Here’s Why Your Dog’s Feet Smell like Doritos
If you suspect a yeast infection, a poor diet may be to blame.
Sometimes, the simplest treatment for hair loss and itching caused by a yeast infection is to switch out your dogs food based on your vets advice.
Make sure to provide quality foods full of specific nutrients and vitamins that are beneficial for the gut and the skin.
No dog enjoys wearing the dreaded cone, but it can be effective in preventing excessive licking.
Pain
If your dog is licking their paws, it could be a sign that they have an ache somewhere on their body. Paw licking is a kind of “coping mechanism for discomfort,” Wilson said.
Causes for pain-related licking vary, but they may include:
Conditions like arthritis and cancer are especially common in older dogs.
Once you have a diagnosis from a veterinarian, you can limit licking by helping manage your dogs pain — often with prescription medication, but the remedy will vary depending on the underlying cause.
You may also have to add soft runner rugs over slippery wood floors for dogs who have trouble getting around because of arthritis or other conditions that cause chronic pain, Wilson said.
Skin Infection
Bacterial infections and fungal infections can affect your dogs feet and cause skin problems and irritation, driving Fido to lick. Your dog might come across fungal spores or bacteria in his environment and pick them up on the paws. Sometimes, however, these infections occur for unknown reasons.
Bacterial and fungal infections can occur because of allergies as well. This kind of secondary infection is one of the leading causes of problematic paw-licking behavior in dogs. Because your dogs paws stay damp when hes licking them constantly, it creates an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi to thrive. Yeast infections in the paws are particularly common for this reason.
Excessive Paw Licking? Why it happens and What you can do.
Dogs lick their paws for many reasons. They probably lick their paws on a daily basis to keep them clean. But if you dog is licking their paws constantly or aggressively, this excessive paw-licking may be a sign of a problem, such as a cyst, an infection, or an injury. If you see your dog frequently licking its paws, its time to take some action. Learn why your dog is licking its paws and how to react appropriately.