Why does my dog lick its paws?

If you have been looking for answer to this age-old question, look no further because here are the answers you are looking for. Below I have listed reasons and why your dog has started or has always been licking at their paws.

Why does my dog lick its paws? Your Dog is Eating

You may have already guessed at this one, but dogs really do think that their food is finger licking good (or in their case paw licking good) because the most common reason for dogs to be licking their paws is after they have been eating to clean themselves. If this is the case and it doesn’t happen constantly this is most likely the answer you have been looking for. So, no need to stress, your dog is probably just happy from enjoying his meal!

Why does my dog lick its paws? Behavioural Issues

This one is a bit trickier in terms of why your dog could be licking their paws - behaviour can be a huge factor in dogs as well as humans! This could be a part of a compulsive habit or compulsive tendencies which could be leading to your dog having sore patches on their paws. If you notice it is becoming more of a habit a dog behaviour specialist could be the correct route for you and your pup.

Why does my dog lick its paws? Your Dog may be Stressed

Stress isn’t just for us humans; stress can affect your dog in many ways - one of them being licking. This tends to be only one or two of the feet, so watch out for that. One effective way of combating this is to purchase some interactive toys for your dogs which will relax and distract them from licking their paws.

Why does my dog lick its paws? Your Dog is Bored

Boredom can be one of the reasons your dog could be licking their paws, this one is pretty easy to solve by creating more fun for your puppy by purchasing puzzle feeders or games for your dog to play so that they are kept active, which means less chance of your puppy being bored.

Why does my dog lick its paws? Allergies

Dogs can indeed get allergies - maybe not like hay fever but they can still be allergic to food, materials, products etc. This could be the case if your dog is constantly licking “itching” themselves, in this case you would be best off by calling your vet for their advice.

Why does my dog lick its paws? Anxiety

Yes, sounds a bit strange but dogs also suffer with anxiety. A lot of dogs suffer with separation anxiety which basically means when you leave your dog whether it is going to the shops or to work, your dog may feel anxiety about being separated from you. If not it could just be a general anxiety issue which is best if you can find the route of the cause of the problem and if this doesn’t work - call your vet for advice.

Why does my dog lick its paws? Your Dog might be in Pain

Another reason could be pain, is your dog in pain? This could be why your dog is licking its paws as dogs tend to lick their paws to indicate pain - just like humans do if we have a sore knee or whatever pain you may have we tend to rub the area, think of your dog as doing this. If in doubt - call your vet for advice on pain.