All dogs will lick their paws occasionally as part of their regular grooming regime. Their paws are obviously the part of their body that is most likely to get dirty, being in contact with the ground the most. But excessive licking could indicate a problem. Below are the top reasons, other than keeping clean, why a dog may lick their paws. 

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1) Injuries

Just as if we walked around with bare feet all day, dog’s feet can be prone to picking up injuries. Cut pads, torn nails and grazes are all common occurrences. Superficial wounds and grazes can be cleaned with salted water and monitored for signs of infection. Deeper wounds or torn nails ought to be checked by a vet as they can be very painful and may need further treatment. To allow injuries to heal, it is vital to prevent further licking. This is most safely achieved by using a cone collar or sock covering. Bandages are always best applied by a vet or veterinary nurse as inappropriately applied bandages can lead to severe complications. 

2) Grass seeds

During the summer months, one of the more common reasons why as vets we would see a dog who is licking their paws, would be because of grass seeds. These notoriously problematic spiky fragments can easily get caught in the hair between the toes; then gradually work their way up and into the foot. Because of their ‘Christmas tree’ shape, they are not easily removed. They are often present as a discreet, painful swelling with a central spot. Occasionally, they can track up the foot and cause a more widespread infection. 

3) Mites

Both grass seeds and injuries usually only affect one foot. But when a dog is licking more than one foot, we need to start looking for more generalised problems. Mites can be one such issue. Although mites can affect any part of the body, there is one species that most definitely prefers the feet – the harvest mite. These are most common in late summer and early autumn. They can actually be seen with the naked eye as minute orange dots on the skin between the toes. The affected dogs are often intensely itchy. Other mites such as Demodex can also affect the feet but are impossible to see without a microscope. 

4) Skin infections

Infections can affect any part of the skin, including the skin of the feet, where, due to the warm and moist conditions, bacteria and yeasts can thrive. Once established, these infections can cause the area to be itchy and sore and therefore dogs will often lick. Unfortunately, the licking itself can precipitate the issue; making the skin even more warm and moist and it becomes a vicious cycle. If caught early, infections are usually easy to treat but deeper infections can be frustrating. 

5) Atopy

Atopy, or Atopic Dermatitis, is a name for a particular type of allergic skin disease. Dogs can be allergic to a variety of things including grass, mites, moulds, trees and different types of food. Generalised itching, chewing, rubbing and licking are the most common symptoms and the feet are a favourite target. Treatment for atopy has progressed markedly in the past few years, but it’s important to rule out other specific causes of skin irritation first as atopy is a diagnosis by exclusion.

6) Gritting salt

At this time of year, it’s worth being aware of the dangers of gritting, or rock salt, used on our roads and pavements. Rock salt can be very irritating to a dog’s paws, causing small lacerations or even a type of burn when they repeatedly walk over it. The dangers don’t just stop there as because they tend to lick their feet to try to remove the irritation, if they ingest too much, it could cause salt poisoning. Although this is rare, the risk is easily reduced by washing off their feet after walking where gritting salt could have been used. 

7) Arthritis

Although when thinking of how arthritis affects dogs, most people think of the main joints involved as hips, knees or elbows, in elderly dogs, toes can be similarly affected. Dogs will lick at areas where they feel pain or discomfort so it makes sense that they would lick at any feet affected by the degenerative condition. It’s important not to dismiss potential arthritis pain as a normal part of ageing – there are a huge range of therapies and treatments that can markedly improve old dogs’ quality of life so always speak to your vet. 

8) Boredom

Occasionally, dogs will lick at their feet for behavioural reasons rather than physical reasons. Licking can become a habit, but is often triggered by boredom or stress. Once all physical reasons have been ruled out, any underlying causes of anxiety should be investigated and managed – and this may need referral to a qualified clinical animal behaviourist.

Although there are many and varied reasons why a dog may lick their paws, most can be easily identified and treated during a veterinary examination. If the precipitating cause is not treated, and the licking is allowed to continue, it can cause problems of its own, potentially leading to a lick granuloma. This can make treatment more difficult so prompt intervention is usually the best course of action. 

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