When dogs bite some part of their body, they do this due to a reason. This is the only way they can relieve discomfort that is present in certain areas. If they have itchy paws, they will bite them. A dog chewing nails problem is rather common, why does my dog chew nails? As you can deduce, he will generally do this because he is in discomfort. But there are several reasons that precisely explain the issue here.
7 Reasons My Dog Chew Nails
1. Due To Allergies
This is probably the most common cause here. When a dog has allergies, he will have itchy skin, redness, and even swelling. If an allergy is on the paw or around the nail, you can see a dog chew nails in an effort to relieve the pain, itchiness and to eliminate discomfort. Grass allergies, food allergies, and seasonal allergies can all cause this behavior.
If you think that your pet has a minor allergy you can give him Benadryl. 1 mg per 1 pound of weight is recommended dosage. If you suspect that the condition is severe, take him to a vet immediately.
2. Infections of the Skin
This is not the same thing as allergies. But the symptoms are similar. A dog will have red skin around the nails and he will be in massive discomfort. He will bite that area and try to eliminate the pain. Sadly, this will make things even worse and he can even make wounds there.
Areas around the nails are an ideal environment for bacteria. If a dog licks that area, he adds moisture. This makes the environment even better for bacteria. You will have to take him to a vet. He will prescribe antibiotics and topical spray. E-collar is useful in this case as well.
3. Skin Conditions
Almost countless skin conditions can cause your pet to do this. One of the most common is demodectic mange. If your pet has this, you can see losing hair around the paw or on other areas, chewing the feet, and possibly other areas with hair loss. This is not something you can treat at home. You will have to take him to a vet. He will scrape the thin layer of skin and analyze it. If he diagnoses this issue, a medicated bath, medications, and injections are a part of the treatment. It looks worse than it is but it can be problematic.
4. Ticks and Fleas
Both of these can cause the issue in question. For instance, ticks can attack the area between the toes on the paws. They really love this place. Itchiness, red skin, and swelling can occur. A dog will try to bite that area in order to remove the tick or what causes that problem. Fleas can cause the same issue. This is flea dermatitis and it is a common issue for many dogs.
You will have to take him to a vet. He can professionally remove a tick or prescribe medications for dermatitis. You will have to find a way to remove the fleas and ticks from fur and your home though.
5. Anxiety
Yes, dogs can and will chew their nails and paws due to anxiety. If you leave your pet home alone for a long time or you don’t play with him, anxiety is a common problem. When a human is nervous or anxious, he may bite his nails. Dogs do the same thing. They are more like us than we believe.
If your pet also starts destroying stuff around the house or peeing all around the floor, these are additional symptoms. It means that the situation is even more severe. Don’t forget that some dogs can develop obsessive-compulsive behavior! If that happens, he will chew his nails all the time! You can try to spend more time with your pet. Get him special toys and treats. But, if this doesn’t work, take him to a vet. He may even have to prescribe medications for treating anxiety.
6. Due To Growths
Some dogs can end up with growths that look awful on the skin. These can occur between the nails on the paw. A dog can have interdigital cysts, masses, or even abscesses. These can occur due to all kinds of reasons. For instance, if there was an injury or a nail was injured before, a mass can form. You can see this on the paw and it will be in an area without hair and usually red.
There is no need to tell you that you must take your pet to a vet as soon as possible. These issues can be cured. But, a vet may even have to remove one in surgery. Others will require complicated treatments. A good thing is that these are rare and easy to see.
7. Broken Nail
Dogs can break their nails easily. This is even more common among active dogs who run around all day. They will experience pain and massive discomfort. The problem is common so many experts believe that every single dog will break his nail at least once in his life. We believe that this is a huge problem. A dog will chew and lick the paw and nails due to the same reason as before.
Keep in mind that some dogs will limp, have sensitive paws or even bleed from that paw when they break the nail. Your vet can help your dog and he should do this as soon as possible. If you leave it like this, the infection can occur. They are extremely common when a dog breaks his nail.
The Final Word
A dog chew nails has a problem. It can be any from this list and in extremely rare situations can be present. The best thing to do is to take your pet to a vet and start treatment. Dogs who don’t have any visible issues on the nails or paws will do this because of anxiety. But, all dogs will do this due to itchiness, pain, and discomfort that is present.