My dog started licking her paws...now they are red and raw..?

I noticed that my dog had matted hair on her front paws, so I sat her down to brush her. Well, her paws were wet and matted because she is licking them so much! I started to brush her and then I pulled up this clump of hair and her skin was so red and raw, it must hurt her so bad. It looks like she has been licking her paws for days now. We switched her food a few weeks ago and she has been getting dandruff.(which she never had on her old food) I didn't notice any nasty critters like lice or fleas on her, but I am very worried that she might have mange and transfer it to me and my family. I am starting to get very worried that she might have some serious problem. I have never seen a dog lick itself until its skin is raw and bloody. I want her to be as safe and healthy as possible. Has anyone experienced anything like this with their animals before?

My dog started licking her paws...now they are red and raw..?
Well, I'm no expert when it comes to this stuff, but you should probably play it safe and take her to see a vet.
Reply:what food did you switch her to?


i only ask b/c i doubt its mange (but a vet visit is always best) and it sounds like allergies.
Reply:I'd take her to the vet to get allergy tested. It's common for them to lick their paws A LOT when they have allergies. She is probably allergic to something in her new food. If she did well on her old food you should probably switch her back.
Reply:Our lab is prone to allergies (bad ones) and one time she began licking her paws and they became red, raw, and even became quite swollen. She ended up on medication and I had to soak her paws in warm water mixed with betadyne (until the mixture was the color of strong tea)... after soaking twice a day, 20 minutes per foot and doing the meds for like, apx 2 weeks it cleared up.


So like others have said, definately call te vet because it could easily get pretty bad, and pretty quickly...


Also, a good, inexpensive food that I've used is avoderm lamb and rice. There are other, better brands for allergies that could help also.


Avoid foods that have corn as a main ingredient (look for foods that have real meat as the main ingredients and lamb is good... duck is another good meat)
Reply:Her paws were already injured, that's why she licked them to soothe the pain. By you being the owner not paying any attention to her til it was too late. Now her paws are infected, so she needs medical attention, because going in the grass and wet areas is not helping it outside. Vet care soon.
Reply:It sounds like she's allergic to the new food that you switched her to. There might be an ingredient that she's allergic to that the previous diet that she was on doesn't have. Dogs tend to lick themselves raw because they're very itchy. You can take her to the vet and see if it's that but in order to know that she's definitely allergic to the food is by taking a blood test for allergy testing. They might recommend a specific diet for her to calm down her itchiness. I doubt it would be mange. So bring her to the vet and see what they say.
Reply:My dog tends to do that too but not on her paws. She usually nibbles the area around her tail in the summer time because of dry skin.





I think your dog might have had an allergic reaction to the new food you've given her. For the paws, try to keep an eye on her and not let her lick it. Putting vasaline on it can help control the dryness and itching.
Reply:My dog had a similar thing. The vet indicated that it was an allergy of some kind and prescribed some ointment which has proved very effective. It relieves the itchiness and discourages the dog from licking her paws.