Most dogs chew their paws at some point or another. Usually it’s one-off and triggered by something mildly irritating between the toes. But when chewing is frequent and severe, it can be both an effect and the cause of chronic pain and distress.

Humans can scratch or rub an itch virtually anywhere. But without hands, dogs rely on chewing or biting their paws as a means to relieve skin irritation. Problems arise when chewing does not relieve the problem, so it keeps going. Or when chewing becomes a habit. In these cases, the result is often painful infections, lameness and chronic skin disease. Talk to a vet if you notice your dog is chewing their paws.

 

What to do

What to do if your dog is chewing their paws

Check the paw thoroughly:

• Check the skin between the toes and pads for signs of redness, heat, or swelling.
• Check the nails for broken or split nails or a swollen or oozing nail base.
• Look between the toes and pads for anything stuck there, such as gravel, caked dirt, grass seeds or tar.
• Check the toes for lumps, swelling or discomfort.

Rinse or bathe the paw

• To clear away mud that may be hiding cuts.

Prevent further licking:

• Distract them by giving them toys suitable for chewing or with play.
• Use a cone or inflatable collar to prevent licking, unless your dog can get around this.
• Cover the foot with a cotton sock secured with household tape, but be careful this is not too tight—for up to a maximum of 8 hours.

Keep the foot as dry and clean as possible:

• Lead exercise only
• Use a bag or special doggy boot to protect the paw(s) when outside.

Joii vets are available online 24/7 for advice and support if your dog is chewing their paws.

 

Causes

What are the most common reasons for dogs chewing their paws?

• Foreign bodies, such as grass seeds, thorns, glass or ingrown hairs
• Corns: benign growth of hardened skin
• Standing in something sticky, caustic or irritant
• Cut, cracked or split pads
• Nail injuries and nail bed infections
• Allergies: food, contact, and atopy
• Harvest mites, also called chiggers or berry bugs
• Interdigital cysts and pododermatitis
• Pain in the joints or deeper soft tissues of the toe(s)
• Boredom or stress

 

When to worry

When to worry if your dog is chewing their paws

Seek help from a vet if your dog is chewing their paw and:

• Acting out of sorts, such as eating less or showing less interest in walks or toys
• Limping
• Developing a swollen foot or swelling between the toes
• Bleeding
• Biting it raw

 

Joii can help if:

• Your dog is chewing their paw and you don’t know how to help
• You’re not sure if you need to see a vet for your dog’s problem

 

Prevention

Ways to help prevent your dogs from chewing their paws

• Keep nails trimmed so they’re less likely to split or tear.
• Rinse their paws after walking on the beach, in mud, on ice, or on gritted roads.
• Identify and treat allergies and harvest mites promptly.
• Use regular anti-parasite treatments to reduce the risk of harvest mites and other parasites.
• Use balms or ointments to nourish and improve pad and nail health, especially in the harsh winter months.
• Trim the hair around your dog’s paws and between their toes to prevent lumps of ice, caked mud, gravel or sand from getting stuck there.
• Keep your dog physically and mentally stimulated with lots of exercise and safe toys.
• Keep your dog slim with a healthy body condition, as being overweight aggravates skin disease and joint problems.

Still worried about how to prevent your dog from chewing their paws? Joii vets and nurses are on hand 24/7 for support and expert advice.

 

Diagnosis

Things to look out for when dogs chew their paws

• Puncture wounds can indicate foreign bodies or infections.
• A painful response to pressing on the pad can indicate a trapped foreign body or corns.
• Swollen toes can indicate infection, traumatic injury, or arthritis.
• Smooth, shiny, round swellings between the toes can indicate interdigital cysts or foreign bodies.
• Tiny red dots on or between short hairs on toes and between pads can indicate harvest mites.
• Other symptoms, such as itchy ears, scratching, and licking, can indicate allergies and harvest mites.
• A pink or brownish stain around their feet is a sign your dog has been chewing or licking their feet even if you haven’t seen them doing it.

 

Home treatment

Ways to help your dog at home if they’re chewing their paws

Vet treatment is essential if your dog is constantly chewing their paws, limping, bleeding or distressed.
You can help a dog with milder symptoms or until you see a vet with the following:

• Rinse or shower away surface dirt.
• Clean and bathe the paw in warm salt water.
• Use an antiseptic or antibacterial gel, mousse or wipe on mildly inflamed or irritated skin.
• Apply soothing balms or ointments to mildly irritated pads.
• Protect from further chewing or licking with a cone collar or bootee until settled.

 

Vet treatment

What vet treatments are there for dogs chewing their paws?

Vet treatment for chewing pads in dogs will depend on the underlying cause. Possibilities include:

Prescription medicines

Topical treatments

• Creams, sprays and ointments: antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory
• Washes and baths: antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-yeast

Medicine by mouth

• Antibiotics
• Antifungals
• Anti-inflammatory medicines: steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
• Painkillers
• Medicines to suppress the body’s own excessive immune response: anti-histamines, ciclosporin

Injections

• One-off steroid injections to settle sudden intense inflammation
• Antibiotics
• Immune injections for allergies
• Monthly injections for arthritis

Anti-parasitic treatments

• Spray
• Spot-ons
• Tablets

Veterinary procedures

Sometimes the vet will advise a minor procedure or a more complex operation:

• Usually requires sedation or a general anaesthetic
• Finding and removing foreign bodies
• Cleaning up wounds and repairing (stitching) where possible
• Removing lumps and growths
• Trimming back or removing broken shards of nail
• Laser treatment

Risk

Which dogs are most likely to chew their paws and why?

• Dogs with allergic skin disease.
• Certain breeds with closely-apposed toes and short, brittle hairs, such as Bulldogs and Shar Peis.
• Overweight and obese dogs.
• Dogs left alone for long periods leading to boredom, stress, and separation anxiety.
• Older dogs with arthritis.
• Dogs who exercise vigorously on rough, wet or hard ground.

 

What other reasons might there be for dogs chewing their paws?

Apart from the common causes listed above, there are some other possibilities to consider if your dog is chewing their paws.

• Thermal burns from standing on hot surfaces like tiles, tar, and sand.
• Hookworms.
• Fungal nail infections.
• Some types of cancer.