If you notice that your dog is licking its paws, you must attend to this behavior and know what is happening. There can be many reasons why a dog may lick or nibble on its claws.
Here we will talk about some causes that should concern you and others that are relatively normal.
Causes that require immediate attention
Injury pain
If your dog is limited to licking just one paw, it may mean pain in that region. He likely does it because, in a way, he believes that it will calm the discomfort.
The cause could be a wound, insect bites, a thorn, a broken nail, and for that, we must examine it at home and then take it to the vet.
Boredom or stress
The life of a dog with minor physical and mental activity is very dull. Dogs, regardless of their size or breed, need to be active and entertained.
Licking its paws often is a sign of boredom, especially if your dog goes out little or spends a lot of time alone at home.
In nervous or anxious dogs, this behavior is much more frequent. The action of licking the paws produces an increase in the production of endorphins.
So when the dog feels stressed and decides to lick its claws, it will find some “relief” that will initially calm it but will eventually become a harmful addiction that will harm you both psychologically and physically.
A dog can manifest the behavior of licking its paws in a stressful situation such as a move, strange visits, or simply nerves.
External parasites
If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors (the park, the garden, or the beach), especially in hot places, it is very likely that fleas or ticks are on his skin.
Those bugs cause them a lot of itch. If that is the cause, they can scratch and lick each other until they cause a severe skin injury.
Insect bites
If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors (the park, the garden, or the beach), especially in hot places, it may suffer from insect bites.
Allergy
Allergic reactions can cause hives on the paws and other parts of the body, and the itching can be such that your dog can spend hours licking his feet.
Other causes
Cleaning
For some dogs, keeping clean is essential, and they enjoy cleaning their paws.
Arthritis
In senior dogs, paw-licking behavior may be due to joint pain, a sign of arthritis.
The main thing is to get to know your Super Puppy, observe him, and pay attention to the details: how many times he licks, how, and when.
Physically check the area of the paws that he constantly licks and be alert for possible irritations and injuries. Consider the causes that we already mentioned and take him to the vet to help you determine the reason for the behavior of your Super Puppy so that you can help him with that problem.
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