Dog Licking Paws Excessively: Common Causes and fixes

Okay, so my dog, Luna, she's a golden retriever, started licking her paws like crazy a few weeks ago. At first, I didn't think much of it, you know, dogs lick, it's what they do. But then it got to the point where she was doing it all the time, even waking up in the middle of the night to gnaw at her paws.

I started to get worried. Her paws looked a little red, and I could tell she was uncomfortable. So, I did what any responsible dog owner would do – I started investigating!

My Investigation Process

• First, I checked her paws really closely. I looked between her toes, checked the pads, felt for anything unusual. I was looking for any cuts, splinters, thorns, anything that could be causing irritation. I even sniffed them! (Don't judge, you gotta do what you gotta do.) I didn't find anything obvious, no foreign objects or visible wounds.
• Next, I thought about allergies. We hadn't changed her food recently, but I started wondering if it could be something environmental. Had we walked anywhere new? Was there something in the yard she was reacting to? We had recently used a new fertilizer on the lawn, so that was a suspect.
• I also considered the possibility of anxiety. She's a pretty chill dog, but we had some family visiting recently, and that always throws her off a bit. I know some dogs lick their paws when they're stressed.

What I Did

• Cleaned the Paws:

  I started with a simple cleaning solution.

  I diluted some dog-shampoo in water.

  I soaked each of the paws in a small tub.

  I rinsed really thoroughly.

  Then, I dried her paws, I made sure to get between the toes really well.

• Tried an Oatmeal Soak: I'd heard that oatmeal can be soothing for itchy skin, so I gave that a try. I ground up some plain oatmeal (the kind you eat, not the fancy dog stuff) into a powder, mixed it with warm water, and had Luna stand in it for about 10 minutes. She actually seemed to enjoy that!
• Changed the Lawn Routine: I immediately stopped using the new fertilizer. I started rinsing her paws off with plain water every time she came in from the yard, just in case it was something she was picking up outside.
• Increased Playtime and Attention: To address the possible anxiety, I made sure to give her extra playtime, cuddles, and walks. Basically, I just tried to keep her busy and happy.

The Result? Slowly but surely, the licking started to decrease. After about a week of the cleaning, oatmeal soaks, and extra attention, she was back to her old self. Her paws looked less red, and she wasn't constantly gnawing at them. I'm still keeping a close eye on her, and I'm rinsing her paws after walks, but I think we've tackled the problem!

I'm pretty sure it was either the fertilizer or a bit of anxiety, or maybe a combination of both. It's tough to know for sure, but I'm just glad she's feeling better. This whole experience taught me to pay closer attention to Luna's behavior and to trust my instincts when something seems off. Dog ownership is a learning process, that's for sure!