844-436-7691
Start with one question: is your dog licking one paw, or all four? It narrows things faster than anything else on this page. One paw usually means something local — a cut, a thorn, a torn nail, a sting, or pain in that leg. All four usually means something systemic — allergies, parasites, or anxiety. Some licking is normal grooming, especially after a walk or a meal. It becomes a problem when it is constant, leaves the fur stained reddish-brown, or the skin turns red, raw or smelly. To stop it, match the fix to the cause: rinse and dry the paws after walks, protect the paw with a cone, bootie or sock while the skin heals, treat any infection or parasites, and get allergies and pain diagnosed by a vet. Bitter sprays and balms help only once the reason for the licking is being dealt with. The step-by-step plan by cause is further down this page.
Written by Marc Brannigan, Co-Founder & CEO of HempMy Pet. Last updated 4 November 2026.
The Two-Minute Paw Check
Before anything else, look. Most owners never actually examine the paw, and about a third of the time the answer is sitting right there between the toes.
One paw points at injury, a foreign object, a torn nail, or pain in that limb. All four points at allergy, parasites or a behavioural cause. This single observation splits the list in half.
Between the pads and between the toes. Grass seeds, thorns, small cuts, cracked pads, a broken nail, an embedded sting, ticks. Ticks in particular burrow between the toes.
Red or swollen skin, oozing, crusting, thickened or darkened pads — and smell it. A musty or yeasty odour points at a yeast infection. That is a vet visit, not a home fix.
The reddish-brown stain on white fur is not dirt. It is saliva, and it means the licking has been going on far longer than you noticed.
The Eight Causes, Side by Side
| Cause | What it looks like | The tell |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Normal grooming | A short session after a walk, after eating, or settling down for the night. Paws look completely normal. | It ends on its own and the skin is healthy. Many dogs have a bedtime licking ritual — that is not a problem. |
| 2. Environmental allergy | All four paws, itching between the toes, often with itchy ears and face too. Frequently seasonal. | All four paws plus ears. Atopic dermatitis is the second most common allergic skin disease in dogs and usually starts between one and five years old. |
| 3. Food sensitivity | Year-round itchy paws, ears and skin, sometimes with digestive upset. Not seasonal. | It does not follow the seasons. The most common culprits are beef, dairy, chicken, eggs, soy and gluten — but this needs a proper elimination diet, not guesswork. |
| 4. Injury or something stuck | Sudden, intense licking of one paw. Possibly limping or holding the foot up. | One paw, started suddenly. Grass seeds, thorns, glass, a torn nail, a bee sting, a burn from hot pavement or winter salt. |
| 5. Parasites | Licking and biting at the paws and legs, sometimes with scratching elsewhere. Possible black specks in the coat. | Check with a flea comb. Fleas leave "flea dirt"; ticks burrow between the toes, under the legs and behind the ears. |
| 6. Yeast or bacterial infection | Red, moist, smelly skin between the toes. Often thickened or darkened. Usually a consequence of the licking, not the original cause. | The smell. Constant licking keeps the area wet, which is exactly what yeast and bacteria need. This needs treating before anything else will settle. |
| 7. Pain, including arthritis | Persistent licking of a paw or wrist with no skin problem to find. Often an older dog. | Nothing is wrong with the paw itself. Dogs lick at referred pain — arthritis in the leg or elsewhere can show up as paw licking with perfectly healthy skin. |
| 8. Anxiety, boredom, compulsion | Licking during quiet moments, when left alone, or when the household is stressed. Often one favourite spot, usually the front wrist. | It happens when nothing else is going on. Licking releases endorphins, so it is self-soothing — and it can tip into compulsion. A raised, hairless, inflamed patch is a lick granuloma. |
These overlap constantly. An allergy starts the licking, the licking causes an infection, the infection makes it itch more, and by the time you notice it has become a habit. Which is why the order you fix them in matters.
Why It Keeps Coming Back
The single most common reason owners feel like nothing works.
Paw licking is almost always a loop. Something starts it — an allergy, a thorn, a sore joint. The licking damages the skin barrier. Damaged, permanently damp skin grows yeast and bacteria. That infection itches, so the dog licks more. Eventually the original cause resolves and the dog is still licking, because now it is both an infection and a habit.
So treating only the itch, or only the infection, or only the behaviour, tends to fail. The order that works is: find and remove the original cause, treat any infection properly, then address the habit. That is also why "what can I give my dog for paw licking" rarely has a satisfying answer — it depends entirely which part of the loop you are in.
When the Paw Looks Fine but the Licking Doesn't Stop
This is the version that confuses people most, and there are only really two explanations.
Referred pain. Dogs lick at discomfort they cannot reach. Arthritis in a wrist, elbow, hip or shoulder frequently shows up as licking the paw on that side, with entirely healthy skin. In an older dog who has also slowed on stairs or stopped jumping onto the sofa, this is the first thing to consider — our guide to why dogs limp has the warm-up test that separates worn joints from an injury, and the signs and stages of arthritis covers what to look for before a limp ever appears.
Habit and anxiety. Licking releases endorphins, which is why it becomes self-soothing and then self-perpetuating. It often happens in the quiet parts of the day — when you are watching television, when they are left alone, at bedtime. If it started around a change in the household, a move, a new baby, a bereavement or a change in your working hours, that timeline is the clue.
One practical note: even telling your dog to stop is attention, and attention rewards the behaviour. Redirect rather than scold.
Where Hemp Actually Fits — and Where It Doesn't
We sell hemp, so we will be precise. Of the eight causes above, hemp is irrelevant to six of them.
It does nothing for allergies, food sensitivity, a thorn in the pad, fleas and ticks, or a yeast infection. Those need a veterinary diagnosis, parasite control, an elimination diet, or proper treatment of the infection. A supplement will not touch any of them, and anyone telling you otherwise is selling rather than helping.
The two where it is a reasonable conversation are the two at the bottom of the table:
- Joint discomfort causing referred licking. This is the one use where the published canine evidence actually sits — all five trials meeting inclusion criteria for the 2023 Frontiers in Veterinary Science systematic review were osteoarthritis trials, and four of five reported a benefit. One of them was ours, a 90-day trial overseen by veterinary pain specialist Dr. Robin Downing with researchers from Colorado State University. Our joint and mobility page has the detail, including the trial that found nothing.
- Anxiety-driven or compulsive licking. Worth being straight here too: the controlled canine evidence for CBD and anxiety is thinner than the industry implies. We go through what exists in hemp and CBD for dog anxiety. It belongs alongside enrichment, exercise and routine, not instead of them.
One separate, honest note on the topical question, since owners ask: our coconut-oil formula is the one product of ours that is used on the skin as well as in food, and organic coconut oil is a reasonable thing to work into dry, cracked pads. That is a moisturiser, not a treatment — if the skin is red, raw, smelly or broken, it needs a vet rather than an oil, and adding anything to infected skin can make it worse.
If it turns out to be comfort or stress, this is where owners start
500mg Coconut Oil
In food or on dry pads
$89
250mg Hemp Seed Oil
Up to about 25 lbs
$49
1,000mg Hemp Seed Oil
25 lbs and up
$99
Grown on our own certified-organic Colorado farm, formulated in-house, third-party tested every batch. Serving by weight →
Shop Hip & Joint Mobility → See Serving by Weight
If your dog takes any prescription medication, talk to your vet before adding hemp — it can change how quickly the body clears other drugs. We cover that, and the published safety findings, in hemp and CBD side effects in dogs.
What You Can Do at Home
Sensible things that will not make anything worse while you work out the cause.
- Rinse the paws after walks. Plain lukewarm water and a cloth — no soap, which dries the skin further. This alone helps a surprising number of environmental-allergy dogs, because it removes the pollen and lawn chemicals they walked through.
- Dry between the toes. Properly. Damp skin between the pads is how yeast gets started.
- Look every day for a week. Same paw each time, or different ones? Getting worse or better? That is the information your vet needs.
- Keep nails and paw fur trimmed. Long fur between the pads traps moisture and irritants.
- Year-round parasite prevention. Indoor dogs get fleas too.
- Add enrichment before you add anything else. A sniffing walk, a food puzzle, a chew. If boredom is the driver, this is the actual fix and it costs nothing.
- Do not use a cone as the solution. It stops the damage while something heals, which is useful — but it does not address why the dog is licking, and the licking resumes when it comes off.
How to Stop Your Dog Licking Their Paws
You stop paw licking by stopping whatever is driving it. Protect the paw first, then fix the cause, then break the habit. Here is the plan, cause by cause.
| If the cause is… | Do this first | Then | Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Something in the paw (thorn, grass seed, cut, torn nail, sting) | Spread the toes in good light, remove anything loose, rinse with lukewarm water, dry thoroughly | Sock or bootie over a clean, dry paw so it can heal. Anything embedded, deep or bleeding goes to the vet | Licking stops within a few days once the paw heals. If not, something is still in there |
| Environmental allergy (all four paws, ears, face; often seasonal) | Rinse and dry the paws after every walk to remove pollen and lawn residue | Vet visit for itch control. The international guidelines list glucocorticoids and oclacitinib as the fastest options for a flare, and immunotherapy for the long term | A managed condition, not a one-off cure. Flares come back if the plan stops |
| Food sensitivity (year-round itch, sometimes loose stools) | Do not switch foods at random — that muddies the test | A strict elimination diet planned with your vet, for 8 weeks, with no treats or table food outside it | The guidelines report remission in more than 90% of food-allergic dogs within an 8-week trial |
| Fleas, ticks or mites | Check between the toes and along the back for fleas, flea dirt and ticks | A vet-recommended parasite product for every pet in the house, year-round | Improvement within a couple of weeks; mites need a skin scrape to confirm |
| Yeast or bacterial infection (musty smell, red moist skin, brown staining) | Keep the paw dry and covered so the licking stops feeding it | Vet diagnosis (a quick skin cytology) and the right medicated wash or medication | The infection keeps the loop going, so the underlying cause will not settle until it is treated |
| Joint pain (one paw, healthy skin, older dog, stiff on rising) | Watch the dog get up after a rest — stiffness that eases with movement points at joints | Vet exam and a pain plan. See arthritis in dogs | Licking fades as comfort improves |
| Boredom, stress or habit (quiet times, alone, healthy paws) | Interrupt calmly and redirect to a chew, lick mat or sniff game — do not scold | More exercise and enrichment, a predictable routine, and a behaviourist if it has become compulsive | Weeks, not days. Habits fade slowly once the payoff is replaced |
Allergy and elimination-diet figures: Olivry T et al., Treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: 2015 updated guidelines from the International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA), BMC Veterinary Research. ICADA published a further update in 2026 (Mueller RS et al., Veterinary Dermatology), which splits treatment into fast "reactive" control of a flare and longer-term "proactive" prevention.
Cone, bootie, sock or bitter spray: which barrier to use
A barrier does not fix anything. It buys the skin time to heal while you deal with the cause, and that alone often breaks the lick–infection loop. Pick the one your dog will tolerate.
- Cone (Elizabethan collar). The most reliable barrier, and the right call for a wound, a hot spot or a post-surgery paw. It is not free: in a survey of 434 owners, 77.4% reported their pet's quality of life was worse while wearing one, especially when it stopped the animal drinking or playing. Use it for as short a time as the healing needs, take it off for supervised meals, and try a soft or inflatable collar if the hard one causes distress.
- Booties or a clean cotton sock. Good for one paw, overnight, or for allergy dogs who lick after walks. Keep them clean and dry, take them off several times a day to let the skin breathe, and never leave a sock taped tight — check that the foot is not swelling.
- Recovery suit or dog bodysuit. Useful when the licking moves up the leg; less useful for the feet themselves.
- Bitter-tasting spray. Works for some dogs as a habit-breaker on healthy skin. It does not work on dogs who lick through the taste, and it should never go on broken, raw or infected skin, where it stings.
What not to do
- Do not use tea tree oil or other concentrated essential oils. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center recorded 443 cases of 100% tea tree oil toxicosis in dogs and cats over ten years, 89% of them from owners applying it on purpose. Signs included drooling, lethargy, weakness, wobbliness and tremors, starting 2 to 12 hours after exposure.
- Do not put human creams on the paws without asking your vet. Whatever goes on a paw gets licked off and swallowed. Your vet may prescribe a topical steroid, but the type and amount should come from them.
- Do not soak raw or broken skin in vinegar. Apple-cider-vinegar soaks are all over social media; there is no controlled evidence they work, and acid on open skin hurts.
- Do not give human allergy tablets without a vet's dose. Many contain decongestants or other ingredients that are not safe for dogs.
- Do not scold. Attention rewards the behaviour. Redirect instead.
- Do not rely on the cone alone. The licking comes back when it comes off if the cause is still there.
Cone welfare: Shenoda Y et al., "The Cone of Shame": welfare implications of Elizabethan collar use on dogs and cats as reported by their owners, Animals 2020. Tea tree oil: Khan SA et al., Concentrated tea tree oil toxicosis in dogs and cats: 443 cases (2002–2012), JAVMA 2014.
When licking has become a lick granuloma
A raised, thickened, often hairless and ulcerated patch on the lower leg or top of the paw is acral lick dermatitis, also called a lick granuloma. It is usually thought of as a behavioural problem, but a 2019 veterinary review lists allergy, orthopaedic and nerve problems, parasites, fungal and bacterial infection, tumours and compulsive disorder among the underlying drivers, with secondary infection keeping it going. In one case series, six dogs whose lesions looked exactly like lick granulomas turned out to have lymphoma, a mast cell tumour, deep infection, leishmaniasis, a fungal infection and a retained orthopaedic pin. That is why a lick granuloma always needs a vet, and often a biopsy, before anyone calls it a habit.
Sources: Shumaker AK, Diagnosis and treatment of canine acral lick dermatitis, Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2019 · Denerolle P et al., Organic diseases mimicking acral lick dermatitis in six dogs, JAAHA 2007.
Stop now and see a vet if
- The paw is swollen, hot, bleeding, oozing or smells musty
- Your dog will not put weight on the foot, or yelps when you touch it
- A raised, hairless or ulcerated patch is forming
- You have tried rinsing, drying and a barrier for a week and nothing has changed
- All four paws plus ears and face are itchy — that is an allergy work-up, not a home fix
When to See Your Vet
Book an appointment if:
- The licking has gone on more than a few days without improving
- The skin is red, swollen, raw, oozing or crusty
- There is a musty or yeasty smell
- Your dog is limping, favouring the paw, or flinches when you touch it
- There is bleeding, pus, or a raised hairless patch developing
- Your dog cries out or pulls away when the paw is handled
- A senior dog has suddenly started licking compulsively — new compulsive behaviour in an old dog is worth a proper look
If allergies turn out to be the answer, our guide to allergies in dogs covers what the diagnostic process actually involves. For a veterinary-school overview of canine health topics, the Cornell Riney Canine Health Center is a reliable starting point, and the American Kennel Club has an owner-focused summary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my dog keep licking his paws even though there's nothing there?
Two likely explanations. The first is referred pain — dogs lick at discomfort they cannot reach, so arthritis in a wrist, elbow or shoulder often shows up as licking a paw with completely healthy skin. The second is habit: licking releases endorphins, so it becomes self-soothing and then self-perpetuating, particularly during quiet parts of the day or when the dog is alone.
Is my dog licking one paw or all four — does it matter?
It matters more than anything else you can observe. One paw points at something local: a cut, a thorn, a grass seed, a torn nail, a sting, or pain in that limb. All four points at something systemic: environmental or food allergy, parasites, or a behavioural cause. Check the licked paw carefully before assuming allergies.
How do I tell if my dog has a yeast infection on his paws?
Smell is the giveaway — a musty, yeasty odour between the toes. You may also see red, moist skin, thickened or darkened pads, and reddish-brown saliva staining on the fur. Yeast usually develops as a consequence of constant licking keeping the skin damp, so it needs treating properly before the underlying cause will settle.
What can I give my dog for paw licking?
It depends entirely on the cause, which is why there is no single answer. Allergies, infections and parasites need veterinary treatment; a foreign object needs removing; pain needs diagnosing. If the cause turns out to be boredom or anxiety, enrichment and routine do more than any product, and a calming supplement sits alongside those rather than replacing them. Do not put anything on skin that is already red, raw or broken.
When should I be concerned about my dog licking his paws?
Occasional grooming is normal. Be concerned when it is constant, when the fur is stained reddish-brown, when the skin is red, swollen, raw or smelly, when your dog limps or flinches at touch, or when a raised hairless patch starts to form. Licking that has persisted more than a few days without improving is worth an appointment.
Why does my dog lick his paws at night or after eating?
Both are usually normal. Licking after a meal is often just grooming food particles off the paws and front legs. A bedtime licking session is a common settling ritual — it releases endorphins and helps the dog relax before sleep. Neither is a problem unless the skin is affected or the licking has become prolonged and intense.
Can allergies cause paw licking?
Yes, and they are one of the most common causes. Environmental allergies are typically seasonal and affect all four paws, often alongside itchy ears and face; atopic dermatitis is the second most common allergic skin disease in dogs and usually first appears between one and five years of age. Food sensitivity produces similar itching but year-round rather than seasonally.
Will CBD stop my dog licking his paws?
Only if the cause is joint discomfort or anxiety, and even then it is one part of a plan rather than a fix. Hemp does nothing for allergies, parasites, infections or a foreign object in the pad — those need a veterinarian. Work out which of the eight causes applies before reaching for any supplement.
Should you let your dog lick their paws?
A little, yes. Short licking sessions after a walk, after a meal or at bedtime are normal grooming. Step in when it is constant, when the fur turns reddish-brown, when the skin is red, raw or smelly, or when your dog is licking one paw and favouring it. Then the goal is to protect the paw and find the cause, rather than just stop the licking.
How do I stop my dog from licking his paws?
Match the fix to the cause. Rinse and dry the paws after walks, check between the toes for anything embedded, use a cone, bootie or clean sock while the skin heals, keep parasite prevention up to date, and see a vet for allergies, infection or pain. Bitter sprays and balms help only once the reason for the licking is being dealt with.
What can I put on my dog's paws to stop licking?
On healthy skin, a bitter-tasting spray can discourage licking and a lick-safe balm can soothe dry or cracked pads. Nothing should go on red, raw, broken or smelly skin until a vet has looked at it. Avoid tea tree oil and other concentrated essential oils: the ASPCA poison centre recorded 443 cases of tea tree oil toxicosis in dogs and cats over ten years.
What is the best paw balm for dogs who lick their paws?
One that is safe to swallow, because your dog will lick it off. Look for a short list of food-grade oils and waxes, no essential oils such as tea tree, and no medicated ingredients unless your vet prescribed them. Apply a thin layer to clean, dry pads and distract your dog for a few minutes so it soaks in. A balm is a moisturiser for dry pads, not a treatment for allergy or infection.
Will Benadryl help my dog stop licking his paws?
Possibly a little, and not quickly. The international veterinary guidelines on canine atopic dermatitis say oral antihistamines might give a small and limited benefit in some dogs, and work best given before a flare rather than during one. Never give a human allergy tablet without your vet's dose, because many combination products contain ingredients that are unsafe for dogs.
What is a natural remedy for dog licking paws raw?
Rinsing with plain lukewarm water after walks, drying thoroughly between the toes, a clean sock or bootie to let the skin heal, more exercise and enrichment for boredom licking, and a lick-safe moisturiser on dry, unbroken pads. Paws that are already raw usually have an infection that needs a vet. Vinegar soaks have no controlled evidence behind them and sting broken skin.
What spray can I use to stop my dog from licking their paws?
A pet-safe bitter-tasting deterrent spray, used on healthy, unbroken skin only. It works for some dogs as a habit-breaker and not at all for others, who lick through the taste. It does nothing for the cause, so pair it with rinsing, a barrier while the skin heals, and a vet visit if the licking is constant.
How long does it take to stop a dog licking its paws?
It depends on the cause. A thorn or small cut usually settles within a few days of the paw healing. Infections take one to several weeks of proper treatment. A food elimination trial runs 8 weeks. Environmental allergies are managed rather than cured, and a licking habit fades over weeks once the boredom or stress behind it is addressed.
The Short Version
One paw or all four is the question that narrows it fastest. Then look properly — between the toes, at the colour of the skin, and at the smell. Reddish-brown fur means it has been going on longer than you thought.
Most paw licking is a loop: something starts it, the licking causes an infection, and the infection keeps it going. Break it in that order — cause, then infection, then habit. Protect the paw with a cone, bootie or sock while it heals, and never put tea tree oil or anything else on skin that is already raw.
Shop Calming Support → All Hemp Oil for Dogs
Allergies in Dogs · Hemp for Dog Anxiety · Arthritis in Dogs · Why Is My Dog Limping? · Serving by Weight
Marc co-founded HempMy Pet in 2016 with his business partner Natalie Mondine, the company's COO. HempMy Pet breeds its own hemp genetics, grows them on its certified-organic Colorado farm, and formulates every batch in-house under human-grade standards — seed to sale, nothing sourced overseas. Every batch is third-party tested and the certificates of analysis are published. More about us.
HempMy Pet ran its own 90-day study of 37 dogs with chronic joint discomfort. Of the 32 that completed it, 30 (93%) showed a benefit, and 94% of owners reported their dog's quality of life had improved. It was overseen by Dr. Robin Downing, DVM, MS of the Downing Center for Animal Pain Management, with Lori Kogan, Ph.D. and Peter W. Hellyer, DVM of Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and published in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. Read the methodology.
Why Dr. Downing: in 2005 she became only the third veterinarian in the world credentialed as a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management. She founded the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, is a Diplomate of the ACVSMR, a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner and a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, and was the AVMA's 2020 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year. Chronic joint pain is her life's work. Read the published paper (PDF).
This article is general information for dog owners, not veterinary advice. It is reviewed and updated as new peer-reviewed evidence is published, and where the evidence is thin or negative we say so.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your dog is unwell, contact your veterinarian.
