Red skin on paw, front legs

male dog (neutered, 3 years old) cockapoo noticed he excessive licked a few weeks ago on one of his front legs/paw, upon inspection he had very red skin around the foot/paw/digits/lower leg and had licked an area that much in a short time that it caused a few sores, after a visit to the vet they diagnosed lick granuloma and he has been on antibiotics, a steroid topical cream and a antiseptic wash for about a week and the paw is healing up nicely, and is not red anymore. I noticed today that his other front paw now has red/inflamed skin around the paw and lower leg area. He’s licking it a few times throughout the day but not excessively like the other leg was. Could this be something else than a lick granuloma if his other leg is now also red? I’ve started using the wash and steroid cream on the other leg also now, if that will help? This only seems to be effecting the front paws and he has not bothered with his back paws/feet. And occasionally bites at the front ones too for a few seconds. he has no other symptoms otherwise, is fine in himself, doesn’t seem to be in any real pain from it, moves around well and is eating, drinking and active. He is a little itchy lately around the ears but not excessively, and is up to date with his flea/tick medications.

Hello - and this comes down to terminology.  A lick granuloma is a lump of hard tissue caused by licking excessively, so it sounds to be a strong possibility.   However it may not be much different from other lumps to look at - it is possible that licking excessively at any other pre-existing type of lump between the pads could cause the same appearance.   Which leads to my other point - if it IS a lick granuloma and a dog is licking at one place excessively, I'd hazard there would be a reason for it.  Perhaps the foot is painful, or there is a foreign body or a mat of hair or a cyst or a cancerous growth or an allergic reaction or a yeast problem or osteosarcoma (a cancer commonly affecting the toes bones).  Your vet therefore will have a look and formulate a list of possibilities in their head - and then set about ruling some out.   A biopsy, or anti-lick measures couple with drugs to prevent any pain in the area, might be part of your vets' gameplan. It doesnt sound to be one that can be solved in a single consulation.  I hope that something there helps.