Dog licking paws

A previous dog was allergic to food and she had to take Vanectyl to control the itching. Sometimes it was so bad she would chew her pads raw - usually corn prompted this. As she aged, she became sensitive to her environment too, springtime was tough on her.

Present dog also has food allergies. I tried many foods before finding a limited ingredient food (Natural Balance's Bison & Sweet Potato) that does the trick. He's triggered by chicken, beef, lamb, fish -- a wide variety of proteins.

Some say it is not the protein, instead it is the preservative used in the meat before it is processed into dog food. I don't know if that is true, or not.

Okay thanks. Have been gone all weekend and if she is at it tomorrow will call vets and see what they say.

If it's not an allergy, I've recently read that it could be a pain issue, such as arthritis. Might try a warm compress or a heating pad on LOW (watch it carefully and never leave it).

My vet said that the Benadryl dose is 5mg per 25lbs, which equals one tab for a 25lb dog.

I did not read all the posts, but dog licking feet is a sign of allergies. Give the dog some Benedryl. It works. Just don't give him too much.

allergies, fleas, or coming in contact with a chemical or pesticide with her paws.

AND it is often overlooked that when they start licking their paws they have teeth problems. Abscess, loose tooth, heavy plaque teeth decaying, etc. In my experience it has almost always been prompted by the teeth problems.

This is something new that she has started. The allergies might be the problem will need to look into more.

My old boy has the same problem. He seems to have some sort of seasonal allergies. I had asked the previous owner and he said he is allergic to a fragrance that one groomer used on him, and had some seasonal allergies in the fall.

I had to get him a fragrance free shampoo and conditioner, and that did the trick until fall struck here. He's obviously got something seasonal going on.

When he starts in, I give him a benadryl and that seems to help a lot.

However, once he starts, it turns into an obsession pretty quick. I've started trying to give him a kong with some peanut butter in it, after I give the benadryl. That seems to get his mind off the itching and incessant licking.

I'm also in the environmental allergies camp. Both of my full-size Aussies did that - Nick, to such a degree that the bottoms of his feet looked like they were bleeding due to a reddish bacteria that grew in the damp environment; and to a lesser extent, Ike (his was usually in the fall, so I figure it was a pollen allergy).

I feel bad about Nick's licking - when he was alive, there was no internet sources of info; and my then-Vet wrote it off to "Aussie neurotic-ness". The poor guy probably had a food allergy....

Thanks for the advice! We haven't changed anything in the house to cause this problem. There is no worry about me giving up on her, she is my baby 100% and princess and my furbabies mean the world to me.

I agree on allergies. Our corgi has allergy issues, and when they flare up, she licks her paws.

Mike