luvabull Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 Hi everyone, Nibbler has an obession with licking her paws and it's driving me crazy.She is constantly doing it all the time and when I tell her to stop she does for about a minute then starts again.I'm always yelling at her(not the best training method I know ) but my voice can't take much more of it. I've heard they do it because they're bored and it's just something to do.Is that right? She even does it after a good bout of exercise too. Does anyone have any training tips or ideas I can use to make her stop all together? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangwyn Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 Hi there, Paw licking can be a boredom-based and/or compulsive behaviour but it can also be related to pain. I have seen paw licking manifest in dogs with arthritis or other types of pain. In this case the paw licking is almost a displacement behaviour (?) or perhaps the dog finds it soothing. Might be worth exploring the cause more extensively... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mushaka Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 maybe she has a dermititis rash/allergy.. ask the vet to do swab and wash the area in SALINE. there is also a spray called "stop chew" or somethin like that. as long as the dog hasnt got an open wound,spray it on the area and it shld prevent her from licking..hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rhapsodical78 Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 Hi everyone,Nibbler has an obession with licking her paws and it's driving me crazy.She is constantly doing it all the time and when I tell her to stop she does for about a minute then starts again.I'm always yelling at her(not the best training method I know ) but my voice can't take much more of it. I've heard they do it because they're bored and it's just something to do.Is that right? She even does it after a good bout of exercise too. Does anyone have any training tips or ideas I can use to make her stop all together? Thanks I'd check out potential allergies first of all. Some dogs are allergic to grass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvabull Posted July 12, 2007 Author Share Posted July 12, 2007 Hi there, Paw licking can be a boredom-based and/or compulsive behaviour but it can also be related to pain. I have seen paw licking manifest in dogs with arthritis or other types of pain. In this case the paw licking is almost a displacement behaviour (?) or perhaps the dog finds it soothing. Might be worth exploring the cause more extensively... I'm pretty sure it's a compulsive behaviour.Definitely not pain or boredom. What's displacement behaviour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cramet Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 some times it can be skin iratation (spelling) my dads dod a quaterzone injections to stop her from licking her paws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvabull Posted July 12, 2007 Author Share Posted July 12, 2007 (edited) maybe she has a dermititis rash/allergy.. ask the vet to do swab and wash the area in SALINE. there is also a spray called "stop chew" or somethin like that. as long as the dog hasnt got an open wound,spray it on the area and it shld prevent her from licking..hope this helps I was thinking of stop chew aswell.I can't see any signs of rash or allergy.She licks the top and the bottom of her paws as well as her hind paws too. Could she have a rash that's not visible? Edited July 12, 2007 by luvabull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 I was a vet nurse for 15 years. My advice to you would be to go see your vet asap. Yes, especially as you have a British Bull Terrier the root cause of the problem could be obsessive compulsive/anxiety related. However, it could also be something as simple as a mild skin infection or something more serious. It may be something called inter-digital dermatitis. It can have a fungal origin, an auto-immune (allergic) origin, all sorts. Many many things. I suggest the best way is to go and see a doggy health professional to get a clear pic of what is going on. Don't waste time trying to figure out if it is behavioural or not at this stage cos even if it is, the licking will have caused skin trauma and secondary problems. Really, a vet is absolutely the best person to give you advice in this instance, the sooner the better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvabull Posted July 12, 2007 Author Share Posted July 12, 2007 I was a vet nurse for 15 years. My advice to you would be to go see your vet asap. Yes, especially as you have a British Bull Terrier the root cause of the problem could be obsessive compulsive/anxiety related. However, it could also be something as simple as a mild skin infection or something more serious. It may be something called inter-digital dermatitis. It can have a fungal origin, an auto-immune (allergic) origin, all sorts. Many many things. I suggest the best way is to go and see a doggy health professional to get a clear pic of what is going on. Don't waste time trying to figure out if it is behavioural or not at this stage cos even if it is, the licking will have caused skin trauma and secondary problems. Really, a vet is absolutely the best person to give you advice in this instance, the sooner the better Thanks for the info Arya By the way, my lot are American Pitbulls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 Yep..vet visit. I had a border collie x who was constantly licking. He was allergic to grass and food colourings. he was also anxious. A chiropractor helped enormously..worked on his shoulder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Mal Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 Obsessive paw licking can also be the result of DIET. Certain ingredients in a dogs' diet can expell certain toxins that release through the pores in the skin and cause irritation. It's well documented that when dogs change from Complete food to BARF, paw licking starts, as the old Toxins start being expelled completely from th dogs' body. It also causes ganky eyes too (another port for Toxin release) HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 Obsessive paw licking can also be the result of DIET.Certain ingredients in a dogs' diet can expell certain toxins that release through the pores in the skin and cause irritation. It's well documented that when dogs change from Complete food to BARF, paw licking starts, as the old Toxins start being expelled completely from th dogs' body. It also causes ganky eyes too (another port for Toxin release) HTH Barf or otherwise, inter-digital licking won't be solved by any amount of food once fungi or bacteria set in. Hence the need for a visit to a vet!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joan of Arc Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 Yep its a visit to the vet IMO. Our yellow boy has a scratching, chewing thing happening and has had for about 3 years. Vet can't find the cause, diet, grasses, any number of possibilities but we have go give him a tablet every three or four days and it keeps it at bay. Check your yard for plants that are known to irritate dogs and cats, I really only know some of their common names but things like - creeping jesus, olive oil plant, even pattersons curse can irritate. We have trid stop chew and other products but nothing works. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 My border always licks and chews between his pads. I could not and cannot see anything, but after a vet visit there is a fungal infection that itches him, and of course, licking it makes it worse as it keeps it damp. I need to wash his feet in Malaseb every day for a week and it goes away, but it does come back so I just need to keep washing his feet. It will never go away completely, I just have to manage it. From what you're saying I think that this is the case. Vet visit will confirm and you can manage it from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paptacular! Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 Another vote for an allergy. Minka has atopic dermatisis, and you can get tablets from the vet. Minka likes to bite them, and when you tell her off she just starts licking them, as if to say "I wasn't biting my paws, honest, I was only licking!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Mal Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 Obsessive paw licking can also be the result of DIET. Certain ingredients in a dogs' diet can expell certain toxins that release through the pores in the skin and cause irritation. It's well documented that when dogs change from Complete food to BARF, paw licking starts, as the old Toxins start being expelled completely from th dogs' body. It also causes ganky eyes too (another port for Toxin release) HTH Barf or otherwise, inter-digital licking won't be solved by any amount of food once fungi or bacteria set in. Hence the need for a visit to a vet!!! Did I say otherwise I was simply trying to help the OP by giving another possible reason for the behaviour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvabull Posted July 14, 2007 Author Share Posted July 14, 2007 Thanks for your help everyone I've got some Triocil shampoo at home so it's worth a try anyway. Nibbler loves her hot showers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now