Why is my dog licking a red, hairless paw spot? Is it stress?

Hello, and thank you for using PetCoach. I’m seeing a red, round, raised, hairless mass. This appearance would make me primarily suspicious of either a [histiocytoma](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/histiocytoma/) or a [mast cell tumor](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/mast-cell-tumors/). The only way to tell for sure what this lump is, is via cytology. Your vet will get a small sample of cells with a needle and examine them under a microscope to determine what the mass is. I definitely recommend having this done as soon as possible. A histiocytoma is a benign mass that tends to spontaneously resolve. A mast cell tumor would be a concern, and should be surgically removed as soon as possible. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At least in the picture, there is no evidence of a mass or anything like that particularly concerning. This could potentially be allergies causing him to lick at his paws. The main causes of allergies are fleas, ingredients in the food or something in the environment. If he continues to do this, it would be ideal to have him evaluated by your veterinarian to start to work him up for allergies and to potentially start him on medications to decrease the itch and potentially treat a secondary infection if found on exam. Good luck and have a great night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This could just be an allergic condition, but looking at the spotty nature of the pads, I would also be concerned that this might be an auto-immune condition called pemphigus, where the lesions are often first noticed on the footpads. Since this has been ongoing for several months, & now she is showing signs of pain, it is time to have your veterinarian evaluate the pads for what is going on. Hope all is well. Take care.

It's hard to say if Spot started licking the paw because of allergies or a wound. Excessive licking of the paws can cause secondary trauma to the skin and pads. Pads can take 6-8 weeks to completely heal, so preventing licking and protecting the pad is the best treatment. If the skin between the toes is also affected, I would recommend having Spot examined by a a vet to determine if there is an active infection. Allergies can cause paw licking, but it is generally on 2 or 4 feet, so I think it is less likely in this case.

From your pictures, a possible cause might be a lick granuloma. These start for some reason (sometimes a bug bite, a small scratch, or a small skin mass) and the dog licks at them and makes it worse. They lick at it and push surface bacteria deeper which makes it itch, so they lick. It becomes almost a habit like a human biting their fingernails. So- I would recommend a visit to the veterinarian. They can check to make sure that is what it is , make sure that the inciting cause is gone, and do some diagnostics to determine a treatment plan. Has there been any changes to Neo's environment? Sometimes stress can start a lick granuloma or prolong it. Your veterinarian will most likely start antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. They might also recommend increasing his activity in case boredom is a cause. If there is a small skin mass present- they will recommend diagnostics on that. Good luck! Sometimes these take time, so have patience. Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It doesn't have the appearance of a lick granuloma. It could be a hotspot. Hot spots typically have an allergic component. You can discuss allergy testing, hydrolyzed diets, food elimination trials and antihistamine use with your veterinarian An e-collar (cone) can be used to prevent licking. Minor hot spots are treated topically. The spot is clipped, cleaned and an antibiotic/steroid ointment is applied until resolved. https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/acral-lick-dermatitis/ https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/hot-spots/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-treat-and-prevent-hot-spots-on-dogs/