You may have noticed that your dog chews or licks his or her paws. While this behavior is normal and common, it can also be the sign of a more serious problem. With excessive licking, your dog’s paw could end up with discoloration, swelling and odor. Is this issue a behavioral or medical problem?

If a dog has anxiety or is simply bored, some lick their paws to distract themselves. The issue is that they might end up licking their paws raw. To fix the problem, give your dog a toy to keep them occupied. For the anxious pet, this will keep them from becoming distraught when you leave. Additionally, a bored pet will be less likely to chew themselves if they have a distraction.

Dogs often lick their wounds, so this could be a sign that there is something going on with their paw. If you notice that it is red, swollen or inflamed, your pet could have a fever, food allergy or flea allergy. If there are underlying issues, your vet will need to run a few tests to determine the cause. This includes food trials and skin testing. It could also be arthritis or other internal conditions.

Remember that while this behavior is not out of the ordinary, it can also be the sign of something more serious. Keep a log of when the licking started and track any other unusual symptoms.