Aside from food allergy, there are other medical conditions that cause dogs to chew their feet persistently. These can range from skin diseases that occur between the toes to injury or pain caused by arthritis or hip dysplasia to tumors to autoimmune disease and cancer. Certain types of hormonal imbalances, such as abnormally high levels of cortisol or less than normal levels of thyroid hormone, can also cause foot biting in dogs. During winter, a dog’s skin can become very dry causing excessive paw chewing. Decreasing your pet’s exposure to the extreme cold and providing fatty acid supplements can help improve the condition of the skin. A dog with a cracked claw, a corn, or the presence of foreign objects in between the paw pads can also cause paw chewing. Other equally important causes of paw biting in dogs are parasites such as fleas, mites, and ticks, strong soaps and shampoos, and chemicals they may have walked on in the lawn, streets, and garden.
Persistent paw chewing in dogs should warrant an appointment with your animal hospital Des Moines, IA so it can be examined and treated appropriately.
