You may have already seen our dog lick the cushions frequently and you have not given much importance to the subject, since many dogs do so without necessarily being a serious problem, but sometimes the act of licking becomes excessive and can cause secondary consequences.Injuries, caused by excessively vigorous licking or small bites in the area.
Animal Expert has prepared for you a review of the subject, which will surely answer the question: Why does the dog compulsively lick the hair?
- Before you know why our dog is licking the pads.
- It is important that you first know that they contain sweat glands.
- Dogs sweat through different parts of the body.
- One of which are the cushions.
These glands have a mainly thermoregulatory function (they release sweat to regulate temperature), but there is also a odorous component, that is, they are responsible for producing substances that are degraded by the action of bacteria present in the skin when they reach the surface.The same glands give the dog (or cat) a characteristic smell (that’s why these animals also mark the territory with plantar pads and palm trees).
In extreme climates, with very low temperatures, these secretions of the sweat glands can form small “crystals” and cause some discomfort in dogs living in very cold environments.For this reason, dogs selected to pull sleds, such as the Siberian husky or the Alaskan Malamute, have far fewer sweat glands on the cushions compared to other breeds, perhaps by reproducing only dogs that did not have this problem, they were able to select this feature.
Sometimes there are no problems with the glands, but the skin of the pads is cracked and cracked by the cold.This is usually the case when dogs walk on snow or in a field with many stones and, as a result, start licking the pads compulsively.
On hot and humid days it is advisable to wet the cushions of our dog precisely because it is a source of regulation of body temperature, this cleaning eliminates the production residues of the eccrine and apocrine glands, letting them fulfill their mission.
To give us an idea, the body produces a secretion that helps lower the temperature.Sometimes at the exit of the glandular canal there are many ancient secretions that form a “cork” causing itching and intense discomfort that our dog relieves with licking.
If our dog has sensitive pads and is exposed to extreme temperatures, it is recommended to use a protective product (a kind of varnish that is placed on the pads) which is usually the combination of acids with extracts of Aloe vera or Asian Spark.
On the other hand, on days of excessive heat, it is recommended to cool our dog by frequently wetting the pads with fresh water, a way to help with thermoregulation and remove traces of substances that can prevent the sudor glands from functioning properly.
Our dog may be scratching his paw because he has an infection caused by Malassezia pachydermatis.
This fungus is present throughout the body, but is found in greater numbers in the pads, especially in the interdigital zone (among others).
If our dog suffers from a proliferation of fungi, either because it is allergic to pollen, food, stress …etc., The first sign may be the excessive licking of the pads, in fact, the increase of the population of Malassezia and the consequent Invasion of opportunistic bacteria is very irritating.
White hairy dogs with an orange color are usually found around their fingers because the blows of the tongue cause the white color to deteriorate.
It is necessary to discover the cause that caused the proliferation of these fungi between the fingers and eliminate it or, at least, control it. The population of these fungi can be controlled with daily local baths with diluted chlorhexidine without soap.should be in contact with the electrodes for 10 to 15 minutes a day (chlorhexidine acts by contact time).Even so, we must keep the areas as dry as possible because fungi or yeasts like to proliferate in humid places.
On certain occasions our veterinarian will recommend ointments made from miconazole or clotrimazole if our dog does not let his paws get wet, the application of this type of product can be very complicated in some dogs.
At other times, our dog will constantly lick the pads for traumatic reasons (a blow, a fissure in a phalanx) or because it has a tip or a septum, but unlike previous situations, only one affected leg will remain: the only one. in which an injury has occurred.
During the summer it is common for some ears to stick between the fingers, especially in breeds with a lot of hair in this area, such as the cocker spaniel and because of having this huge amount of hair, the ears go unnoticed.have pierced the interdigital skin barrier, can stay there, causing a lot of pain, itching and constant licking of the area to relieve discomfort.The ear does not always come out, sometimes it migrates to other areas under the skin.
You should carefully examine the pads in summer and cut the hair in this area, if you find something stuck remove it carefully and apply an antiseptic that is not very aggressive or irritating (iodine diluted in a saline solution, for example) until you consult your veterinarian.
If you have ruled out all the problems mentioned above, the problem may be compulsive behavior, also known as stereotypes, we can define this problem as repetitive behavior for no apparent reason.
If you think your dog suffers from a stereotype, you should review the five freedoms of animal welfare, as well as contact a specialist, an ethologist: a veterinarian specialized in animal behavior.
To find out what care you should have on a dog’s paws, read our article on this topic.
This article is merely informative, at Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis, we suggest taking your pet to the vet in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Other Health Problems section.