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My dog's paws are swollen and she keeps licking them. What's wrong?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Foxhound | Female | spayed | 65 lbs

My dog Daisy has been constantly licking and chewing at her paws last night and this morning there swollen pretty bad

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3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on June 27th, 2019

That is quite a bit of swelling! I would recommend that Daisy get checked out by the vet. It’s hard to say without examining her if the licking and chewing was caused by the swelling or if it is a result. Allergies can cause excessive licking, inflammation or lymphatic flow issues can cause swelling, and treatments for all of these conditions will vary.

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    Answered By Ana M, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 10th, 2018

    Thank you for submitting your question Gi. She may be suffering from environmental allergies. As humans we inhale allergens such as grasses, weeds pollens and molds. Dogs, however, are out walking in the grass so it is typically their paws and underside that are most commonly affected. If she is licking, I suspect that her paws are itchy. Start by getting into the habit of wiping off her paws with a damp cloth when she comes in from outside. This will physically remove some of the allergens. You can also bathe her paws weekly with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula. If this does not resolve her signs, she will need to see her veterinarian. There are great new medications to control itching in dogs that do not cause the side effects associated with steroid use. She may be a candidate for a tablet known as Apoquel or and injectable medication called Cytopoint. These are great options for long term control. I hope this information helps and I am available for a consultation if you have additional questions!

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    Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 21st, 2017

    It sounds like your dog has a skin infection, most likely caused by allergies or fleas. The allergies can be from a protein in her food or to something in the environment, like grasses, pollens, dust, etc. I would recommend taking Clover in to see the vet so she can be started on some antibiotics to help clear up the skin and get on a good flea control. You may also ask about a medicated shampoo, these can help clear up the skin more quickly. I would also recommend discussing with your vet some options for medication to help control the allergy symptoms like Atopica, Apoquel, or Cytopoint. Good luck!

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