Paw licking

[sbj405]

My 4 yr/o big dumb lab mix is obsessed. He's been licking and chewing his paws for weeks. I've had him in the e-collar, but he can actually still reach his front paws, plus he runs into everything. TRied spraying Bitter Yuck on them, but that doesn't seem to deter him. I can't seem to find any noticeable problems. Could he just now be developed some allergies or is he just OCD?

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Interestingly enough, my GSD has JUST started doing that too.

I have absolutely no idea what it is. He is 8 yers old and has never exhibited any allergies before. I am wondering if he walked on some sort of plant that got him itchy. I am starting to give him some doses of children's Benedryl and mixing 2 parts water and 1 part of the icky listerine and spraying it on his paws.
I have no idea what else to do. There are no signs of anything. No rash, no bites, no irritation of any sort that I can see or feel.
He sleeps on my bed and the sound of his licking is driving me crazy.

[sbj405]

4. I'm losing sleep over this, too.

He sleeps beside me and keeps me up with his chewing and licking all night. I did notice a sore between his toes today. Not sure if that is the cause or effect. I will try and get him into the vet tomorrow. He was just at the kennel and may have picked up some type of fungal infection (which I read is another potential cause).

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Dupe

[prole_for_peace]

3. my mom's cat started that and she had cancer in one of her toes.

i'm not saying this is what it is but it could be worth checking it out.

[sbj405]

5. I am always amazed at the way animals communicate to humans

I read that the licking could be a sign of arthritis, but had no idea about cancer.

[prole_for_peace]

8. she was licking and nibbling like they do when there is a rash

or something but she was doing it obsessively.

[kestrel91316]

10. Possible, but it's way down near bottom of the list. Allergy tops list.

[IndyOp]

6. My Choc Lab licks his paws incessantly at the

beginning of his yearly allergy season - mid-August until October. We've been through at least 12 boxes of dye-free Benadryl so far this season (2 pills every 4 hours). He moves from paw-licking to all over body licking and chewing within a few days after his allergies really get going. I am just starting to see a decline in this behavior -- as we approach the end of his allergy season.

Labs & other retrievers are highly likely to develop allergies. I keep mine on Sensible Choice Lamb & Rice all year round and I think it helps.

Good luck with your baby!

[Scout]

7. I'd bet mild allergy to something that is more prevalent in the fall

my lab has some kind of food allergy, plus a very mild allergy to something else ... every fall she starts with the paw licking/chewing, and her ear infection starts to flair up.

Try washing, rinsing and drying your pooch's paws with an anti-itch shampoo, or a baking soda and water paste. Then if he starts to go at them, distract him with a toy or take him for a walk.

You could try giving a benadryl pill to help the itch.

It's possible to have a yeast infection in between their toes ... if the biting/licking/chewing seems particularly intense, have the vet check for yeast infection. My dog had an undiagnosed-for-a-long-time yeast infection (I've changed to a new vet) and once we figured it out and got it cleared up we were all a lot happier at our house.

[kestrel91316]

9. If it is BOTH paws, the most likely candidate is atopy (inhalant pollen

allergy). Common in Labrador Retrievers. Best to see your vet to rule out anything more serious and talk about medication options.

(I'm a cat vet now so dog stuff I am not so familiar with - there is maybe a new allergy med for dogs??)

[sbj405]

11. Update

Vet says it is likely an allergy since his eyes were also a bit red. He prescribed some chortison pills and a spray (more powerful than hydrochortisone spray). One thing I did learn is that dogs tend to develop allergies in the 4-6 y/o range.

[Eurobabe]

12. My best friend has a purebred Golden with same issues

Turns out Sam has thyroid problem (he's hypo) and an allergy to timothy grass. She also changed his diet after visiting a holistic vet.

LOL, try keeping a dog out of grass.

[Thirtieschild]

13. Allergies

Most definitely sounds like allergies. We finaly took our Keeshond to a vet alergist, who gave him the same tests people get. He was allergic, among many other things, to cats. We gave him allergy shots once a week for the rest of his life. It wasn't cheap but worth it.

[Lisa0825]

14. I saw something about this on TV recently...

In addition to allergies, it can also be anxiety, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. Puppy Paxil or Prozac could help.

[EmmaP]

15. Allergies

We just took our pooch to the vet...main problem was red/bloodshot eyes and occasional butt scooting. The first question she asked was whether we had noticed her licking her paws. The answer was yes.

The diagnosis was allergies. She's been taking one 25 mg Benadryl pill a day and some prescription eye ointment twice a day (I can't check what the kind is because the dog of which I speak is laying on me and I don't want to disturb her).

We also wipe her face and feet off with a damp washcloth when we get back from our walks.

Her eyes cleared up in the first 24 hours and the paw licking and itchy tush problems are much better.