What Does It Mean If My Dog Licks Her Paws. Some dogs lick their paws because they dont have anything better to do. Your veterinarian is correct that licking can also be a sign of an underlying health problem. These conditions are referred to as lick granulomas. When they are injured they lick the wounds to promote self-heal by boosting blood flow.
Its totally normal for your dog to lick their paws occasionally as normal self-grooming especially after a muddy walk or whenever their paws might be dirty. Why Do Dogs Lick Their Paws. If licked further and undetected the area hardens up and sometimes the skin breaks and bleeds. In many instances it is harmless but when the licking becomes excessive a solution is needed. Cheri Wulff Lucas a dog behavior specialist and rescuer suggests that the most common reason for dogs to lick their paws is because something is on or in them. They also lick their sore spots even if there is no open wound eg.
However licking paws excessively is cause for concern and can indicate a number of health issues which should be addressed quickly before the licking behavior causes a hot spot or skin infection between the toes.
Other foreign objects that often make their way in pups paw pads are ticks grass awns and burrs. By jcsupport February 1 2019 February 4th 2019 Dogs. A thorn between its toes an incision from a sharp pebble or some other injury. Frequent licking can lead to skin irritation and the action could mean your pet is already uncomfortable. It is usually an indication that something must be troubling your beloved pet and causing discomfort in hisher paw. Gastrointestinal issues can cause dogs to lick their paws.