Have you had it with your dog licking her paws non-stop? Are you going crazy watching your cat pull at her toe nails? 

If you are uncomfortable with your pet's paw obsession , imagine how your pet feels! 

Compulsive licking and chewing of the paws is a common problem for our pets but it shouldn't be considered normal.  There can be many causes:

Allergies: ingestion of a food, contact with grasses or plants and inhalation of pollens are common causes of itchy skin (especially at this time of the year)

Parasites: mites can burrow in to the skin and cause irritation and flea bites can cause generalised itching

Boredom: just as people with anxiety might bite their nails, our pets can develop a physical response to psychological stress - some pets will develop an obsessive-compulsive disorder

Hormonal imbalances: thyroid disease and adrenal disease can lead to superficial skin infections and itchy skin

Pain: licking to relieve pain caused by arthritis or the presence of a foreign body such as a grass seed 

If your pet has an itch a consultation with us is essential to help improve their comfort levels - we can do many things to help them feel better.