It wouldn’t be unusual for a dog to keep biting its paws because dogs can only use their mouths (and hind legs) to satisfy the itch.
But if the dog obsessively chews its paws violently, it is a sign of a serious problem that requires prompt veterinary intervention.
Why does my dog chew his leg until it bleeds? Please do not leave the dog alone without solving the problem for him!
Study this article carefully, as it provides invaluable information on the subject!
Why Does My Dog Chew His Leg Until It Bleeds?
The top cause for dog chewing legs paw is dry skin problems such as itching or environmental allergies.
But if testing shows no skin infections, the dog will likely have serious behavioral and psychological issues.
Learn more about these two types of agents through the information summarized below.
Allergies And Skin Infections
Types of skin diseases are quite easy to recognize because it causes certain changes to the skin that the dog is chewing. The most typical causes include:
- Parasites: Fleas, dog ticks, lice, and insects are suspects you should check first! Fortunately, they are easy to detect through daily grooming and bathing procedures.
- Skin allergies: Some dogs with allergies to eating certain food and special foods will get this issue. Environmental agents (such as pollen) can also cause intense itching in a dog’s sensitive skin, resulting in the dog chewing on leg raw until it bleeds.
- Dermatitis: All types of pyoderma (such as atopic dermatitis, inflammatory dermatitis, and contact dermatitis) cause intense itching, making the dog can only chew the paw until the pain subsides.
- Infection: If your dog’s paw has a pre-existing wound, it most likely has a fungal infection or bacterial infection. The skin around the wound becomes itchy and irritated, causing the dog to stop chewing until the injury continues to bleed.
Behavioral Issue And Psychological Factors
In addition to dermatological agents, psychological and behavioral disorders contribute to excessive paw chewing until bleeding occurs. Specific causes include:
- Boredom: Dogs who lack stimulation, are left alone, or are not allowed to go outside for long periods try to find new sensations by chewing on their paws until they bleed.
- Obsessive compulsions: Some dogs develop puzzling compulsions, such as the obsession with chewing on their paws. It can stem from early life experiences, genetic problems, serious trauma (physical and psychological), or underlying psychological issues.
- Stress and separation anxiety: Sudden changes in the environment and psychological instability are the keys to triggering pressure in dogs. Dogs with this psychological problem often injure themselves (chewing their feet until they bleed) as a coping mechanism.
How To Stop My Dog Biting Leg Raw?
It would be best to determine the underlying cause before applying the appropriate treatment plan for the dog chewing leg until it bleeds.
If you do not know where to start treatment, here are some measures you should refer to.
Treat Itching And Irritation
Chewing feet due to skin irritation and itching can be reduced if you offer your dog the following methods:
- Oral medications: Your veterinarian may prescribe some oral medications (such as antihistamines and steroids) to reduce inflammation and itching.
- Allergy control: Complete allergy testing and follow a diet to control food allergies on your dog’s feet in time.
- Topical Treatments: Your veterinarian may prescribe topical creams, ointments, and sprays to soothe the pain and relieve itching of the affected skin. It would help if you used a medical bandage or an Elizabethan cone to limit the dog’s contact with old wounds.
Try Behavior Modification Training
For dogs with behavioral problems, behavioral modification techniques will provide good treatment results.
Make sure to do enough of the following tips to get your dog out of the phobia soon:
- Provide a healthy environment: Mentally and physically stimulate your dog by engaging him in daily exercise. Besides, you can ease your dog’s boring mood with interactive toys and let him out often.
- Distraction Training: Redirect your dog’s attention to activities other than chewing on his paw. If you catch your dog continuing this bad habit, give him a suitable chew toy.
- Mood regulation: Professional dog trainers often develop conditioning and desensitization exercises. This exercise allows the dog to adapt to the new environment easily while maintaining a calm mood.
Get Help From The Vet
Take the dog to a professional veterinarian to determine the problem the dog is having and the appropriate treatment.
If your dog has more serious skin problems, your veterinarian will help you with tests, prescriptions, and diet plans to limit dog biting hind legs.
FAQs
Why Is My Dog Biting Her Leg?
Ticks and fleas are the leading causes of dog bites. But if this happens often, the dog may have an allergy, dermatitis, fungus, infection, or psychological disorder.
Take the dog to the vet, and the experts there will tell you what’s wrong with your dog.
Do Dogs Bite Their Legs When Stressed?
Dogs also tend to chew objects or lick their fur when mentally unstable (lonely, anxious, or sad).
Besides, it also shows several other signs of stress, such as increased heart rate, poor digestion, rapid breathing, drooling, odd posture, moodiness, loss of appetite, etc.
Should I Let My Dog Bite His Leg?
If the problem is from a common itch, biting the tail and leg is just an instinctive action of the dog, and you should not discourage it.
But when this behavior becomes more serious, stop your business and pay more attention to the dog.
Perform a physical exam to detect skin infections in the puppy promptly. If nothing suspicious is seen, the dog is likely suffering from an emotional and behavioral disorder.
Some Last Words
Why does my dog chew his leg until it bleeds, and how to stop its bad behavior? We hope you have grasped all the necessary information about this topic through this article.
While addressing the underlying issues, prevent the dog from trying to cause new injuries and create a healthy living environment for the dog.
Closely monitor the treatment process and regularly re-examine to control the health status of your furry friend in the closest way. Good luck!
