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Why is my dog's paw red between the pads and he keeps licking it?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 12 lbs

Hi. I have a 12 lb. Maltese poodle who has developed mysterious red between his individual paw pads on only one foot on the underside. I noticed him licking that paw so inspected it closely. I can't find an actual wound. He does NOT show discomfort when walking and does NOT lick constantly, but when he does lick, it's that specific paw and I did find the red discoloration on that paw only. Is it possible that his long nails (overdue for trimming) are at all related to the issue? Any advice..

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 19th, 2018

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.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 13th, 2020
Hello. This may be an indication that Milo has some allergies & sensitivities to something in his environment. You can try picking up a spray with a little hydrocortisone ( Zymox Topical Spray with Hydrocortisone is a very good one ). Most pet retailers will carry this, but it is available online at Amazon & Chewy.com. Spray a couple of times a day for the next few days & see if the irritation lessens. If it does, great, otherwise you may need to see your veterinarian for stronger drugs if the inflammation persists. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on November 22nd, 2018
This looks like an infection, possibly caused by excessive licking. This will need to be seen by a veterinarian who will have to determine whether there is a foreign body inbetween the pads (which could have started the licking behavior) and whether this infection is caused by bacteria or a fungus. Treatment would consist of clipping and disinfecting and removing any found foreign bodies as well as topical and/or oral medications. Your dog will need to wear an e-collar to prevent her from licking.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Vanessa Yeager DVM MPH
Veterinarian
Published on July 26th, 2018
Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

The paw pads do appear a bit red to me from the pictures. You can try an Epsom Salt bath for his paws 2-3 times daily for 5-10 mins. If you notice no improvement or if they worsen, he may need to see his veterinarian for an exam and antibiotics or other medications as needed.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Why is my dog licking a red, tender spot between his paw pads?

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!

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Why is my dog licking one paw? It's torn, red, and flaky. Allergies?

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.

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My dog licks paws, now limping with red spots. Should I call the vet?

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.

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My dog has red, raw paws and spots. What can I do before the vet?

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!

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My dog's paw is red and he's licking it. What home remedies help?

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.

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Why are my dog's paws red and he's licking them while on Apoquel?

That does look really red! More than likely, it is caused by his allergies. The Apoquel is a great allergy medicine that seems to work very well but he may need an additional medicine to try and get this flare up under control. He might need an antihistamine for a little bit so you could call your vet and see if he/she would prescribe an anti-histamine. If there is any evidence of infection than he might also need an antibiotic to treat. You could also soak his paw in a warm Epsom salt solution and see if that helps with the redness and itching. Using Mal-A-Ket wipes may also help.

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Why are my dog's feet red and he won't stop licking? Is it allergies?

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