Every dog licks their paws sometimes. It's how they clean themselves, and a bit of it after a walk is completely normal.
What isn't normal is licking that goes on for long stretches, focuses on one paw, or leaves the fur stained a rusty orange-brown. That colour comes from porphyrin in saliva, and it's a reliable sign the licking has been going on for weeks rather than days.
Here's what's usually behind it.
Something is stuck in there
Always check this first, because it's the easiest to find and the easiest to fix.
Spread the toes apart and look between each one, then check the pads themselves. Grass seeds are the classic culprit in late summer and autumn — they're barbed, they work their way in, and they hurt. Small stones, thorns, and shards of glass are all possible too.
If your dog is licking one paw specifically and started suddenly, this is the most likely explanation.
Dry or cracked pads
Pads dry out in cold weather and on gritted pavements. Road salt in winter is particularly harsh, and it stings on skin that's already cracked.
Run your thumb over the pad. Healthy pads feel like firm rubber. If they feel rough, flaky, or you can see splits, that's dryness.
Rinsing paws with plain warm water after winter walks removes the salt and helps more than most people expect. Dry them properly afterwards, then a paw balm rubbed into the pads helps keep them supple through the colder months.
Apply it when your dog is settled rather than straight before a walk, so it has time to absorb rather than being walked straight off.
Allergies
This is the most common cause of ongoing licking, and the most frustrating because it takes time to pin down.
Environmental allergies — grass, pollen, dust mites — often show up in the paws first, because that's where the contact happens. Food allergies can do the same.
Signs it might be allergy-related:
- Both front paws rather than one
- Worse at certain times of year, or worse after walks in long grass
- Ears are also itchy or smelly
- Belly and armpits look pink or irritated too
Wiping paws down after every walk won't cure an allergy, but it removes whatever they've picked up and takes some of the load off.
Infection
Constant licking keeps the skin wet, and wet skin between the toes is where yeast and bacteria do well. So licking causes infection, and infection causes more licking.
Look for redness between the toes, swelling, a smell, or discharge. Yeast has a distinctive musty smell that people often describe as like corn chips.
This one needs a vet. It doesn't clear on its own and topical shop-bought products rarely touch it once it's established.
Pain elsewhere
Dogs sometimes lick a paw when the actual problem is higher up — an arthritic wrist, a sprain, a sore elbow. The licking is a response to discomfort in the limb, not the paw itself.
Worth considering in older dogs, or if the licking started around the same time as any stiffness or reluctance on stairs.
Boredom and anxiety
Repetitive licking can become a self-soothing habit, in the same way some people bite their nails. It's more likely in dogs left alone for long stretches, or dogs not getting much mental stimulation.
This is worth considering only after the physical causes have been ruled out. Assuming it's behavioural when there's a grass seed in there is how small problems become big ones.
What you can do at home
- Check the paw properly — between every toe, and the pads
- Rinse after walks — plain warm water, especially in winter or after long grass
- Dry thoroughly — particularly between the toes, because damp skin is where trouble starts
- Keep the fur between the pads trimmed — it traps moisture and debris
- Moisturise dry pads — a twist-up paw balm is easier to apply than a tub, and less of it ends up on your hands
- Keep a note — which paw, what time of day, after which walks. Patterns show up quickly and your vet will find it useful
When to call the vet
Book an appointment if you see any of these:
- Licking that's constant, or that stops your dog sleeping
- Redness, swelling, or a smell between the toes
- Bleeding, or raw skin
- Limping alongside the licking
- No improvement after a week of checking and rinsing
Paw licking is one of those things that's easy to watch for months and put off dealing with. It's usually simple when caught early and considerably less simple once the skin is infected.
For the routine side of it — the winter dryness, the grit, the salted pavements — a rinse, a proper dry and a paw and nose balm at bedtime takes about a minute and is worth building into the evening.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If you're worried about your dog, speak to your vet.
