My Dog Licks his Paws Constantly - Why?

by Sue
(Yorkshire)

Hi I have a small dog called Rocky - a Yorkshire Terrier and he licks his paws constantly - can you explain why he may be doing this? Thanks...


Hi Sue - this is quite a tricky question to answer as there are a variert of reasons why your dog may be licking his Paws. The first thing that you should look for are...

1) Are there any signs of redness or swelling around the paw?

2) Have you recently come back from a walk? Where did you walk - was it near prickles - or hawthorn which could have got stuck in the paw?

3)Can you spot any parasites - a Tick or infestation of anything else?

4) Is the skin flaky? Does your dog often lick his paws or is this a new occurance?

5) Take a good look at the area and then take your dog to the vet for a proper medical diagnosis.

Hope this helps.