Why is my Shih Tzu excessively licking his red, twitching paw?

Hi there. It looks like Max may have cut or scratched his paw pad. He also could have burned it if he was walking on hot pavement. I recommend taking him to the veterinarian because it sounds like he is painful. Your veterinarian can prescribe some pain medications to help him become more comfortable. Hope this helps!

I’m sorry but it is difficult to tell what’s going on with the foot with just a picture. If the fur is a reddish brown color or skin is red then it could be allergies or an infection. I would try Benadryl twice a day and a cone collar to prevent her from chewing it. See link below. With her being sick, there are several different causes from liver/kidney issues, diabetes, an infection, parasites, pancreatitis, and much more. Since it has been going on for awhile I would have your vet take a look at her. She is at high risk for dehydration because of her size. Your vet will be able to determine the cause, look at her foot and get her started on the proper meds to make her feel better. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Hachi. If his paw is still bothering him today, I would recommend that he is seen. He could have sustained an insect bite or sting or stepped on something sharp. He could have a piece of something trapped under his skin. Either scenario would be irritating to him. The longer he goes on licking the paw, the more likely it will be to get infected. I hope this information helps!

I would recommend taking Maru to a veterinarian. It is hard to determine if that was a puncture wound, an abrasion from licking or a growth. After a physical examination, the veterinarian can determine if it is something to be concerned about. Until you can get Maru to a veterinarian I would recommend placing an Elizabethan collar on Maru to prevent him from licking at it. I hope Maru feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It looks like he might have chewed a hot spot onto his foot. It may have started with a minor scratch or bug bite or allergies. That itched, he chewed it, which irritated the area, which makes it itch more, and so on. I recommend getting him seen by your vet soon to have his skin checked. After an exam and possibly some lab work, your vet will have a better idea what is going on and how best to treat it.

Poor Austin! He could have an infection there, he may have been injured, there could be a foreign body, or he could have allergies. Ultimately he will need to see a vet for it, as he sounds pretty uncomfortable, so I'd take him into the vet in the morning. Tonight, you can try an Epsom salt bath for his paw to see if that helps temporarily. I'd also put an Ecollar on him to keep him from licking it more. You can make one at home, and I will put a link below on how to do it. Best of luck. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

If Daisy is only exhibiting this odd behavior 1 or 2 times a day I would not be overly concerned about it. She may have just discovered a new way to groom/clean her face and feet and is being fastidious about it. If the behavior becomes constant or obsessive (you are unable to get her to stop doing it with a simple command), then I would start to be concerned. She could have an itchy face/feet from allergies, her ears may be irritated, or she may have something stuck in her mouth/teeth. Just keep an eye on her for now and don't be too concerned unless the behavior progresses. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.