When Beagles Chew at or Lick Their Paws

This article will cover the most common reasons a Beagle will lick or chew at their paws including steps to take to help resolve the issue. 

Anything that a Beagle’s paws comes into contact with can cause a reaction. Some of the top culprits include:

Lawn care products – Weed killer, fertilizer, and pesticides can all cause itching or irritation. Even if you do not use these products at home, there can be run-off from neighboring yards after a rain or a Beagle can come into contact with these elements at parks and other public places. 

Winter-related products – Rock salt and other related products designed to melt snow and ice often contain sodium chloride or other ingredients that can either cause severe drying or be an irritant to the paws. Traction sand can be very gritty on the paws, causing surface scratches.  

Household cleansers – This includes carpet cleaning solutions and any items such as throw rugs, pillows, etc. that have been washed with laundry detergent containing fragrances or dyes. 

1) Try to identify and eliminate the irritant. 

2) Apply paw wax to your Beagle’s paws to offer a barrier to various irritants (see details below under Paw Care Products). 

4) For immediate relief, use an anti-itch spray (see details below under Paw Care Products).

Itching is a top sign of allergies, and while this is often a full-body issue, it is common for a Beagle to mainly chew at the paws since it is an easily accessible body part. This said, you may notice other symptoms such as itching on other areas (a dog may rub his body against surfaces or try to lick or bite other areas), bloodshot eyes, runny eyes, and/or breathing-related issues (coughing, wheezing, sneezing). 

Allergies can be year-round or seasonal. Top triggers include pollen, grasses, dust mites, mold, and certain foods. 

2) For moderate to severe allergies, prescribed medications may be needed including antihistamines and/or anti-inflammatories. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may also be given. 

Yeast that naturally lives on a dog’s skin are triggered to multiply, resulting in what is referred to as an infection. This population explosion of yeast can occur due to a lowered immune system (commonly seen with dogs that are ill or taking certain medications), excessive moisture on the paws (sometimes due to excessive licking that was caused by another issue), or even certain foods (often carbs like potatoes that the body breaks down into sugar or ingredients like fructose syrup or honey).   

The top sign that it is a yeast infection causing a Beagle to chew or lick at his paws is a strong, unpleasant odor that some equate to old musty socks, corn chips, or cheese popcorn. 

Other symptoms include inflamed nail beds and/or other areas on the paws, thickened or oily skin, flaking or crusty skin, and/or warmth. 

1) If you are not sure if a yeast infection is to blame, this can be confirmed at the vet’s office via a skin scraping that is analyzed under a microscope. 

2) With moderate to severe infections, or for Beagles that have chronic yeast infections on the paws, this may require veterinary treatment that may include oral anti-fungal medications and topical anti-fungal ointment. Any secondary bacterial infections will be treated with antibiotics. 

1) Keep paws dry. After baths, be sure to dry your Beagle’s paws, and don’t forget about in between the toes. If your Beagle’s paws are wet from being outside, rinse and then dry the paws. 

2) Soak the paws in the tub, using a broad-spectrum anti-fungal shampoo. This can be done in conjunction with treating the paws with an anti-fungal topical spray (For both of these, see details below under Paw Care Products). 

It’s common for dry skin to develop during the wintertime when the air itself is dry. Heating the house never adds any moisture to arid air, in fact, it makes it worse. Dry skin may reach its peak during the spring, once a Beagle has had the issue gradually developing for months. 

Alone or in connection with arid air, inadequate water intake and/or subpar shampoos that contain parabens and other harsh ingredients can cause dry skin. 

Though this issue can be body-wide, it often manifests on the paws due to a combination of friction from walking surfaces exacerbating the problem and the fact that the paws are so accessible for chewing and licking.  

3) Treat the paws with a healing cream to moisturize and heal dry paw skin (see details below under Paw Care Products). 

Parasites – Though mites and fleas are usually a full-body issue, this can start on the paws. Ticks, on the other hand, are localized and would often involve just one paw. 

With mites, there is usually hair loss, inflammation, and oily skin; this often will progress from the paws over to other areas of the body. And, though nearly microscopic, mites may be visible on close inspection. Mites diagnosed via a skin scraping and treated with topical anti-parasitic medications.

With fleas, there is severe itching, often quickly spreading to other parts of the body. It’s not easy to see fleas since they are super-fast and jump out of the way when hair is parted, but their droppings (tiny black spots) may be visible. Treatment for fleas must involve both topical treatment for a dog and treating the house. 

Ticks bury their head into the skin, but the body will be seen. Depending on the type of tick and how much blood it has ingested, these can range in size from 1/8 to 1/2 long. Ticks should be removed asap; it usually takes 36 to 48 hours for disease, including Lyme disease, to be transmitted. 

Stress/boredom – Often seen with Beagles that have severe separation anxiety, dogs that are extremely stressed or suffering from isolation may chew or lick their paws as a self-soothing method. 

If steps such as offering ‘stay busy’ toys, playing music or leaving on certain TV shows, and having a dog walker break up the day, etc. are not working, prescribed anti-anxiety medication may be needed.  

Minor burns to the paws can be treated at home with a healing cream, but moderate to severe burns must be treated at the vet clinic. Minor to moderate lacerations may be able to be treated at home by rinsing the area, applying an antibiotic gel, and a wrapping the paw.

Acral lick granulomas – What started with one thing (dry skin, irritation, licking due to stress.) can spiral into this much more severe issue of lick granulomas in which compulsive licking has caused thickened skin, oozing sores, and damaged hair follicles. Treating this can be tricky and often involves treatment for the wound, methods to prevent licking (like safety collars or paw wraps), antibiotics, and sometimes laser surgery. 

As soon as you notice your Beagle paying attention to the paws, take steps to try and identify the reason. Offer help via anti-itch sprays and do not hesitate to bring your Beagle to the vet to either diagnose the cause or to learn about options for prescribed treatments.