15 Effective DIY Home Remedies For Dogs Licking Paws

Home Remedies For Dogs Licking Paws
Dogs have a strange habit of licking their paws. However, there are many home remedies to stop your dog’s paw licking behavior. The most effective home remedies are applying coconut oil to your dog’s paws, eliminating fleas and ticks from their feet, using turmeric powder on their feet, etc.

Seeing your dog licking their paws day and night might be frustrating for many dog owners. But do you know why dogs lick and bite their own paws?

Experts say that paw licking is normal behavior of a dog, but when they do it more frequently, there is an underlying reason behind it. Your dog might be struggling with stress or any disease, leading them to chew their own paws.

In this article, we’ll talk about the reasons that trigger the paw licking behavior in dogs and discuss the effective home remedies to prevent them from licking their paws.

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Why Do Dogs Lick Their Paws?

Over a period of time, dogs develop this strange habit of licking their paws. Sometimes this habit becomes so worse that they start chewing and biting their paws, resulting in soreness and redness in their feet.

But do you know that there are several reasons associated with dogs licking their paws? Below are the common reasons why your dog is licking their paws:

• Your dog is dealing with stress and anxiety
• Your dog is in pain due to cuts and wounds on his feet
• Your dog is struggling with food allergies
• Your dog’s paws are dry and shaggy
• Your dog’s paws have fleas and parasites
• Your dog is struggling with any underlying medical diseases
• Your dog is dealing with some behavioral issues

Along with these reasons, sometimes dogs often lick their paws out of curiosity and boredom. If they’re doing it for a limited time, it’s okay as it’s their expected behavior. However, if they’re licking and biting their paws excessively, it can turn out to be a big problem. 

15 DIY Home Remedies For Dogs Licking Paws

Excessive licking of paws may turn out to be painful and stressful for your dog. It can lead to damaging their paws, bleeding, and soreness. However, many harmless home remedies can prevent your dog from licking and biting its paws. Below are 15 DIY home remedies to prevent your dog from licking paws.

1. Improve Your Dog’s Diet

Whenever dogs suddenly start behaving in an ugly and unwanted manner, it means they’re not doing good with their diet and food. Sometimes, they get allergic to the meals they’re consuming, leading to itching and irritation in their bodies.

Food allergies are common in dogs and can be annoying for our canines. It’s essential to change their diet from time to time and introduce some healthy proteins to their meals.

You can also cut spicy and oily food from your dog’s diet because that also leads to itchiness in their body. Try speaking to your vet if you think your dog is struggling with food-related allergies.

2. Apply Coconut Oil To Your Dog’s Paws

When dogs lick their paws more often, there are odds that they’ve developed cuts and wounds on their legs. They start to lick and chew their paws to get relief from those wounds. And as a result, their legs become sore and red.

Applying coconut oil to their paws is a great way to provide them comfort and relief from the wound pains. You can use cotton balls to apply the coconut oil to their paws. This will give them comfort and soothe their cuts.

3. Apply Apple Cider Vinegar To Your Dog’s Paws

Apple Cider Vinegar mix is another home remedy solution to stop dogs licking their paws. Apply the mix to your dog’s paws with the help of cotton and gently massage their legs. The apple cider vinegar has a hamper taste that prevents your doggie licking their paws. 

Before applying this solution directly to your dog’s paws, try mixing it with water in a 50/50 ratio. This is because the direct mix may harm your dog’s sensitive skin.

4. Use Baking Soda To Comfort Their Paws

Baking soda has anti-inflammatory properties and is not harmful to the skin. It is widely used in many home remedies to help treat animals’ wounds, cuts, and itching. 

To apply baking soda to your dog’s paws, make a paste of it by mixing it well with water. Then use it gently on your canine’s paws, and let it be there for 1-2 hours. The paste will help in soothing the wounds and cuts on your dog’s paws. It will also relieve them from itching and irritation in their paw areas. Later wash it with lukewarm water. 

5. Use Ice Cubes To Soothe Their Paws

Ice is another effective home remedy to help treat any pain and soreness in your dog’s paws. It reduces the pain (if any) and stops canines licking their paws. 

To use ice on your dog’s paws, first, take a clean towel and put ice cubes in it. Then gently keep the towel on your dog’s paws until they get cold enough. Try repeating this home remedy 2-3 times a day, and your pet will get comfort and relief.

6. Bathe Your Dog Paws With Oatmeal Mix

The oatmeal mix is anti-inflammatory and a natural moisturizer that helps with dry skin. Bathing your dog with Oatmeal mix is an excellent way to help moisturize their dry paws.

To create an Oatmeal mix for bathing purposes, follow the below steps:

• Mix one-two cup of Oatmeal with warm water
• Let it cool down to a gentle level
• Soak your dog’s paws in it for about 10-15 minutes

7. Use Medications To Stop Licking

When a pet struggles with red and sore paws, veterinarians often suggest over-the-counter medications to help treat their pain.

Medications also help eliminate any termites, parasites, and fungus in their paw areas. If you’re not sure about which medication will be suitable for your dog, you must consult your veterinarian for the right medicine.

8. Dog Boots Prevent Canines From Licking Their Paws

If nothing is working out for you, dog boots are there to stop your dog from chewing and biting its paws. Also, dog boots easily cover the dogs’ paws and protect them from getting hit by something.

Dog boots make it difficult for the canines to lick their paws, but it’s not a permanent solution to the problem. It’s a temporary aid to a bigger problem but will keep your dog away from damaging its own paws.

9. Get Calming Shampoo For Your Dog’s Paws

Many anti-bacterial and soothing shampoos are available in the market that helps in comforting the itchiness and irritation in a dog’s paws. These shampoos contain oatmeal, aloe vera, and Vitamin E, which help eliminate any allergies and bacteria.

Try giving your pooch a shampoo bath once a week to clean their paws and the skin. As an intelligent dog owner, you should always know how frequently your doggie needs a bath.

10. Get Rid Of Fleas And Ticks From Your Dog’s Paws

Many dogs also chew and bite their paws if dealing with fleas and ticks in their paw areas. This leads to discomfort in their feet, and they lick them to avoid the irritation.

Treating your dog to eliminate the parasites from their feet can significantly stop your doggie from biting their paws. Consult with your veterinarian for proper fleas removal procedures.

11. Use Turmeric Paste Powder To Treat Their Paw Wounds

Turmeric is one of the best home remedies to treat cuts and wounds in your dog’s paws. It has anti-inflammatory properties, which help treat the cuts and stop the bleeding.

To apply turmeric powder to your dog’s paws, first, make a paste of it by mixing it with a little water. Then, apply it to your dog’s feet and leave it for a few hours. Later, wash your dog’s feet with lukewarm water to clean the turmeric paste. The turmeric powder will heal your dog’s paws and reduce irritation.

12. Spend More Time With Your Dog

In many cases, dogs start licking their paws to seek their owner’s attention. When they find out that you’re not giving them enough time, they showcase weird behavior, and paw licking is one behavior.

Spending more time with your dog will not only make your dog happy but will also help you in observing their daily behavior. When your dog will feel your presence near them, they’ll eventually reduce their attention-seeking licking habits.

13. Set A Healthy Routine For Your Dog

Like attention-seeking, many dogs lick their paws out of boredom and anxiety. It happens mainly because their daily routine is ordinary, making them lazy and bored. So, to kill their boredom, they start licking their paws or other home items.

Setting up a healthy routine for your canine is a great way to keep them engaged in productive and busy activities. Try going out with your dog more frequently, exercise them, play with them, etc., to keep them entertained.

14. Distract Your Dog From Chewing Their Paws

Another nice way to keep your dog from licking and chewing its paws is to distract them from doing this bad activity. Whenever you see your dog taking their tongue close to their feet, distract them by using some commands, calling their name, or throwing their favorite toy towards them.

15. Try Seeking Veterinarian Advice

Although the home remedies are sufficient to stop your dog from chewing and biting its paws, if you think your dog’s paws condition is getting worse, you should consult with your veterinarian.

Your veterinarian will closely examine your dog’s paws and find out the root cause of the problem. Your vet will treat your dog’s paws if there is any underlying condition beneath them.

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Final Thoughts

Paw licking is common and typical dog behavior exhibited by almost all dog breeds. Knowing why your dog is licking their paws is the first step to identifying the root of the problem. Trying the above home remedies for dog licking paws will help your dog soothe down their paws’ pain and stop their excessive paw licking and chewing behavior.