JohnnyIt’s nothing odd to see a French bulldog – or any dog, for that matter – licking its paws. However, if your Frenchie starts licking its paws extensively, it could be a sign of an alarming issue.
The question is:
Does your Frenchie lick his paws? Why? More importantly, what – if anything – can you do if your French bulldog starts licking his paws more than usual?
You don’t have to worry; we’ve covered everything you need to know about this not-so-strange behavior.
So, without further ado, let’s figure out the reasons for your Frenchie’s paw licking!
Why Does Your Frenchie Lick His Paws?
There can be several reasons for your French bulldog to lick his paws.
The first and most obvious among these is that your Frenchie’s paws are dirty, and he’s simply licking them clean as part of his grooming habits.
So, if your Frenchie’s walked through a patch of dirt and is now licking his paws to clean them, there’s nothing to worry about here. It’s normal dog behavior.
However, if your French bulldog is excessively licking his paws in a way that seems painful or harmful, then the reasons for this behavior might be a bit more serious.
Boredom, anxiety, skin issues, injuries, allergies – these are but a few reasons for your Frenchie to lick his paws excessively. Whatever it might be, definitely make sure you take your little friend to the vet for a check-up.
Is Your Frenchie Injured?
If your Frenchie starts to focus on one paw, the reason for licking could be a sign of injury.
Take a moment to inspect his paws from top to bottom. Examine nails, the toe pads, and look between the toes, too, if you suspect that your Frenchie’s injured.
Also, observe if your Frenchie is walking irregularly or if he’s favoring one of his paws. It could be something minor, like a tiny cut or a pebble – or it might be a torn nail, a thorn, or a blister.
Your French bulldog might’ve stepped on something sharp during your daily walk. Or he might have burnt the paw on the hot sidewalk on an extremely sunny day.
If a minor injury’s the reason for licking, you can solve most problems at home with simple first aid. However, if it’s something more serious – and touching the paw causes your Frenchie pain – don’t hesitate to call your vet.
Is it A Skin Complaint?
If your examination of the paw doesn’t indicate an injury, the issue might be associated with the skin itself.
French bulldogs, just like all other dog breeds and humans, can get dermatitis.
These skin conditions can be a result of allergies, bacterial problems, or even food sensitivities. On that note, dog skin allergies can be triggered by chemicals used in your backyard or certain types of plants.
Either way, your vet might have to run several tests to determine the cause of the rash.
Is It Parasites?
Parasite infections – such as mange and fleas – could lead to the itchiness in the paws of your Frenchie, causing them to lick the paws excessively.
Your vet should be able to recommend specific treatments which should alleviate the problem.
Is It A Food Allergy?
Food allergies among Frenchies – and all dog breeds, in general – are almost as prevalent as they are in humans. Unfortunately, it might be a bit harder to determine the cause of specific allergies when it comes to dogs.
Elimination of specific ingredients is typically suggested to find out if some brand or type of dog food might be triggering your Frenchie’s immune response.
It may take a few weeks – or, in some cases, months – to figure out the offending ingredient. But once it’s determined, eliminating it from your Frenchie’s diet should take care of the itchiness – and the licking.
Is It Something Psychological Or Behavioral?
If every other ailment’s been eliminated as the potential reason for your dog’s paw-licking, your vet might suggest that your Frenchie’s suffering from some sort of behavioral issue.
Anxiety and boredom are pretty common reasons for excessive paw licking – in addition to other compulsive behaviors. However, determining these types of issues can be somewhat tricky.
After all, your Frenchie can’t simply talk to you about what’s bothering him. It would be great if they could, though.
You can quickly deal with boredom by taking your French bulldog for more walks or engaging in more activities and playtime. These activities will help your Frenchie pup to use up more of that built-up energy.
Even something as simple as a toy can help take your Frenchie’s attention off their paws – and keep them focused on something else instead.
Anxiety is a bit trickier, though – especially if your French bulldog has separation anxiety.
If you’re often away from home and have no one around for your Frenchie to interact with, the issue could be separation anxiety.
Animal behavioral experts could help you with finding solutions to this, so don’t despair.
Is It An Underlying Health Problem?
Underlying conditions and secondary infections could also be the reason behind this behavior. You may need to rely on your vet’s experience in these cases, though.
These issues must be dealt with as soon as possible to prevent even more harm to your pet.
Moisture from excessive licking can aggravate a bacterial or yeast infection and make it much harder to treat.
Meanwhile, depending on the type of underlying condition, the vet might relieve your Frenchie itching by prescribing topical anti-itch sprays, antibiotics for treating bacterial infection, steroids to reduce inflammation, or antifungals for yeast infections.
The sooner you address the problem – and find the cause – the better.
Other Solutions And Considerations
If you’re a fan of homeopathy and you’d like to treat your Frenchie’s paw licking habit with some herbal-based treatments, you can do so by using sage tea or green tea soaks.
Green tea is excellent for relieving your Frenchie’s skin irritation – and it also prevents swelling.
To prepare your DIY remedy, simply boil a cup of water, put a teabag in it, and allow it to cool a bit. After that, soak or wash your Frenchie’s feet with the remedy.
Sage is a natural antiperspirant, so it could reduce the wetness and swelling and deal with the bacteria and itching of your French bulldog’s paws.
Oh, and one more thing:
Make sure to pat your Frenchie’s feet dry afterward – and beware of the stains you might get on your carpet from green tea!
Does Your Frenchie Lick His Paws? – Conclusion
So, does your Frenchie lick his paws?
If the answer’s “Yes,” then no matter the cause behind the behavior, you need to consult with your vet and work with them on coming up with a solution more quickly.
Maybe it’s normal – and perhaps it’s a sign of an underlying condition. You can’t know for sure until you consult the vet.
Now, prescribed meds are only one way of dealing with this. There are some herbal “cures” that can help relieve your Frenchie’s condition. And if your dog’s suffering from food allergies, a diet change might be in order.
As for boredom – well, make it a point to spend more time with your Frenchie doing something fun and engaging.
Remember, occasional licking is fine, but if it becomes constant and is causing symptoms such as the ones we’ve covered earlier, visit your vet as soon as possible.
