What to Do When Your Dog Won't Stop Licking

Tips to Stop Paw Licking

Something seems to be in the air lately.  Every where I turn someone else is asking me 

how to stop their dog from licking their paws.  It could be for many reasons;

irritation, a cut in between or on the pad, a rash in between toes, a hot spot

on the top or side of the paw, etc...

The first thing you want to do is find out what the problem is for sure.

Every problem will have a different remedy.

If it is just a little cut or scrape most people would use a little polysporin on it.

This is not a bad idea all together but your dog will most likely want to lick it off and

will do so as soon as you turn your back.

Try a couple of different things.  

For a SMALL CUT, SCRAPE OR CRACK on the paw...

First, make sure to clean it thoroughly with

a non scented, non irritating soap.  You can then try dabbing the area with a cotton

ball soaked in Original Listerine (the brown one nobody ever buys anymore).

This is an antiseptic and dogs don't like the taste of it.  Also, it absorbs instead of

sitting in top of the skin like polysporin would.

As a means of soothing the area afterwards you can use chamomile tea and just soak your dog's paw

in it  for a few minutes (after it has cooled down to room temperature of course).

Try putting one of those little balloon booties on the paw at first to make sure that your efforts

aren't for nothing.  You do not, however, want to suffocate the area.

Giving the cut time to breathe is important to dry it out and help it heal.

IF IT IS MORE SERIOUS AND LOOKS ANYTHING LIKE BELOW

YOU MUST GO TO THE VET RIGHT AWAY!  YOUR DOG

COULD GET AN INFECTION WHICH WILL MAKE THE

PROBLEM TEN TIMES WORSE!

At the vet they will thoroughly clean it out, disinfect it and probably will

put in a couple of stitches (see below).

BEFORE

AFTER

If, on the other hand you have noticed a rash in between or on top of the paw it MIGHT be what is known

as a hot spot.  You will notice that your dog is constantly licking, nosing,

rubbing, and even biting on the same spot over and over.

It is always a safe idea to go to the vet and find out for sure what the problem is.

If you are sure it is a hot spot they will prescribe a cortisone cream for you and maybe

some antbiotics depending on how serious the hot spot is.

Keep in mind that you can get cortisone cream from the drug store and depending on

the brand they can be very similar to the ones that you get from the vet, 

and half the price as they would charge you.

If you can't make it to the vet right away here are some things you can do:

First, clear away the hair in the area.  Very gently (it is tender skin) clip or shave away the hair

in the immediate area so that the spot can dry out (bacteria likes moisture).

Then clean the spot thoroughly with a non scented, non irritating soap.

You can try dabbing the spot with a cotton ball soaked in GREEN or BLACK tea

(after it has cooled down to room temperature) and then sealing it off

with vitamin E (squeezed right out of a capsule) or antibiotic cream such as 

polysporin.  Like before, you'll need to keep an eye out

with these types of creams because your dog will want to lick them off.

DO NOT USE ANYTHING HARSH THAT CONTAINS ALCOHOL

on a hot spot.  It will dry it out but it will leave it raw and painful.

You can do a really good job of cleaning it without using harsh methods.