It is possible that we have seen that our dog frequently licks his pads, and we have not given importance to the matter, since all dogs do it on certain occasions without representing any serious problem. But sometimes the licking becomes excessive, and can lead to secondary injuries, caused by too vigorous grooming or biting.
our site will try to offer a general vision, which will surely answer the question that in each season of the year, depending on the case, usually assails a good number of owners: Why is my dog licking his pads?
The sweat glands on the pads
Before finding out why our dog licks his pads, it is important to first know the existence, in them, of the sweat glands. Dogs sweat through different parts of the body, but one of them is the pads.
These glands mainly have a thermoregulatory function (to form sweat, to regulate temperature), but there is also aodoriferous component , that is, they are responsible for producing substances that are degraded by the bacteria present on the skin when they reach the skin surface. The same glands give the dog (or cat) a characteristic odor (which is why these animals also mark their territory with their foot and palm pads).
Licking pads due to excessive cold/ or heat
In the case of extreme climates, with very low temperatures, these secretions from the sweat glands can form small "crystals" and lead to discomfort in dogs that live in such cold environments. In fact, dogs selected for sledding, such as the Siberian Husky or the Alaskan Malamute, have far fewer sweat glands than other breeds on the pads. Surely, having eliminated the dogs with these problems from breeding has achieved this reduction.
Sometimes there are no problems with the glands, but the skin on the pads cracks and cracks in the cold, when walking on snow or rocky terrain, causing our dog to compulsively lick his pads.
On days that are too hot and humid, we are always advised to soak our dog's pads, precisely because it is a source of regulation of body temperature. This cleaning helps eliminate the remains of eccrine and apocrine production from the sweat glands and allows them to continue fulfilling their mission.
To get an idea, your body tries to produce a secretion that helps you lower your temperature. However, at the exit of the gland canal, it encounters a lot of previously unremoved secretions that act as a "plug", causing itching and discomfort intense that our dog tries to relieve by licking.
How to avoid licking of the pads due to cold or heat?
If our dog has sensitive pads and is going to be exposed to extreme temperatures, it would be advisable to use some protective product for them (a kind of varnish that is spread on the pads) that usually combines acids with plant extracts such as Aloe vera or Centella asiatica.
On the contrary, on days of excessive heat, it is advisable to cool our dog frequently soaking the pads in fresh water, a way to promote thermoregulation and eliminate traces of substances that can prevent the proper functioning of the sweat glands.
Malassezia pachydermatis pad licking
This yeast is present throughout the body, but is more numerous in the foot pads, specifically in the interdigital area (among others places).
If our dog suffers from a yeast overgrowth, because he is allergic to pollen, food, stress…etc, it is The first symptom may be excessive licking of the footpads, as the increased Malassezia population and subsequent invasion of opportunistic bacteria make it very itchy.
We usually find white-coated dogs with an orange color around their fingers, since constant licking causes a degradation of the white color.
How to treat Malassezia pad licking?
It is necessary to find the cause that causes the overgrowth of yeast between the fingers and eliminate it, or at least control it. Until then, the population of these fungi can be controlled with daily local baths of diluted non-soapy chlorhexidine, which should be in contact with the pads for about 10-15 minutes a day (chlorhexidine works by contact time). Likewise, keeping the areas as dry as possible helps greatly, since fungi or yeasts always proliferate better in humid places.
Sometimes, our veterinarian will recommend miconazole or clotrimazole-based ointments if our dog does not allow the pads to soak, although they can be somewhat cumbersome to apply.
Licking of pads due to spikes or trauma
Other times, our dog will insistently lick the pads due to traumatic causes (a blow, a crack in a phalanx) or because a spike or splinter has been stuck, but what differentiates them from the above is that on this occasion, there will be only one affected leg: the one in which the injury occurred.
In summer, it is common for the spikes to get stuck between the fingers, especially in breeds with abundant hair in the area such as the cocker spaniel, and precisely because of that amount of hair, they go unnoticed. Once they pierce the interdigital skin barrier, they can remain lodged there causing pain, lameness, or constant licking of the area to alleviate the discomfort, until it is eliminated, or it can migrate to other areas under the skin.
Carefully check the pads in summer, and trimming the hair in that area for better control is essential. In case of locating something nailed, it is necessary to remove it carefully and apply some antiseptic that is not very aggressive or irritating (diluted iodine in warm saline, for example), until consulting our veterinarian.
Compulsive behaviors
If we have ruled out the problems mentioned above, we may find ourselves with compulsive behavior, also known as stereotyping. We could define this disorder as a repetitive behavior without an apparent purpose.
If you think your dog may be suffering from stereotypy, it is essential to review the five freedoms of animal welfare as well as contact a specialist, such as an ethologist: a veterinarian specializing in canine psychology.
