Paw chewing

Ellie licks and chews at her front paws A LOT--day and night. She does it whether her toenails are cut or not. Is there a problem I'm not aware of or is this normal Corgi grooming habits?

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Permalink Reply by Jane on August 11, 2011 at 10:17am

Sounds like allergies. Does she do it year round or just during the summer?

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Permalink Reply by Kathryn Harbour on August 11, 2011 at 6:59pm

She's been doing it ever since we got her in November, but she doesn't seem to have any discomfort with it--it just seems to be a habit.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Bauer on August 11, 2011 at 10:44am

Hi Kathryn! My late Emma really got into the paws (that we called "peedelees") She would practically get the whole thing in her mouth and hang on to one of the pads with her teeth and her eyes would close and she would chew and lick to her hearts content! Now my newly rescued Jack chews on his nails and licks them. He seems to enjoy that too. Katie doesn't do anything like that. So I just assuming its something they can do due to their short legs and its sort of a soothing thing. Vet never could find anything wrong with Emma doing it either.

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Permalink Reply by Elyse & Caese on August 11, 2011 at 10:54am

I know that my Corgi does it from allergies at certain times of the year. But when I had a poodle he would CONSTANTLY do it. Especially before he would go to bed at night. He wouldn't lick himself enough for a hot spot or loss of hair, but enough to make himself wet and whatever he was laying on wet. We brought him to the vets and they just said it was a nervous/comforting "tick" he had. Kinda like us biting our nails out of habit or the fact that he did it before bed maybe it was more of a relaxing thing he did.

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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on August 11, 2011 at 1:36pm

Hi Kathryn, was Ellie licking the top of her paws or bottom paw pads? Did she chew her nails or paw pads? Is the area red, any open sore / wound?

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Permalink Reply by Kathryn Harbour on August 11, 2011 at 7:01pm

It seems to be her nails more than her pads--at night I can hear the "click, click" of her nibbling at her nails but it makes no difference if her nails are long or short.

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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on August 11, 2011 at 7:35pm

Hi Kathryn, did you see any redness / discolouration near the skin / nail area? if so use apple cider vinegar / water wipe the area 3X daily.

There are other causes:

1. anxiety

2. boredom

3. injured nail infection

4. grass, pollen, lawn feed / pesticides allergy..etc. check your local allergy report

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Permalink Reply by Potus on August 11, 2011 at 8:38pm

Potus likes to chew on his feet- never until they are sore and he doesn't seem to have a problem with his feet. He just seems to like to do it. He'll get his back foot in his mouth and chew on it like a chicken drumstick. He also likes to lick his paws, particularly at night before going to bed. They don't seem to bother him, I think it's more him 'cleaning' than a problem, but if you're worried, get it checked by a vet- it can't hurt to be cautious.

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Permalink Reply by Winnie on January 4, 2012 at 10:01am

My new 3 y/o rescue Corgi (Winnie) had chewed and dug at her RIGHT FRONT paw since I got her. 2 diff vets looked at it and couldn't see anything wrong. She sometimes licks/chews it until it is red and she whimpers. I've tried giving her Benadryl and it seems to work sometimes. This has happened summer and now winter. I tried using a benzocaine spray but she licks it off and I think thats dangerous. (She had diarrhea the next day??). Seems like it's tied to boredom. Guess I'll try Sam's vinegar/water thing first.