An Itchy Dog Paw Is A Symptom

An itchy dog paw can be a symptom for different types of problems. The biggest problem in dealing with this type of injury or irritation is that it is located in a place (the paw) where it is continually aggravated. This can make the healing time lengthy.

The best way to check out your huskies front paw is to get your husky to stand up. Then take the paw and curl it under toward his belly. Notice I am standing over my dog, some dogs find this stance threatening. You might have to stand to either side of your dog instead.

If your husky is licking his rear paw, hold the paw as close to his hind end as possible. Do NOT pull his leg out sideways, you will injure his hips.

If your husky is comfortable with laying down, you can check out her itchy dog paw that way too. Do not fight with your dog over checking out the paw because that is an easy way to get bitten.

Do not use any kind of human medication on your dog unless your vet gives you the okay. Remember, creams are absorbed into your dogs system through the skin. They do not have to swallow a pill to have it be called medication.

An itchy dog paw is the symptom, not the problem.

1. Red Spots They can be between the toes or almost anywhere on the foot. From a tiny spec to the whole paw. Dogs who lick their paws out of anxiety can cause irritation. Anxiety is a behavioral issue and I recommend reading the book Click to Calm: Healing the Aggressive Dog (Karen Pryor Clicker Book) even if your dog issue is not aggression because the calming techniques are the same.

Allergies can cause red spots any where on the body including the feet.. The source of allergies can be anything from dog food to the environment (grass, fleas, pollen). The cause of an allergy is often hard to pinpoint. You can eliminate food but you can't eliminate the environment. Allergies rarely heal on their own. I have 2 dogs with allergies. One has seasonal allergies and the other both environmental and food allergies. After spending thousands of dollars over 16 years of allopathic treatment of my first dog with allergies (with little relief) I have switched to a homeopathic Veterinarian. Both dogs are almost allergy free (a flare up now and then). Neither dog has had steroids, injections, or prescription medication.

Dr. Andrew Jones offers expert advice on caring for your dog at home. A must read for anyone looking into natural cures from a Vet that knows.

So you don't think it's allergies. Here are some other itchy dog paw causes:

If you exercise your dog by running, bikejoring, or hiking on less than ideal surfaces (pavement, rocky ground, rough surfaces) you may want to consider getting some dog booties, or consider changing the brand you are using. Dog boots put a layer between your dog's pad and the ground. If you have been using booties, sometimes the material they are made of is rough to the paw even when it feels soft to your touch. Pay attention while your dog wears booties. The trick is to keep the foot clean and dry underneath the boot. You can apply Desitin or 100% Vitamin E lip balm to help heal the cracks in the pad and repel moisture.

Sidebar Disease in general weakens the body. If your dog has an area that does not seem to heal, spreads, or gets worse, get them to the vet. It is always a possibility that something unrelated to the itchy dog paws has weakened your dogs system and is keeping him from healing a simple sore properly.

2. Licking Wrists and Joints Wrist licking can appear as an itchy dog paw, but sometimes it is more likely a sign of pain. The pain could be in the paw, wrists, back, and spine. The dog licks because licking releases endorphins at pressure points. If your dog is licking his front wrists the pain may originate in the back or hind end.

3. Bruised Toenail An itchy dog paw can be the sign of a bruised or infected toenail. If you look closely at the toenail it will look like a human thumbnail which has been hit with a hammer (you won't see this in dark nails). It will look bruised where the nail and the toe meet. Usually you leave bruised nails to heal on their own.

If the toe is infected the skin at the base of the toenail will be inflamed. Keep this area clean and dry. Do not apply anything to the area and do not wrap it. Rinse with room temperature water and gently towel dry. The foot can be soaked in Epsom Salt (mix according to box) for 10 minutes if your dog lets you. Long nails catch on things and tear. Keep your dogs toenails trimmed. It's difficult for any dog to get around wearing long nails. Long toenails can cause all sorts of issues, including making a dog limp or not want to work or play.

4. Broken Toe Sometimes a husky that licks her paw has a broken toe. A toe can break during playing, training, or just running. They can miss-step and break a toe. You may never notice a broken toe unless it swells. Do not attempt to splint or wrap a foot. Splinting is tricky business.

Usually splinting does more harm than good because the wrap can be chewed off and swallowed, put on too tight, or set incorrectly. If a wrap gets wet and is left on the dog, it can make the skin under that wrap necrotic (that means the skin under the wrap dies). If your dog is a working dog get the paw evaluated by a veterinarian. A broken toe that does not heal properly can keep a working dog from doing his job.

5. Splinters Your dog may be licking her paw due to a splinter. Many things can cause splinters from plants with sharp needles to tiny shards of glass like fiberglass insulation. You husky will act like she has an itchy dog paw because licking helps calm and relieve pain. Look closely and you may see the splinter. You can try to pick it out with your fingers or a tweezers. If you do not have any luck, try a dab of Elmer's glue over the splinter. When the glue dries, pull if off the paw, and hopefully the splinter will come with it. This may take a couple of tries.

6. Blisters Blisters are hard to identify They do look like a human skin blister (a raw red tender circle). Blisters happen from high friction (running on pavement, sand, granular snow). The best way to heal a blister is several days rest from these surfaces.

Sometimes what looks like a blister is really a growth. If it appears that the bump on the bottom of your huskies foot is not going away. Have it checked out. Lumps and bumps can be any number of things (and nothing at all). Have a professional check out lumps and bumps before you jump to conclusions.

7. Sore Pads Pads that are dry can crack and this causes your dog to lick them. 100% vitamin E lip balm makes a great moisturizer for your huskies pads. Just rub it on the dry pad. If your husky has a cracked pad that is deep, but not bleeding, you can use a drop of superglue (not any other glues!) to seal the crack and help the healing time. A dog boot can help keep the area from being re-injured.

8. A Note About Dog Booties Dog booties are often a necessity for a mushing or pulling dog, but booties are geographically specific depending on the surface your dog runs across. A dog boot made for granulated snow will be ruined in one run through rough rocky surfaces. You may have to try a few different boots before you find one that works. If the dog boot does not fit correctly, you will add insult to injury. Check your dogs paws often when wearing booties.

9. Keep Your Husky From Licking The Itchy Dog Paw I know this is difficult, but it is important. Licking can create a skin infection or exacerbate an infection. It's tough to keep your dog away from a sore paw so try to distract with a kong filled with peanut butter, a raw beef bone, or some other healthy distraction.

10. Working A Dog With A Sore Pad We don't all live near the veterinarian. In fact, sometimes we have to fly our dogs out (or wait for the vet to fly to us) before we can get vet care. Dr. Pitcairn's book has been my best reference for calming my nerves and determining what to do before getting to the veterinarian. It has several over the counter remedy's, nutrition recipes, and other health information for the dog (and cat) owner. Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats

Turid Rugaas does it again with her book Barking. A simple guide to understanding your dog's language.