dogs paws

[Jimble Jones]

a friend's dog keeps licking the top of his feet/paws and for a long time even when you try and stop him, he persists. he is an 8 and a half year old cairn terrier, any ideas as to why

[Sammy Snake]

We had a Cocker Spaniel that did that and it turned out he had excema.

Your friend will have to take him to the vets though really as it could be anything.

[Carakeel]

I have a Shih-Tzu who does this and I have had all the tests done at the vets over and over again. He has been licking his paws ever since I first got him 6 years ago. Despite spending a lot of money trying to find the cause we never have been able to identify it. I am glad to know though that he is actually a very happy and extremely healthy little dog, just has a leg fetish .. :o)

[bluevern]

salt,,,,,they like the salt in ya feet,,,all dogs do it,,,

[Kimmiebear]

Can be a sign of an ingrown toenail or possible an infection.

[makemesmile]

bluevein - the dogs are licking their own feet! ; P

[makemesmile]

sorrrrrrrrrrrrry! bluevern not bluevein - fruedian slip!

[Clanad]

If, as suggested, the dog doesn't have any physical problems with his feet, you'll find that dogs, as well as other domesticated animals, often exhibit this kind of repetitive syndrome. It seems to be just a way of dealing with stress. We had a German Short Hair retriever that did this with the addition of occasionally chewing his toe nails. Repeated visits to the the Vet indicated no health problems with his feet (or anything else). An older Vet said his experience was, as I described above. We moved a recently acquired cat out to the barn and, voila, the dog stopped the chewing... check him for health problems though, as wisely suggested...