Because you love your dog, even their only remotely strange behavior may motivate you to see a veterinarian. For example, does your dog chew their paws? Although paw chewing is a relatively typical canine behavior, here’s what you should know about it so you can help your furry friend stay healthy and happy. 

Why Do Dogs Chew Their Paws?? 

Knowing why dogs occasionally bite and lick their paws can be a challenge to discern. A few explanations are likely. If your dog doesn’t chew often, bristly grasses, parasitic insects, small punctures, or splinters may be irritating them. Broken claws or toes and even a cyst or tumor may cause them to chew. In winter, they may chew because their skin is dry. 

However, if your dog is a chronic chewer, they may have an allergy to  food, cleaning products, or something else present in their environment. Dogs prone to yeast or bacterial infections also chew a lot. Thyroid issues, fear, boredom, depression, and anxiety can all drive dogs instinctively to lick and chew their paws. Chewing and licking, which may have provided temporary relief for some specific condition at first, can develop into an obsession. 

Dogs who chew may end up with bleeding, swollen, smelly, and infected paws as well as a limp.

What Should You Do About It? 

Try to determine the likely cause for chewing, and work with your veterinarian to figure out how to get your dog to stop. 

A veterinarian will examine and treat your dog for any medical conditions and allergies that could be motivating them to bite and lick. They’ll treat them if parasites or puncture wounds are present. If advised, add coconut or fish oil to their food to keep their skin from drying out in cold weather, and give your dog plenty of love and attention. Set aside time to play every day, and find a sitter for them when you have to be away.

To find a veterinarian who will care as much about your dog as you do, go to Pearson Animal Clinic in Russellville, AR. With more than 50 years of service, they’re the area’s trusted pet care provider. They strive to make everyone and every animal feel like family and show it by making your pet’s health their top priority. To schedule an appointment, call them today at (479) 968-3535, or go online to meet the staff.