Why does my dog always bite its own foot?

Licking toes and claws is a common behavior of dogs. Although licking and biting are considered normal behaviors to some extent, there may be potential medical problems if the dog's paws are red and swollen or the saliva is stained for a long time.

There are many reasons why dogs bite their paws, such as dry skin, wounds, something growing on their paws, irritants such as burrs or lice, anxiety and allergic skin diseases.

Whatever the reason, if dogs always bite their paws, it may lead to pain, lameness, secondary yeast infection or bacterial infection. Although only professionals can treat serious problems, such as licking granuloma, paw tumors, skin infections and chronic allergies, you can also take some measures at home to reduce paw licking caused by dry skin or contact dermatitis.

Wash your feet. Dogs are exposed to potential allergens and irritants every time they go out, such as pollen and chemicals on the lawn. The owner can try to clean the dog's feet with cleaning wipes after each walk or play in the yard.

Reduce allergen exposure. In addition to outdoor allergens spreading in our clothes and shoes, some indoor substances can also worsen the dog's skin. Dust mites, dander, detergents and cigarette smoke are a small part of many potential household irritants. Although there is no way to completely eliminate some substances, keeping the house clean as much as possible and cleaning the bedding used by dogs can also greatly reduce the probability of dog paw infection.

Maintain proper indoor temperature and humidity. For dogs with dermatitis, hot and humid weather is particularly difficult, and extreme lack of humidity in winter will cause serious harm to dogs with dry skin. So try to keep your home cool in summer, and use a humidifier in dry winter to reduce the irritation to the dog's skin.

Choose a healthy diet. The healthier the dog's diet, the more immune system can resist allergens and external stimuli. If the dog is allergic to food, be sure to carefully check the instructions on the food package to ensure that the food does not contain allergens. The owner can ask the veterinarian if the food without grain is suitable for your dog.

Supplement omega fatty acids. Fatty acids -3, -6 and -9 are derived from fish oil and plants, which can help dogs maintain their natural oils at a healthy level and play an anti-inflammatory role, thus reducing the intensity of allergens, which is very beneficial to dogs' skin.

As we often say, before providing treatment for dogs, we must understand their living conditions. Only by fully understanding the dog's condition can we help the dog better.