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Why are my dog's paws brown? What causes paw stains and how to fix?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Bichon Frise | Male | unneutered | 3 years and 3 months old | 15 lbs

My is a Bichon Frise type of dog and he has gotten a change of color on his rear paws it started a little less than a year ago it doesnt appear to bother him but im not sure what is causeing it or if there is anything I can do to remove it

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on August 8th, 2017

This brownish discoloration of the skin and hair is usually caused by saliva staining - the saliva has chemical compounds in it that turn brown when exposed to air. Most of the time, when a dog's paws look like this, it's a sign that they have been licking or chewing their paws excessively. It's likely that Rocky has allergies causing this problem - either food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment. I would recommend taking him to the vet to have this checked when you're able to, so that he can get started on appropriate treatment to keep him from continuing to chew at his paws. Once he stops licking and chewing, the brown staining will gradually resolve on its own. In the meantime, you can also try a whitening dog shampoo to see if this helps - this probably won't completely get rid of the stains, but may help to make them less noticeable.

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    Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    The color change on Rocky's paws looks most like salivary staining. This occurs when a dog licks their feet, leaving saliva behind, leading to enzymes in the saliva to cause discoloration of the fur. Try to avoid allowing Rocky to lick his feet and use an e-collar, if needed. Wipe his feet with a damp cloth every time he comes inside in case he is allergic to any grasses or plants outside. If he still licks his feet frequently, it would be a good idea to take him to he vet for evaluation. The current staining cannot be washed off, so your best bet is to wait for his hair to grow and cut off the stained fur. I hope that all goes well!

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