Obsessive Paw Licking...there IS something you can do.

Twice in the past week, clients have asked me for help with dogs who are obsessive paw lickers--did I have some kind of yucky-tasting spray to put on the paws or some dietary insight about the issue or anything at all to contribute to the conversation. I could sense their frustration. I do have yucky sprays, but spraying a dog's already inflamed and irritated paw did not seem appropriate. So I went to work to find out what would be appropriate for this not uncommon and terribly misunderstood problem. Here is a very condensed version of what I learned from the site pawlicking.com.

Causes

In a nutshell, stress, be it internal or external; allergies, parasites, environmental factors or psychological events.

A Vicious Cycle

• It starts with a trigger (see below), followed by licking.
• The symptoms are treated with steroids, cones, antibiotics, sprays, socks, etc.
• These measures cause further stress (Have you seen a dog in a cone or elizabethan collar? Stressful AND demoralizing) and don't address the cause of the problem.
• The dog continues to lick whenever possible, causing more damage to the skin and more incentive to keep licking.
• And the cycle continues.

Paw-licking can be triggered by nutritional issues; pesticides in and around the home including flea medications (follow this link for more about Non-Toxic Flea Control); insects such as fleas or mites; and plants and grasses; and emotional stress.

What Helps?

Pawlicking.com goes into a lot of detail about how to help your dog--everything from having the vet help to identify the trigger, to using a special cream, to applying chamomile or sage tea to the affected area. There is good information about the psychological aspects of obsessive paw licking and how to address that with training, play, and mental stimulation.

I really encourage you to visit Pawlicking.com. The information is my post is just intended to get you thinking and to show you that this is a problem that won't be solved with cortisone shots. Once again, it's a complex problem that deserves a holistic approach, and that will strengthen the bond between you and your dog.

Good luck!