Obsessive Licking/Chewing of Paws, and Grass eating
Written by Pam Podz
Since I moved into a new home (been living here for about 7 months now) my dog has started licking/chewing on her paws like crazy. Constantly going at it. I even can hear her cry every now again about it. I don't know what to do about it. I thought it was stress related from the move, but I have lived here for a while now, and have gotten into a good routine. She gets plenty of exercise, and always has lots of chew toys but she perfurs her paws. Her paws are not raw, and are soft, and look really healthy, so I can't see what the problem is. Could this be related to her urinary track stones that she has been diagnosed with from my vet? Also occassionally my dog will go into a crazy spell, where she will obsessively start licking the the carpet, walls, the air, and I try to stop her and it is like she is on drugs or something. She just goes crazy. During this time I tried to take her outside and she just started eating everything she could find, grass, twigs, leaves, I was so scared for her. I make sure to keep poisons away from her, and cords tucked away, I just don't know what the cause would be.
Could all these things be related? Her chewing of her paws, and the crazy grass eating and licking, as well as her urinary track stones?
I think it might be allergies. Other than a perscription diet from a vet, what are some other food alternatives I could try? Right now I have her on Royal Canin for Small Dogs, JRT on the front.
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Hi Pam, sometimes dogs will display strange behavior when they are experiencing a medical issue. It will be interesting to see if when you get the stones under control if that makes a difference. Often dogs with allergies to either food or something in the environment will chew at their feet, scratch their ears as well as other places too. Usually you will see red skin associated with these areas when allergies are present.
Another cause of licking and chewing are fleas. They can drive a dog crazy when they can't quite get to the spot where the bite is. Some dogs can actually be allergic to fleas where one bite can send them scratching for hours.
As you know Jack Russel's do have lots of energy so it is hard to say if the crazy behavior is just her releasing energy or anxiety from something else. Excessive grooming and things like licking the air can be signs of anxiety that may have started as a result of the move and are now habit.
If you suspect a food allergy, check the protein source of the food you are feeding, it is often the culprit. You may need to try a novel protein your dog has not had before. As I mentioned in your other question regarding the stones, the prescription diets are the safest bet to ensure the stones are under control. It is also very important to only feed that diet in order to maintain urinary health. The same principal goes for feeding for food allergies. Once you have identified the allergen, the dog must not be fed anything with that ingredient in it.
I hope this helps and if you click on the highlighted words, it will link you to some articles on allergies you may find helpful.
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