My dog's paws are red and she's licking them. What should I do?

If BoDeen is only licking one paw then he may have something between his toes that is causing a problem. I will usually recommend soaking the foot in Epsom Salts (following the instructions on the box for making it up) for 5 minutes then just drying it well. That can be repeated twice daily. You should also try to figure out a way to prevent him from licking at the foot and to protect it. I like a light boot like TheraPaw Boot ( https://www.therapaw.com/therapawboot ), but you may also be able to find something at a local pet store that would work. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

It looks like Lillie may have a pododermatitis, or foot infection as there appears to be some redness and moisture in between her toes in the pictures. It could be secondary to trauma, but I typically see it in dogs with allergies. If she will let you soak her feet in Epsom salts for 5-10 minutes daily that may help but ultimately she may need to see a vet for treatment since oral medications are often much more effective. Good luck!

Hello. This is a very typical presentation of a dog with Atopy, an inhalant or contact skin allergy. Your veterinarian can recommend several different manners in which to address this problem, including medicated shampoos or oral/injectable antiallergy treatments. It is curious that we commonly only see this in 1 foot, but the irritation can develop anywhere on the body. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

She could have allergies or an infection. You could soak her paw in a warm Epsom salt solution and see if that helps. Otherwise, she should be examined by your vet. She may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or a corticosteroid to treat.

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.

This red staining is often due to over-licking. Dogs will lick a lot if they are itchy, or painful. It's a good sign that he is walking normally, but it's always possible that this is the start of an infection, or allergy. For now, it may be helpful to flush the area with cool water 2-3 times a day until it looks better. If you notice any swelling, or he starts to limp, then it would be best to have him evaluated by a veterinarian. It would also be good to have him seen by a vet if the foot does not look better in two weeks. I hope that helps and all is well with Echo.