Dog Biting Paws Solution

This s a problem that I have wrestled with for a long time with my Maltese Shih Tzu. It is very difficult to watch your little dog stressed to the point that he can’t rest because of the itch between his toes. By the number of red-pawed, small-sized dogs I have seen, it would seem that this is probably a common problem among long-haired, fluffy dogs. However, after researching solutions, I have found that many other breeds have suffered from the same problem, Labradors for example, a breed that is certainly not a lap-dog size.

Stop Dog Licking Paws

Vets have advised that paw chewing is a common reaction to certain plants; others have suggested a reaction to different foods and yet again, boredom has been suggested as a possible cause. Finding the cause and then eliminating it seems to be an endless cycle.

For a Solution to Dog Skin Problems Click Here!

However, I must say in our case that the symptoms abated significantly after we happened to move to a different suburb. So what exactly differed about this new location? Well, off the top of my head, the contributing factors that may be different would be a cooler climate (by about 5 degrees on average) a dog area that is less grassed and a dog yard that is significantly more interesting .

It can be particularly puzzling if you have more than one dog, but only one of them suffers from this problem.

Many dog owners have bought over-the-counter topical lotions. This is a perfect example of the band-aid affect. In other words, if you keep treating the symptoms and applying topical lotions, you might mask the problem and thus assume that it is improving. If you can get to the bottom of the cause, then you have a far better chance of eradicating the problem completely.

First and foremost, a vet should be consulted for a possible diagnosis of localized infection or a treatable allergy or an indication of an underlying disease. The vet can also give specific advice about changes to be made to your dog’s diet.

If your vet rules out a serious medical cause then you can start looking at possible changes in the environment that may have been contributing to the problem.

Stop Dog Chewing Paws – The Process of Elimination

It is a good idea to go through a checklist of possible causes in your search for a solution.

• Is it genetic? Did mum or dad dog have the same problem? Of course you might be unable to trace back the heritage pattern if you didn’t buy your dog from a breeder.
• Check that her claws are not too long, or curled into her skin.
• Think back to the last shampoo you used. Is it different than previous brands you have purchased?
• Have you changed food brands recently?
• If it is a problem that appears all of a sudden, you need to look for what is different. Such as:
  • New carpet
  • New dog bedding
  • New kennel etc.
• Allergies – it is possible for dogs, like humans, to develop an allergy to a product that they have been around for ages.
• Is your dog stressed, perhaps really nervous at certain times such as when a thunder storm is coming or when you are leaving the house to go to work.

Regardless of the initial cause, the chewing can become habit forming so it can be difficult to identify if you are faced with an ongoing medical problem or if it is simply the case of an ongoing paw-chewing habit persisting long after the medical problem has been resolved.

It is a good idea to minimize the chances of habit-forming behavior by engaging your dog in activities to stimulate him mentally, occupy his time, entertain him and provide meaningful interaction with you.

~ Bright Dog Tips