your pet to chew its feet can have grave implications. Seasonal features such as pollen and dust may also cause an allergy, while ticks and fleas can trouble your dog at pretty much any time of the year. This can lead to distress and skin irritations, which the poor animal eventually takes out on its own foot!Paw chewing is something to address since it could also be a sign that the food you have been giving to your pet does not have enough fatty acids and other nutrients. It can also mean that your dog could be developing serious issues in its paws, like arthritis and or tumors. Clearly, this is a cause for concern and should not be taken lightly.An itchy foot could definitely cause the chewing, but it could just as well be pain. Hence, keeping an eye out for the signs would be a great thing to do. The most important thing is to seek medical help at the right time, so that it is not late for your pet to receive treatment.
Have you just noticed that your dog has been chewing its paws a little too much?
