Why is my dog licking a red, tender spot between his paw pads?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | neutered | 86 lbs
I found my dog licking this red patch between my his paw pads, it seemed like it was very tender. What could this be?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on October 4th, 2017
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At least in the picture, there is no evidence of a mass or anything like that particularly concerning. This could potentially be allergies causing him to lick at his paws. The main causes of allergies are fleas, ingredients in the food or something in the environment. If he continues to do this, it would be ideal to have him evaluated by your veterinarian to start to work him up for allergies and to potentially start him on medications to decrease the itch and potentially treat a secondary infection if found on exam. Good luck and have a great night!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on August 23rd, 2017
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Nelson has an area of infection on his belly. This smells and tastes gross so pets love it and love to lick it. I recommend seeing a vet to get it treated with oral antibiotics. He may have an underlying allergy that is causing him to lick and that needs to be addressed. Talk to the vet about flea allergies, food allergies, or environmental allergies. Good luck and kisses to Nelson!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Training & Behavior
My dog keeps licking the same spot on his left paw. It is starting to turn red from him licking. It’s has been 24 hours. I don’t see anything on it or between his toes. Should I immediately be worried or see if he stops?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. Other things are of course possible including licking due to pain for any reason. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi. I have a 12 lb. Maltese poodle who has developed mysterious red between his individual paw pads on only one foot on the underside. I noticed him licking that paw so inspected it closely. I can't find an actual wound. He does NOT show discomfor
Hello. This is a very typical presentation of a dog with Atopy, an inhalant or contact skin allergy. Your veterinarian can recommend several different manners in which to address this problem, including medicated shampoos or oral/injectable antiallergy treatments. It is curious that we commonly only see this in 1 foot, but the irritation can develop anywhere on the body. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog on his back paw between his toes is red with some brown spots on it. He at times tries to lick the paw or bite the nails
It looks as if your dog has a skin infection, most commonly caused by an allergy, a skin mite (Demodex) or fleas. The allergy could be a due to a protein in your dog’s food or an environmental allergy like to dust, pollens, grasses, etc. The allergy causes your dog to itch and chew at the skin which breaks down the skin barrier. This then leads to infection. Skin infections are typically characterized by large areas of redness, crusting, flaking, and pustules. A thorough skin examination by your veterinarian should be able to determine the cause of the itch so it can be treated appropriately. Your dog will most likely need antibiotics to help clear up the infection and possibly an allergy/anti-itch medication like Apoquel, Atopica, or Cytopoint to give some relief while the infection clears up. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial as well. I would also recommend he be on a good flea control routinely too. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi I have a German Shepard, pit bull mix. He’s about 6 months old and is huge. Recently he’s had problems with his paws and won’t stop trying to lick to them. They sometimes get swollen, they seem to bother him more after we get back from outside, th
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for envir
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has a round red spot on top of his paw, was just wondering what it could be. He has been licking at it a lot.
Hello, and thank you for using Boop by Petco. I’m seeing a red, round, raised, hairless mass. This appearance would make me primarily suspicious of either a [histiocytoma](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/histiocytoma/) or a [mast cell tumor](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/mast-cell-tumors/). The only way to tell for sure what this lump is, is via cytology. Your vet will get a small sample of cells with a needle and examine them under a microscope to determine what the mass is. I definitely recommend having this done as soon as possible. A histiocytoma is a benign mass that tends to spontaneously resolve. A mast cell tumor would be a concern, and should be surgically removed as soon as possible. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Can you explain what this is(could be)? I've never seen anything like it before. Sorry to be so vague
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! These are the fat pads which are normal anatomical structures that help with cushion. It seems like he has been licking at the paws which is possibly from allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not s
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Why dies my dog lick her paws so much?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for envir
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs been licking her foot the past few days and I’ve had a look and it doesn’t seem pleasant. She flinches when I try look at it and I’m really worried please help.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Aller
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My labs have red spots on their paws like nickel size spots. Could this be from excessive licking and/or food allergies. We got up to feed them this morning and this is when we noticed the red spots. The girl lab has them on her back side also
This does look like it could be from licking. Common reasons they will lick are allergies to food or something in the environment, infection with yeast, bacteria, mites, fleas, or even pain. You could bathe them with a hypoallergenic shampoo and place a cone on them so they are unable to lick and cause more trauma to the areas. I would also encourage you to take them to your veterinarian where they will most likely recommend a skin scraping. If there is an infection or a parasite there, they will treat that with the appropriate medication. If they determine that it could be from allergies, they'll talk to you about how to best figure out what they are allergic to and how to manage their allergy symptoms.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My lab has a red soar on the top of his left paw, he has had for about two months it's not getting bigger but he will not let us clean it and he keeps licking it some days it's way red some days it's a light pink color.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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