Can teething cause a puppy to lick their paws?

Teething puppies often chew more generally as their adult teeth come through, and that can extend to their own paws out of habit. Offering an appropriate chew toy usually redirects the behaviour, but persistent licking is still worth checking for other causes.

How do I check my puppy's paw for something stuck?

Gently part the fur and look between the toes and at the pads in good light, feeling carefully for anything sharp or lodged. If you find something you cannot remove easily and safely, or your puppy is in obvious pain, let your vet remove it instead.

Can food allergies cause paw licking in puppies?

Yes, itchy paws are a recognised sign of a food or environmental allergy in dogs, puppies included. Identifying the specific trigger usually needs your vet's help, since guessing and changing several things at once makes the real cause harder to find.

When should I take my puppy to the vet for paw licking?

See your vet if the licking is persistent, focused on one paw with swelling or an unpleasant smell, spreading to multiple paws, or causing hair loss or broken skin. Also see them if you cannot find and safely remove something you suspect is stuck.

Can boredom alone cause a puppy to lick their paws?

Yes, a puppy with little to occupy them can develop paw licking as a habit rather than a response to any physical problem. More exercise, training and something appropriate to chew often reduces it, but it is still worth ruling out allergies, fleas or a foreign object first.

Why is my puppy licking their paws?

Occasional paw licking is a normal part of how puppies groom themselves, and on its own it is rarely a cause for concern. It is worth a closer look when it becomes frequent, focused on one paw, or comes with redness, swelling or hair loss, since those patterns point toward an irritation, allergy or something physically stuck between the toes rather than ordinary grooming.

Usually not urgent

This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.

Find an out-of-hours vet·Search vets near you

The short answer

Some paw licking is completely normal grooming behaviour, and most puppies do it after a walk, before settling down, or simply out of habit. The amount and the pattern matter far more than the fact that it is happening at all.

Persistent licking focused on one paw, licking that leaves the fur wet or stained, or licking alongside limping, redness or swelling is a different picture, and it is worth working through the common causes rather than assuming it will pass on its own.

Common causes

Something stuck between the toes is one of the most common reasons for sudden, focused licking of a single paw. Grass seeds, small thorns, grit or a splinter can lodge in the webbing or a pad and cause real discomfort until they are found and removed.

Allergies, whether to food or something in the environment like pollen or dust, often show up as itchy paws in dogs, and puppies are no exception. Fleas and other parasites are a similar cause worth ruling out, particularly if the licking is widespread rather than confined to one paw.

Boredom and teething both play a part in some puppies. A puppy with little to occupy them may lick or chew at their paws out of habit, and a teething puppy generally chews more on everything, paws included, as their adult teeth come through. A small number of puppies develop the habit as a form of self-soothing when anxious, which is worth mentioning to your vet if it seems to happen at predictable, stressful moments rather than randomly through the day.

When it's worth getting looked at

See your vet if the licking is persistent and focused on one paw, especially with limping, swelling, heat, or an unpleasant smell, since a foreign object or an infection between the toes needs proper attention rather than home management.

Widespread licking across multiple paws, hair loss, red or broken skin, or licking that has been going on for more than a few days despite checking for anything obviously stuck are all worth a vet visit, since allergies and parasites are both manageable once identified but rarely resolve by themselves.

A puppy who suddenly starts licking or chewing one paw obsessively, holding it up, or refusing to put weight on it needs to be seen promptly rather than watched over a few days, since that pattern is more consistent with an injury or something still lodged in the paw than routine irritation.

What actually helps

Check between the toes and pads yourself after a walk, especially through long grass, gently parting the fur to look and feel for anything trapped. Removing a grass seed or thorn early often resolves the licking on its own.

Keeping up with flea and worming prevention as your vet advises rules out a common and easily overlooked cause, and giving a bored or teething puppy something appropriate to chew redirects the behaviour away from their paws.

If the cause turns out to be an allergy, your vet is the right person to help identify the trigger and suggest a suitable approach, since guessing and changing multiple things at once makes the real cause harder to pin down.

What can help

Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.

Fast UK delivery

Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs

A versatile, alcohol-free antiseptic spray that cleans, soothes, and helps protect your pet's skin from bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

From£16.49

Interactive Activity Ball Dog Toy with Cover

A bouncy activity ball in a tough zip-on cover that keeps dogs chasing, nudging and herding for hours.

From£23.99

Self-Moving Chew-Resistant Dog Ball

A USB-C rechargeable ball that moves on its own to keep dogs busy and active. Tough E-TPU construction stands up to chewing during supervised play, and the splash-resistant build suits indoor or outdoor use.

£15.99

Fast UK delivery

Absorbent Cotton Gauze Swabs for Pets – Pack of 100

Highly absorbent, low-lint cotton gauze swabs produced in clean conditions — a practical first-aid essential available in three size and ply combinations.

From£4.49

Common questions

Is it normal for puppies to lick their paws?: Occasional licking as part of general grooming is normal. It becomes worth a closer look when it is frequent, focused on one paw, or comes with redness, swelling, hair loss or an unpleasant smell, since those point toward a specific cause rather than routine grooming.
Can teething cause a puppy to lick their paws?: Teething puppies often chew more generally as their adult teeth come through, and that can extend to their own paws out of habit. Offering an appropriate chew toy usually redirects the behaviour, but persistent licking is still worth checking for other causes.
How do I check my puppy's paw for something stuck?: Gently part the fur and look between the toes and at the pads in good light, feeling carefully for anything sharp or lodged. If you find something you cannot remove easily and safely, or your puppy is in obvious pain, let your vet remove it instead.
Can food allergies cause paw licking in puppies?: Yes, itchy paws are a recognised sign of a food or environmental allergy in dogs, puppies included. Identifying the specific trigger usually needs your vet's help, since guessing and changing several things at once makes the real cause harder to find.
When should I take my puppy to the vet for paw licking?: See your vet if the licking is persistent, focused on one paw with swelling or an unpleasant smell, spreading to multiple paws, or causing hair loss or broken skin. Also see them if you cannot find and safely remove something you suspect is stuck.
Can boredom alone cause a puppy to lick their paws?: Yes, a puppy with little to occupy them can develop paw licking as a habit rather than a response to any physical problem. More exercise, training and something appropriate to chew often reduces it, but it is still worth ruling out allergies, fleas or a foreign object first.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.