My dog licks his paws constantly, is that serious?

Non-stop paw licking is dermatological before it's 'behavioural' : it often hides an allergy, a parasite or pain. Rule out the medical side first (skin and paws checked by the vet) before talking about stress or boredom. It's also a chance to look between the toes for a grass seed in summer.

My dog keeps scratching: skin, itching, when to see the vet

Health & preventionPart of · Health & prevention

My dog keeps scratching: skin, itching, when to see the vet

Q: Why does my dog scratch all the time?

More often than not, scratching is a symptom , not a disease in itself. The number one cause is fleas (in an allergic dog, a single bite is enough), then allergies (atopy, food), parasites, sometimes a hormonal disorder. First move: parasite treatment up to date on every animal, then the vet to find the cause.

Q: Why does my dog have dandruff?

Dandruff is almost always a sign of something else: an allergy, parasites, yeast, a hormonal disorder or simply air that's too dry. One case worth knowing is cheyletiellosis, or 'walking dandruff', caused by tiny mites. Don't shampoo it at random: look for the cause with the vet.

Q: What can I put on my dog's irritated skin?

The honest answer: nothing at random, and definitely no human product or 'home remedy' on a weeping wound. Washing too much or with the wrong shampoo makes the itching worse. Watch, keep the parasite treatment up to date, and let the vet choose the right shampoo or care.

Q: Should I change the food of a dog that scratches?

There's no miracle food, and 'grain-free' doesn't mean hypoallergenic. If a food component is suspected, the only real test is a strict elimination diet supervised by the vet (about eight weeks, zero extras), not a blood, saliva or hair test. Decide it with them, never by starting a diet at random.

9 min read

Is your dog scratching non-stop? Scratching always has a cause, and most causes can be treated. First move: treat every animal in the home for fleas, all at the same time, because fleas are cause number one. Note since when and where he's scratching, and have the vet examine his skin.

Why your dog is scratching

Scratching, licking and nibbling is the number one reason dogs are brought to the vet for a skin problem. It's not a whim, and it's not “all in his head”: your dog has a reason to scratch. And over time the skin gets damaged, it gets infected, and the loop sets in: it itches, he scratches, the skin breaks down, it itches even more. Finding the cause early stops a simple itch from turning into a painful sore.

One rule above all: the vet rules out fleas first, then works through the diagnosis step by step, from the most common to the most complex. As long as fleas aren't sorted, everything else is blurred.

Reading the clues

Where he itches, and how, points towards the cause.

Fleas, to rule out first

Rear end, base of the tail, thighsThe most typical zone for flea bite allergy. In a sensitised dog, a single bite triggers one to two weeks of itching, even if you never see the insect.

The damp cotton wool testBlack “pepper” specks that turn red on damp cotton wool are flea dirt (digested blood), a reliable clue even with no flea in sight.

Allergies

Licked paws, face, lips, earsThe typical pattern of atopic dermatitis: an allergy to pollens, house dust mites or moulds that lasts a lifetime, not a passing infection.

Itching all year round, sometimes loose stoolsMay point towards a food allergy. This is checked by changing his food for several weeks, under the vet's supervision.

Repeated ear infectionsA dog with one ear infection after another often has an underlying allergy: the ear is skin too.

Parasites and other clues

Scratching ferociously, ear margins, elbows, bellySuggests sarcoptic mange: very few mites, intense itching, and it is contagious to humans, but only briefly.

Patches of missing hair around the eyes or muzzle, puppy or young dogMay suggest demodicosis: mites that are present in small numbers in every dog, and that multiply in puppies or in a dog whose defences are weakened. Little or no itching, unlike mange: only a skin sample, taken at the vet's, tells the difference.

Orange clusters between the toes in late summerHarvest mites, seasonal parasites picked up on walks in long grass.

Symmetrical hair loss, with no itchingPoints more towards a hormonal disorder, such as a lack of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism) or an adrenal gland imbalance (Cushing's disease): this is confirmed by a blood test, not by a quick glance at “dry skin”.

None of these clues can be confirmed by eye: only the vet can decide, by examining the skin and taking a small surface sample from it.

What to do, in order

Vets reason from the simplest to the most complex. You can follow the same thread at home.

Watch and note

Work out how long it has been going on and which areas are affected: those are the first two questions the vet will ask you.

Treat every animal for fleas

All of them at the same time, without skipping a month, and give the house a proper clean. It's the most common cause, and the simplest to sort out.

Don't pile on home remedies

No back-to-back shampoos, no “anti-itch” product picked at random: it muddies the picture on the skin and delays the right treatment.

See the vet for a diagnosis

The vet examines him, looks for a secondary infection, and looks at fleas, an allergy to the environment or to a food, other parasites, or a hormonal imbalance.

Before the appointment, get these markers ready: they save the vet time and make the picture sharper.

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Ready for the appointment

The reflexes that make it worse

Shampooing again and again to “clean things up”: washing too much, or with a human shampoo, which isn't made for his skin, damages his natural protection and makes him scratch more.
Trusting an “allergy test” on hair, saliva or blood: these tests aren't reliable and push you to cut out foods for nothing.
Applying an off-the-shelf “anti-itch” product before the diagnosis, or digging out an old tube of ear treatment from the cupboard.
Pushing a cotton bud into the ear canal: it packs the debris down towards the eardrum instead of removing it.
Letting a red, weeping patch “dry out” or putting a home remedy on it: this kind of lesion spreads within hours and hurts.
Using the dog's parasite treatment on the cat: permethrin, found in several dog products, is toxic, sometimes fatal, for cats.

Dandruff is almost never a disease in itself: most often another cause (allergy, parasites, yeasts, a hormonal disorder, air that's too dry in winter) throws the skin off balance and makes it flake. One case worth knowing about is cheyletiellosis, nicknamed “walking dandruff” because it's actually tiny mites on the move. Dandruff isn't something to shampoo at random, it's something to explain.

When to see the vet

From the calmest to the most urgent, these signs tell you where you stand.

Keep an eye on it and take notes

He scratches or licks one area a bit more than usual
Dandruff, a coat that's losing its shine
A mild redness that comes and goes

Book an appointment

Skin that thickens, reddens, darkens or smells bad
Scabs, pustules, hair loss
Repeated ear infections
Symmetrical hair loss on both flanks with no itching

See the vet without delay

A red patch that weeps and spreads within hours
Ferocious scratching, the dog can't settle and is wearing his skin raw
A round patch of missing hair together with a “mark” that has appeared on a human in the household (suspected ringworm)
A new lump or mass under the skin
Sudden swelling of the muzzle, the eyelids or the whole body, especially after an insect sting: it can tip into breathing difficulty, so head to the vet as an emergency

Olivry et al. (ICADA) — Treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: international guidelines (2015)
Dog dermatology: pruritus, seborrhoea, dermatophytosis, Merck/MSD Veterinary Manual
Guideline GL3, control of ectoparasites (fleas, ticks), ESCCAP

Going further

guideFleas on dogs: spot, treat and prevent themThe number one cause of itching: how to break the flea cycle across the whole household, not just on your dog.Read the guide guideCleaning your dog's earsItchy or smelly ears often give away an underlying allergy: the right way to clean them without stress.Read the guide guideBathing and dental care for your dogThe right rhythm for baths and brushing to keep the skin healthy and catch problems early.Read the guide guideTicks on dogs: prevention and removalAnother common parasite behind scratching: how to prevent ticks and remove them properly.Read the guide guideGrass Seeds in Dogs: How to Spot, Remove and Prevent ThemA grass seed lodged in the skin or a paw causes sudden, localised itching worth watching.Read the guide guideTreating a minor wound on your dogAll that scratching can irritate or break the skin: the right way to care for a minor wound.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Why does my dog scratch all the time?

Most of the time, scratching is a symptom, not a disease in itself. Cause number one is fleas (in an allergic dog, a single bite is enough), then allergies, to the environment or to a food, other parasites, and sometimes a hormonal imbalance. First move: treat every animal in the home for fleas, then the vet to find the cause.

How can I relieve a dog that scratches all the time?

Lasting relief means cutting off the cause, not masking the symptom. Keep the parasite treatment going continuously on every animal in the household, avoid repeated shampoos (they damage the skin) and get a diagnosis. Some allergies call for lifelong follow-up with the vet, who chooses the treatment; you never give a human anti-itch medicine.

Why does my dog have dandruff?

Dandruff is nearly always a sign of something else: an allergy, parasites, yeasts, a hormonal disorder, or simply air that's too dry. One case worth knowing about is cheyletiellosis, or “walking dandruff”, caused by tiny mites. Don't shampoo it at random: look for the cause with the vet.

What can I put on my dog's irritated skin?

Nothing at random, and certainly no human product or “home remedy” on a weeping sore. Washing too much or with an unsuitable shampoo makes the itching worse. Observe, and don't skip a flea treatment: it's the vet who chooses the right shampoo or treatment.

My dog licks his paws non-stop, is it serious?

Non-stop paw licking is dermatological before it's “behavioural”: it often hides an allergy, a parasite or pain. Have the vet examine the skin and paws first, before talking about stress or boredom. It's also a chance to check between the toes, looking for a grass seed in summer.

Should I change the food of a dog that scratches?

No kibble is a miracle, and “grain-free” doesn't mean hypoallergenic. If a food allergy is suspected, the only real test is to change his food completely for around eight weeks, with not a single extra, under the vet's supervision. Neither a blood test nor a saliva or hair test can replace it. To be decided with the vet, never by launching into a random diet.

Updated on July 11, 2026Sources

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