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My dog's paws are itchy. What causes constant scratching and chewing?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My 10-yr-old Yorkie is scratching and chewing his paws constantly. He is on Chlorpheniramine Maleate Tabs 4 mg. 1/2 tab 2x daily. In addition, I put him on a single protein food a couple of months ago (Kangaroo). Although that helped some, he is still scratching & chewing. I feel sorry for him. I am also concerned about his getting hot spots. He is bathed with Oatmeal/Aloe shampoo and his groomer recently used Hemp shampoo to see if that would help. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!

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2 Answers

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on June 10th, 2019

Poor pup! There are several reasons your dog could be constantly licking including allergies to something in the environment, food allergy or endocrine disease. Flea allergies are also very common in dogs but don't generally manifest in the feet. Each one of these problems is detected and addressed differently and I recommend to discuss with your veterinarian which one to start hunting down first and have your pup examined. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein- this will diagnose ALL types of food allergy. Endocrine diseases are detected with blood work. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. Once you figure out and address the underlying cause, the itching should not come back. You veterinarian can also provide medications to stop the itching and make him feel better. Any secondary infections will also need to be treated to correct the problem. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they are unlikely to address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health but will not address a food allergy. Also protect the area from trauma by having him wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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    Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

    Published on March 12th, 2018

    I am so sorry that you are having this problem with Rocky. I certainly understand how frustrating it is to watch your dog be so itchy. There are a number of reasons for skin problems in dogs. This article does an excellent job of describing them. You could be dealing with allergies (of various types), external parasites (such as fleas or mites), or secondary infections (bacterial or yeast). https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-is-my-dog-so-itchy/ This is also an excellent article on itching in dogs and the possible causes and treatments. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2604 Often the first step is making sure there isn’t any evidence of external parasites that need to be treated. You may still be dealing with a flea allergy even if you have treated the fleas. Once a flea bites a flea allergy dog, that dog can stay itchy for a week. Here is additional information on fleas causing itching in dogs. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2455 I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate Rocky to discuss your treatment options. You will need to discuss resolving any secondary infections which will make him more itchy. This can involve topical treatments (like shampoos, wipes or sprays) or may involve oral medications. You can then discuss medication for the itching (which may be prescription or over the counter medication). There are a number of good treatment options for itching and allergies, but sometimes it takes a little while to find the right combination. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

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