Her dog won’t stop licking his paws

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DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My hound dog, Charlie, licks his front paws nonstop, and sometimes his back paws, every time he lies down. He’ll lick the top of his paws and in between the pads. The skin on top of his paws is starting to get raw. I’ve checked his paws and can’t see any cuts or ticks. Why is he doing this, and how can I stop it? – Lee F., Ocala, Florida

DEAR LEE: Go ahead and schedule an appointment with the veterinarian. Charlie could be licking his paws for a few reasons. One, a physical injury or infestation – which you wisely checked for first. Two, an underlying condition that is causing Charlie discomfort, like a muscle or bone injury, or arthritis. Three, a compulsion to lick his paws.

The vet should do some bloodwork to rule out underlying disease. He’ll do some other tests to determine if arthritis is a factor. And he’ll check for allergies, which can cause itchy skin in dogs. Depending on what he finds (or doesn’t find), the vet will help you plan a course of action to stop the licking.

It’s important to stay on top of this because dogs who keep licking or biting at the same spot can develop lick granuloma. This is a red patch of skin that is sore and itchy, and a dog’s licking just makes it worse. Eventually, it can turn into a red lump of skin. The granuloma can become infected, requiring antibiotics to resolve. And if the granuloma doesn’t heal or gets really large, it may need to be removed surgically.

Work with the vet to find the cause of Charlie’s discomfort and resolve it. Treatment may take a month or more, but it will be worth it.

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