How To Stop Dog From Licking Paws: Home Remedy
Slurp! Slurp! Slurp!
If your dog won’t stop licking their paws, it could be more than just a quirky habit; it might signal discomfort, allergies, or stress. Before rushing to the vet or strapping on the “cone of shame,” there are several safe and natural remedies you can try to soothe your dog’s paws and help break the cycle.
In this guide, we’ll explain why dogs lick their paws, how to spot the root cause, and how to stop dog paw licking using gentle, natural methods at home.
Key takeaway:
If your dog won’t stop licking their paws, start by checking for signs of injury, irritation, or allergies. Then try natural home remedies like oatmeal soaks, apple cider vinegar sprays (on unbroken skin), or DIY paw balms to relieve discomfort. Protecting paws with dog boots and addressing boredom or anxiety can also help break the habit.
Why Do Dogs Lick Their Paws Excessively?
As mentioned already, occassional paw licking is a natural behavior to some extent. Dogs don't have hands to explore or remove irritations, so they use their mouths. However, excessive paw licking can be dangerous.
1. Pain or Injury
A dog may resort to licking their paws if they are in pain or discomfort. This can come from a number of factors, such as arthritis, nail and paw injuries, genetic hyperkeratosis, or burn wounds.
Their paw pads can also become burned or irritated — common reasons behind why dogs paws are red, especially after walking on hot surfaces or sharp ice. In some cases, issues like unhealthy dog nails may also cause irritation, prompting constant paw licking.
2. Allergies & Environmental Irritants
Your canine friend’s paws are one of the only areas not protected by fur, so they’re more likely to come into contact with irritants like grass, chemicals, or hot pavement.
Harsh chemicals from cleaning products, dry heated air, antifreeze, sidewalk salt, or hot surfaces can cause dry paw pads, leading to itchy paws, cracks, or irritated skin. This often leads to licking as they try to soothe discomfort.
Itchy pet paws, and excessive scratching may sometimes be a result of allergic reactions. This can be a contact allergy, such as the paw pads coming into contact with grass or dust mites, but could also be the result of food allergies.
Common food allergies are normally due to a specific protein, such as beef, eggs, dairy, soy, fish, and so on. They can also be from things such as wheat or other grains, which are often used to bulk up dog food. Changing to a prescription diet or an elimination diet may help if the issue stems from their food.
Certain cleaning chemicals and shampoos may also affect a dog with very sensitive skin, or they may develop an allergy towards them. Shampoos that aren't rinsed properly can also cause dry skin and flaking.
Insect bites from fleas, mosquitoes, or ticks may also lead to hot spots, swelling, or excessive paw licking due to discomfort or flea allergy dermatitis.
3. Boredom, Anxiety, or Stress
Much like a human biting their fingernails, a dog obsessively licking its paws may be a nervous habit.
If a dog has gone through a recent stressful event, such as a move or a new dog, they may be very stressed out and resort to paw licking to soothe themselves. Other times, the habit may come from past trauma or abuse. It can also happen because of separation anxiety.
Other times a dog's paw licking can be a sign of boredom. The repetitive action might help alleviate some of the boredom and frustration that they are feeling.
4. Skin Infections or Dryness
Paw irritation can also be triggered by skin infections, such as bacterial and yeast infections, especially if the paws have small wounds, broken skin, or have been exposed to dirty paws or warm, moist environments.
Dogs with dry skin or dry paw pads may lick to relieve discomfort, but this often worsens the issue, causing irritated paw pads and opening the door to secondary infections.
Occasionally, dry, itchy skin may be a result of a nutritional deficiency. This is common for dogs who only eat cheap, dry food. It is normally a result of a lack of protein, fat, or zinc in the dog’s diet. [1]
Get To The Root of The Problem
The first thing you are going to want to do is get your dog's feet examined by a vet. They can eliminate the possibility of it being a pain management strategy or an underlying health condition. They may also be able to provide medicine for certain conditions like hyperkeratosis. Veterinary medicine may be necessary for more serious conditions or secondary infections.
An allergy test may also reveal hidden environmental allergies or food allergies.
If you suspect boredom or stress to be the culprit, you can try to help your dog relax by trying some new toys, crate training, or providing them with some more exercise, stimulation, and attention. The majority of nervousness and boredom comes from a lack of exercise, so try walking more or finding some alternative exercise.
How To Stop a Dog From Licking Paws: Home Remedy Approaches
Even if you have found the root cause of your dog’s itchy paws, it may take some time to see results. In the meantime, you can help soothe their irritated paws naturally in the meantime.
1. Improve Diet for Skin & Paw Health
While technically a ‘root cause,' you can try to improve the quality of your dog's paws by improving their diet.
Since zinc deficiency and a lack of healthy fats like medium-chain fatty acids or omega-3s are often the cause of dry, itchy skin and cracked paws, you can try switching to homemade dog food for a while. Try to stick to food that has a lot of beef, lamb, spinach, and whole grains for more zinc. Avoid processed grains that can be a source of allergy for many dogs.
You can also include more protein and vegetable oils along with their kibble, such as coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, or oily protein such as fish or egg, to give them an omega-oil boost. This will hydrate the dry skin and hopefully cut down on the excessive licking.
2. Try an Oatmeal or Baking Soda Soak
Dogs lick their paws often, especially if something is stuck on it. This is why finding a non-toxic, anti-itch solution for dry skin is very important.
Soothing baths help with skin irritations and a dog’s itchy spots. Oatmeal is a good, non-toxic, anti-inflammatory that has been proven to work on both humans and dogs.[2]. It can improve your dog’s skin health by reducing severe itching, exfoliating, and restoring moisture.
You can make an oatmeal bath at home by throwing ½ a cup of oats (unflavored instant oats or slow-cooking oats are fine) into a food processor and blitzing it to make a powder. This powder can then be mixed into warm water for a dog soak. The water should appear slightly milky.
You can then bathe the dog as you normally would (without the shampoo, of course)
You can also make a baking soda paste or bath (1 tbsp of baking soda per cup of water) to apply on irritated paw pads.
These home remedies for dog itching are non-toxic and safe, even if licked off.
3. Use Apple Cider Vinegar Spray (on unbroken skin)
A diluted apple cider vinegar spray (50/50 with water in a spray bottle) is a common home remedy for itchy dog paws and bacterial infections. It helps balance pH and fights yeast infections and bacteria.
Avoid spraying on broken skin or dog's fur that's irritated.
4. Apply a Soothing Homemade Paw Balm
Most balms have the same ingredients, and it shouldn't be too difficult to scrounge them up to rub on some chapped paw pads.
For a simple paw-balm recipe, you will need
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¼ cup high quality coconut oil
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¼ cup shea butter
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⅛ cup olive oil
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¼ cup beeswax or soy wax pellets
It is as simple as combining all of these ingredients into a pot on low heat until they melt and combine together. Afterward, the mixture should be stored in an airtight container in a cool and dry area.
NOTE: It can be tempting to put essential oils into the balm, but most dogs will not appreciate the strong smell. Many of them can also be harmful if the dogs lick any of the mixture.
Other Natural Ways to Prevent Dog Paw Licking
Preventing your dog’s paw pads from getting damaged in the first place is a simple yet effective short-term solution. When paws are protected, your dog is less likely to lick them due to irritation or injury. Physically stopping the paw licking for a while can also help break the habit, especially if it’s become a nervous or obsessive behavior.
Use Dog Boots on Walks
Dogs lick damaged paws, so using well-fitted dog boots on walks helps prevent damage from hot or cold surfaces, sharp stones, pests, and other outdoor hazards. Protective footwear like Sparkpaws Pawtector dog shoes can reduce contact with irritants and keep paws in better condition.
Apply Paw Protection Before Outdoor Time
If your dog doesn’t tolerate boots, consider applying a paw balm before walks. This creates a protective barrier over the paw pads, preventing dryness and irritation from heat, salt, or rough terrain. It also helps keep any balms or medication from being wiped off too easily.
Distract with Toys or Enrichment
If your dog tends to lick out of boredom, offering toys or enrichment activities can redirect their focus. Puzzle feeders, chew toys, or games that stimulate your dog mentally and physically can help reduce anxious habits like constant paw licking.
Address Underlying Anxiety or Stress
If the excessive licking seems tied to anxiety or past trauma, investing in a professional dog trainer may help. Training can provide structure, reduce stress, and give your dog a greater sense of security. This approach works especially well when licking is linked to separation anxiety or nervous habits.
If licking continues after trying several natural remedies, or if you notice bleeding, swelling, or limping, consult your vet to rule out infections, parasites, or deeper health issues.
Conclusion
Dogs lick their paws for a variety of reasons, including boredom, stress, pain, itching, allergies, damage repair, and more. When the dog licks its paws it can dry them out and create more damage.
The best solution is to get to the root of the problem. For example, changing their diet if the licking is from an allergy, providing more exercise for boredom, or giving them shoes to cut down on injuries and wear and tear.
You can help them heal from the damage by soothing their wounds and dryness with an oatmeal paste or bath, or by smearing the paw pads with a paw balm. Making these concoctions yourself allows you to make sure they are non-toxic and that you're not getting scammed by a snake oil salesman.
You can also try to prevent the paws from getting damaged or injured in the first place by providing them with a well-fitting pair of dog shoes to protect the soles of their feet from hazards and extreme temperatures.
If you are interested in good-quality dog shoes, try Sparkpaws' collection of Water-resistant Dog Boots and Shoes. The best cure is careful prevention.
Happy Walking!
Ext Links
[2] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com
[3] https://www.marthastewart.com