Dog Paw Licking at Night: Is it Allergies or Behavior?
Alright, so check it out, last night I was chilling on the couch, right? And I noticed Buster, my golden retriever, was going to town on his paws. Licking, chewing, the whole nine yards. It wasn't just a quick once-over; he was really getting into it. This isn't new, but it seems worse at night. So, I figured it was time to do some digging.
First things first: Investigation Time! I got down on the floor with Buster, flipped his paw over, and started inspecting. I was looking for anything obvious – cuts, scrapes, thorns, you name it. Nothing jumped out at me. No redness, no swelling, just… paws. Clean-ish paws, I should add. He gets regular baths, though he hates them.
Then I thought, maybe it's allergies? He gets a bit itchy in the spring, pollen and all that jazz. But it's December. Still, allergies can be weird, so I decided to look into it.
Next up: The food bowl. Could be food allergies, right? We switched his food a couple of months ago, but I didn’t really think too much about it. I grabbed the bag and checked the ingredients. Beef, chicken, corn... the usual suspects. I started making a list of potential allergens. Maybe cutting out one or two of these ingredients could help, but this is just the start.
Scratching the Itch (Figuratively): I then decided to go on internet. Tons of stuff about allergies, anxiety, boredom, dry skin... it was overwhelming. A lot of the advice was pretty generic: "See your vet," "Rule out medical issues," the kind of stuff you expect. But a few things stood out.
- Anxiety: Some articles mentioned that dogs can lick their paws due to stress or boredom, especially at night when things are quiet. Buster does get a bit antsy if he hasn't had enough exercise, so I made a mental note to up his walks.
- Dry Skin: Winter air is dry as heck, and that could be making his paws itchy. Some folks recommended paw balms or even just moisturizing his paws with coconut oil.
The Action Plan: Okay, so after the initial investigation and research, I came up with a plan of attack. This is what I'm going to try:
- More Exercise: I'm going to take Buster for longer walks during the day. Maybe a trip to the park to really tire him out.
- Paw Balm: I bought some paw balm online. It’s supposed to help with dry, cracked paws. I'll apply it before bed, to prevent any licking.
- Food Check: If the other stuff doesn't work, I'll consult the vet about an allergy test, or slowly remove certain ingredients to identify what is causing the allergies.
The Nightly Watch: I'm gonna keep a close eye on Buster over the next week or so. Note down when he licks his paws, how often, and if anything seems to trigger it. It's kinda like being a dog paw detective.
I'll keep you posted on how it goes. Fingers crossed we can get Buster to stop licking his paws at night. Nobody wants an itchy, uncomfortable pup!
