Licking paws

Whenever we catch hank licking his paws we avert his attention elsewhere but obviously we can’t do that when we aren’t with him.

I’ve just noticed on one of his back paws one of the toes looks red so I had a nosey and in between all his toes on both back feet are raw and have puss between them I have some antiseptic wash from the vets from when we took him to have the lump checked on his leg as it got nasty but has gone now from putting the wash on it as advised. Do you think I should give them a wash with this or do I need something different?

I’ve googled what it can end up looking like with this licking and I do not want that to happen to him

I would try and find out why he is licking them for a start..if its all four feet he may be sensitive to grass or something else he is walking on a lot. If its one foot, there might be an issue with that foot or he has focused on it as a soothing type thing...Lexi would lick her right front paw when she was left alone as a stress release - it ended up in a large blister type thing. Our vet is oldschool and had seen it before, he advised to ignore it but do as you do, distract them and offer other "alone" time training. If they are stressing about being alone, thats then something to work on.

Certainly check his paws, but I'd clean them with warm salty water for the moment, just to gently remove any pus. Once they're clean you can check to see if there are any scratches etc.

If it's grass that he's sensitive to you may have to wipe his paws with a damp cloth or paper towels after walks & maybe wipe some vaseline on his paws before walks. Sensitivity to cut grass is actually quite common.

Yeah it's just his back 2, if it was a sensitivity to grass is it possible to just be on 2 and not all? I have noticed before after he had been running in a swampy area his paws were red and I always give him paws a wipe when we get in so he isn't getting mud everywhere but will give them a throughout clean now after walks. granted he lets me!

It is possible for a sensitivity to grass sap to affect one or two paws only. I suppose the only way to make sure is to wipe all his paws & see if it helps.

It could, though, be a scratch or pad crack that's become inflamed a little. Worth cleaning thoroughly & having a good look!

Literally just figured out why it’s just the back 2.. and must be from the grass etc like you’ve said when he has a poop he then kicks back a few times! Will just keep wiping them when we get in from walks

Good news. When you know the cause, much easier to find a solution.
Hope his paws are clear of all irritation quickly

Back paw licking has been an ongoing problem for my Flo and would end up like your Hank's, very sore. We wash them as soon as we see her getting at them.

sounds like you're on top of things and hopefully all will be good going forward.

In Flo's case we were told it could be transferred pain or irritation but never really got a satisfactory answer, however, since Flo has had her surgery she hardly licks them at all now so it could well have been a symptom.

Please don't start fretting about all things bad, I'm sure you have Hank's nibbling sorted and he'll be fine.

My boy gets this a LOT. Between his toes gets red and inflamed, and often there is pus and even a bit of blood where he bites them. He has a couple of interdigital cysts on his back feet as a result of his sensitivities. I check his feet regularly and I've found the best thing to do when his feet flare up is the following:

* Clean the feet with paper towel, gently, getting rid of the worst of the dirt and pus.

* Soak each foot in warm water with Epsom salts dissolved in it, for a minute or so each. Clean between the toes and the pads with your fingers to allow the water to get everywhere.

* Dry the feet completely and apply either a small amount of Savlon to the worst areas, rubbing in completely, or generous sprinklings of Antibacterial Powder (Johnsons is good). Rub in the powder completely. If your dog licks a lot then use the powder.

Do this twice a day every day and there should be marked improvement within a week.

They seem to be improving already, still red but no pus and if I catch him nibbling & licking ill get his attention with something else so just going to keep on top of it

Nita had this really badly when I first got her, so much so her paws were bare. The vet thought it was demodectic mange that may have been transferred from her Mum when she was a newborn and had been left untreated. I was given some liquid to put on her coat to kill them and after six months or so they then decided to take a skin sample and it came back negative.
Really that should have been done before but regardless, the treatment worked and she rarely licks them now.

Saying all that, her feet can get inflamed and red when she has been walking on wet grass so a good clean and dry and it keeps it in check.