01 Environmental Allergies (Atopy)

Atopic dermatitis is the most frequent cause of persistent paw licking in dogs. When a dog walks on grass, through pollen, or across dusty surfaces, allergens land on the paws and trigger an itchy response. This is why paw licking linked to allergies often intensifies in spring and summer — though it can affect dogs year-round if dust mites or indoor moulds are the trigger.

The paws, belly, ears, and face are classic sites for atopy symptoms. If your dog is licking its paws alongside scratching its belly or shaking its head, allergies should be high on the list to discuss with your vet.

02 Food Sensitivities

Food-related skin reactions can show up at the paws just as readily as anywhere else on the body. Unlike seasonal allergies, food sensitivity tends to cause year-round itching — there's no "better in winter" pattern to suggest pollen is to blame. Identifying the specific ingredient requires a carefully supervised elimination diet, guided by your vet. Random food changes alone rarely get to the bottom of it.

03 Contact Irritation

The pads and skin between the toes come into contact with almost everything your dog walks on. Road salt and grit used in winter can cause significant irritation and even chemical burns to the paw pads. Fertilisers, weed killers, and lawn treatments can do the same. Hot pavements in summer can scorch the pads. After walks in treated areas or on hot surfaces, washing the paws with plain water and drying them thoroughly can help.

04 Yeast Infection

Malassezia yeast naturally lives on dog skin but can overgrow in warm, moist areas — and the spaces between the toes are ideal conditions for it. Yeast infections between the toes cause intense itching and a distinctive musty smell. The fur between the toes often turns a reddish-brown colour from the saliva deposited during chronic licking. Yeast infections between the toes are often secondary to allergies, and treating one without addressing the other typically means the problem returns.

05 Bacterial Skin Infection

Bacterial infections can develop between the toes when the skin barrier has been broken by scratching, licking, or underlying inflammation. Signs include redness, swelling, discharge, and an unpleasant smell. Like yeast infections, bacterial infections between the toes often occur alongside an underlying condition — managing that underlying cause is as important as treating the infection itself.

06 Grass Seed or Foreign Body SUMMER / AUTUMN

Arrow-shaped grass seeds are a significant cause of sudden, intense paw licking in the UK, particularly between late summer and early autumn. They lodge between the toes, and their backward-facing barbs allow them to move inward through the tissue rather than back out. Left untreated, they can track deep into the paw or up the leg, causing abscesses and serious infection.

07 Injury or Cracked Pad

Cuts, thorns, splinters, cracked or sore pads — any localised injury to the paw will prompt a dog to lick at it. Check the pads and between the toes for visible wounds, swelling, or anything embedded in the skin. Cracked pads can develop from walking on very dry ground, rough surfaces, or as a result of certain nutritional deficiencies. Minor injuries often heal with rest; anything that looks infected, is bleeding significantly, or isn't improving needs veterinary attention.

08 Interdigital Cysts (Furunculosis)

Interdigital cysts are painful, red or purple nodules that develop between the toes. They can be caused by foreign bodies, secondary bacterial infection, Demodex mites, or repeated trauma to the skin from walking on hard surfaces. Some breeds with short, coarse coats — such as Bulldogs, Boxers, and Labrador Retrievers — are more prone to them. They can rupture and become infected, and they often recur if the underlying cause isn't addressed. Veterinary assessment is needed.

09 Harvest Mites SEASONAL

Harvest mites (Trombicula autumnalis) are tiny orange-red mites that are active in late summer and autumn in the UK. They cluster in groups and are most commonly found between the toes, on the belly, and around the ears. Under close inspection they look like tiny orange dots. They cause intense itching and are picked up from long grass and vegetation. They need specific treatment from your vet; standard flea products don't reliably cover them.

10 Anxiety or Compulsive Behaviour

Some dogs develop paw licking as a response to stress, boredom, or anxiety. It often starts as a physical response to mild irritation and then becomes a habit that persists even after the original trigger has gone. Signs that behavioural licking may be a factor include licking that happens primarily when the dog is alone, at night, or in stressful situations — and skin that looks relatively normal despite the constant attention. A vet can help rule out physical causes and, where needed, discuss behavioural management options.