Pass the Ketchup — My Dog is Eating His Foot
By: Nancy Lovering
Tags: Allergies, Dogs, Stress, Pets, Dog Behaviour

Pass the Ketchup — My Dog is Eating His Foot

What I’ve learned in an effort to figure out why, and to help him stop

Photo by Engin Akyurt from Pexels

If you don’t think that dogs are strange, just type the phrase “why do dogs” into a search engine. You’ll see a nice list of quirky behaviors that stymie dog owners and send them to the internet for answers.

My particular question about feet as food didn’t appear in the Google autocomplete until I typed “why do dogs chew.” Evidently there are many pad gnawers out there because “paws” topped the list of suggested dog chew searches, beating out predictable items such as sticks, wood and bones.

There was an abundance of information (because we live in an age where almost every single thing has been repeatedly written about and published online, which is why I’m adding even more content). I was able to learn a lot even by skipping sites with too many popups.

Injury

If your dog pays particular attention to one foot, check it for injury. Stones, thorns, cuts, burns (from hot summer pavement or salty winter sidewalks) and torn nails are a few things to check for once you’ve convinced your dog to let you see his paw. (If you can’t get a good look without upsetting your dog, wait until he’s asleep or distracted and check the paw, hands free, using a flashlight for increased visibility). If you find anything, call your vet.

Dry Skin

An arid climate or insufficient fatty acids in your dog’s diet can dry out their paws and make them itch. You can replace the missing fatty acids by supplementing your dog’s food with a small amount of edible oil such as olive, fish or coconut. Keep in mind that big dietary changes can cause gastro upset, so supplement in small amounts only. Check with your vet for recommended dosage amounts.

Allergies

Paw chewing can be a sign that your dog has an allergy which can torment him with itch in almost any location, including feet. Allergies generally fall into one of three cause-specific categories.

Fleas — I learned the hard way (actually, our lab did) that fleas can make a dog itch even in areas where they haven’t been bitten. This is the result of an allergic reaction to flea saliva, which spreads the irritation all throughout your dog’s skin. If your dog is overdue for flea control and is very itchy even if you can’t see a lot of fleas, a flea allergy could be the cause. Your vet can provide more flea medication as well as something to calm your dog’s allergic reaction. Your dog will thank you.

Food — This is a particularly fun allergy because of how difficult it is to identify (assuming you find food elimination diets and data tracking fun). Major culprits for dietary allergies in dogs include pork, beef, corn, chicken and wheat. If you’re wondering what’s left to feed your dog the answer lies with your vet who can guide you and your beleaguered pup through a dietary elimination trial that involves prescription food and symptom assessment.

Environmental — Our modern world seems set up to torment dogs (which we overcompensate for with expensive toys for their amusement and delectables to supplement their diet while supporting our weight loss pet food industry). Meanwhile we trigger their allergies with cleaners, man made materials like rubber and plastic, cigarette smoke, perfumes, car exhaust and oh so much more. As if we’re not bad enough, they can also react to environmental allergens such as grass, trees, mold and dust. Paw chewing could be from something as simple as a grass allergy but if foot rinsing doesn’t help, your vet can perform blood and skin tests to uncover more information.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Also known as lick granuloma, this self-inflicted “itch-lick” cycle can begin as a response to a physical discomfort (such as the allergies mentioned above) or a psychological one. When it’s psychological in nature it’s usually the result of boredom, compulsiveness or stress.

Why are domesticated dogs bored? Ironically enough, only one of the seven AKC dog breed categories is actually called “working” even though breeds from other groups are inherently task-driven: sporting dogs hunt, hounds track, terriers control rodent populations, and herding dogs organize other animals for us. That just leaves the non-sporting and toy breeds who are only here to ride in our handbags or snooze by the fireplace. So realistically, unless owners are involved in any of the canine-work endeavors, they’re company to a lot of bored dogs with underutilized skills. Our dogs may love our warm and comfortable homes but if their inherent drive to be useful isn’t satisfied they could take out their frustration by chewing on their own feet.

Canine compulsiveness can be genetic in origin, like bull terriers who spin or the schnauzers who can’t shake their obsession with sky raisins (jalapeno or otherwise). It can also occur in any breed as a result of boredom or stress. Emotional licking can damage the skin which prompts the dog to lick even more in an effort to soothe discomfort in the area, reinforcing the psychological compulsion driven by a physical injure-heal behavior cycle.

It’s hard to fathom what could cause enough stress to result in foot chewing for the family member who gets first choice for the prime couch spot. There are a few things, including loud noise, change in environment or routine, inappropriate amounts of exercise (too much or too little), inconsistent rules, prolonged isolation or even hugging. (I love hugs, so this one really bums me out). Hugs interfere with a dog’s natural inclination to flee from danger, making them feel trapped. If I can resist the overwhelming impulse to throw my arms around my dog it’s because I grudgingly agree that feeling trapped can be pretty stressful.

Armed with my list of possible paw-gnawing precursors, I now have a place to start in my quest to help my husky. (He’s actually got his right hind paw in his mouth as I type this — I’m not even making this up). The good news is that his feet look healthy with no sign of injury and his flea meds are up to date, so I’m starting down my list with two items already ruled out. Wish me luck.