Why Do Dogs Chew on Their Feet?

These are the main reasons dogs chew on their feet: Pain

If your dog is in a lot of pain, this can drive them to chew on their feet in search of relief. Your dog might chew on her feet if she’s in pain from an injury or a fungal infection.

Your dog might chew on her feet if she’s in pain from an injury or a fungal infection. Boredom

If your dog is bored, it can drive him or her to chew on their feet to keep busy. This could be a common behavior for dogs, but if it’s a constant problem it’s a sign that your dog is lacking in other areas.

What Causes Dogs to Chew on Their Feet?

The first step to preventing excessive chewing on your dog’s feet is to learn what causes dogs to chew on their feet.

There are a number of reasons why dogs may chew on their paws, but excessive chewing is a result of some type of an underlying health issue.

When it comes to excessive chewing, there are two main reasons why your dog may chew on their feet:

Boredom: Dogs are constantly « on » when they are puppies, but then they get older and have more free time. As a result, they may get bored and chew on their feet to entertain themselves.
Dog foot fetish: Dogs love to sniff and lick things, and to do this on their feet is a fantastic opportunity.

What Is Normal Chewing?

Chewing is a normal behavior for many dogs. Most dogs chew on things all the time, especially at night when they’re feeling sleepy. Chewing is a sign that your dog is feeling relaxed.

You should be able to find any type of object your dog can easily chew on and move it to another place. You shouldn’t need to wash your entire house or make sure everything you own is off the floor.

When your dog chews on his or her feet, that’s usually a sign that he or she is feeling stressed. It’s important that you address the stress that is causing the chewing.

If your dog is chewing on his or her feet consistently, then there could be an underlying health problem. In these cases, you should contact a veterinarian.

What Is Excessive Chewing?

Just like your dog has certain physical and mental needs, he also has certain physical needs. Your dog needs to chew on something to enjoy his or her interaction with you.

When the activity becomes excessive, it’s considered an excessive amount of chewing and may be due to a medical condition. Read on to learn more about excessive chewing.

What Causes Excessive Chewing?

Excessive chewing is often caused by a lack of other physical and mental stimulation.

Excessive chewing in some dogs might be caused by allergies. If your dog is extremely picky when it comes to eating, excessive chewing on the paws may be a sign of an allergy to an allergen.

Underlying Health Problems

Canine foot ailments include athlete’s foot, house-monkey, claw rot, cracked toenails, and pinworms.

Most dog owners know that their dog may have some sort of skin condition, such as dermatitis or boils, but these conditions can also cause ingrown nails, excessive licking, and excessive chewing on their feet.

Athlete’s foot, or alopecia, is a fungal infection that causes an itchy, inflamed rash that may be accompanied by swelling, black scales, and sometimes blisters. This rash occurs most commonly on the feet, between the toes.

Dogs with compromised immune systems can experience this condition and are at a higher risk of developing it. It is important to see a vet as soon as possible if your dog has foot problems or if he or she is itching his or her feet excessively.

What Does It Mean If My Dog Is Chewing Excessively On His or Her paws?

A dog who chews his or her feet excessively may:

Not having a good reason for chewing.
Be trying to find a place to relieve themselves.
Have an injury.
Have an allergy.

When dogs chew on their paws, they are doing it because they need to relieve themselves or because they’ve been itching.

If your dog is overweight or obese, that’s a sign that he or she may have an unhealthy gut. The dog may have discomfort, itching, or irritation in their gut.

Chewing on the feet provides relief for the dog’s pain. It also helps prevent them from creating a hard, sore, and unhealthy surface to relieve themselves on.

Chewing on the feet can also help relieve anxiety or boredom.

How To Stop A Dog From Chewing on His or Her Feet?

Dogs that chew on their paws are probably experiencing pain. If your dog is chewing on her feet and licking or scratching at the skin, you may notice that her skin is red, raw, inflamed, or swollen.

That could be because she’s experiencing a skin infection, and it’s important that you take her to the vet.

You also want to be sure to treat any infection, including blisters, if you can. If the dog is chewing on his or her feet for a long time, you might also notice that his or her feet get calloused, cracked, or bleeding.

You might notice this in the morning or if the dog is wearing tennis shoes. If you notice any of this, it’s a sign that your dog has an infection. Your vet can help you treat this and stop the bleeding and skin peeling.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why dogs will chew on their paws. This behavior can be annoying and cause them to lick their feet a lot, but it’s usually harmless. If it does cause any health issues for your dog, it may be time to bring it up with your vet.

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