Beagles are one of America’s favorite dog breeds. Their sweet disposition, small size and loyal nature make them great family dogs and favorites of adults and kids alike. However, they are not immune to health problems nor to developing behaviors that can become a nuisance.
Beagles, like other dogs, can develop a habit of chewing on their paws. Not only is this annoying, it can lead to problems like infections, skin irritation or injury to other tissues. In this article, I’ll explain why exactly beagles chew their paws, the side effects of chewing their paws too frequently, and what you can do to stop this behavior.
Why Do Beagles Chew Their Paws?
Whether your beagle has been chewing on his or her feet for a long time or it is a new behavior, you will want to get to the bottom of why it is happening. All behavior happens for a reason. Some of these can be self-diagnosed or treated symptomatically at home while others will require a trip to the vet. A few of the more common reasons that beagles chew on their feet include:
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To relieve itching from allergies
Beagles can have allergies to environmental or dietary allergens. And just like in humans, those allergies can make them feel absolutely miserable. Chewing on any part of the body, but particularly those that are easy to get to – such as feet, tail and ears – may be your dog’s attempt to scratch an itch. If you believe your dog is having an allergic reaction, a visit to your vet can help pinpoint the offending allergen.
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Stress or anxiety
Foot chewing in beagles can also be a sign of stress. This can come as a reaction to change in the household, such as adding or losing a family member, experiencing separation anxiety, moving, or a shakeup of their usual routine. There are numerous actions you can take at home to help your dog through such periods of stress but do not hesitate to contact your vet if your beagle seems out of sorts and you cannot get him or her to do things that they usually enjoy.
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Yeast infections
Yeast infections are a common malady in dogs, and while treatable, they will require a visit to your vet to properly diagnose. These infections are incredibly itchy and will get worse if they are not addressed. They ends to affect the ears, but they can lead to paw chewing as well.
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Skin conditions
There are other skin conditions, ranging from mild to severe genetic conditions that can cause skin itching and pain. The treatment depends upon what type of condition your beagle has. Dandruff, for example, is an extremely common cause of itching and feet chewing in beagles, with an easier remedy like moisturizer and specialized dandruff.
Other conditions may be more chronic and difficult to manage. If you notice lots of flakes coming off your dog’s skin, or redness around the area where they’re chewing, you should go to a vet for a full assessment of the problem.
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Injury
If you notice your dog suddenly chewing at a limb or paw, you should carefully examine him or her for injuries. Beagles will lick or chew when they are in pain and are especially prone to licking or biting at wounds in an instinctive attempt to soothe themselves or relieve pain.
This type of chewing is often coupled with limping or whimpering, so you should pay extra close attention to your beagle to see what kind of other symptoms could be present.
How to Stop Beagles From Chewing Their Paws
The first thing that you’ll need to do in order to properly address your beagle’s foot-chewing behavior is to find the cause of the problem. Taking your beagle into the vet for a thorough checkup can help you both pinpoint the problem and formulate a proper course of treatment.
Your veterinarian will want to first conduct an exam to rule out any injuries. Provided your beagle is not injured, your vet will likely have other suggestions for you to help stop this nuisance behavior.
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Allergy Diets
Many beagles have allergies to specific food ingredients, which can cause itching and – consequently – paw-chewing. It can be difficult to try to figure out what the allergen is, which is why many vets will recommend putting your dog on an elimination diet to rule this out. An elimination diet slowly removes ingredients one at a time in order to see how your dog reacts to the diet. When symptoms disappear, it can be surmised that the ingredient removed from the diet is the allergen and you can adjust your dog’s diet based on that information. Many beagles benefit from eating a limited ingredient food, which does not contain any of the most common allergens.
The most common food allergens in beagles include:
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Flea Medication
Fleas are an incredible nuisance to all pet owners! If your beagle is chewing on their feet, be sure to thoroughly comb and check them out for fleas. You can purchase a flea comb anywhere you get pet supplies. If you are seeing fleas, you will need to put your beagle on a flea prevention program. There are numerous options for this, from long-term control via pill form, collars and topical treatments. If your beagle is already on a flea preventive but is still showing signs of having fleas, your vet can advise you of the next steps. When the fleas are completely gone, you will likely see a quick end to the foot-chewing behavior. I prefer to use K9 Advantix II for both flea and tick prevention for my beagle Maple.
One important note though is that these flea preventatives do not always get rid of the fleas themselves, and you’ll want to thoroughly clean your own home so they don’t end up on you or your other pets!
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Changing the environment to decrease allergens
While some beagles are allergic to food ingredients, others have environmental allergies. They can be sensitive to things in the air or on surfaces both inside and outside of your home. There are many things you can do to reduce your dog’s exposure to those allergens. If the offending substance is something outside, you may be able to walk your dog a different part of the way, or corner off areas where they might encounter that allergen.
Within your home, you might consider ways to keep dust and dry air under control. Using a humidifier will not only keep your beagle’s skin moisturized and hydrated, it will also decrease the amount of dust in the air, both of which can go a long way in giving your beagle some relief from the itching which leads to paw chewing or biting. Frequent cleaning and dusting will also help with this. You should regularly launder your dog’s bedding and other surfaces that he is in frequent contact with. Using a hypoallergenic, dye free laundry detergent, such as one meant for babies, will decrease your dog’s exposure to other potential allergens or irritants as well.
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Try using socks
While you are addressing the root cause of your beagle’s itching and feet-chewing, you may want to outfit him or her with some fancy new socks to keep them from further irritating the area. Depending on the size of your dog, you can use baby or toddler socks or purchase special booties or dog socks at a pet store. I recommend going with the booties personally, because my beagle loves to chew up socks meant for people!
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Distract your dog from the behavior
Sometimes what starts out as a reaction to an environmental allergen or a nervous behavior in response to a change in the environment can become a habit. Your dog could be chewing on his or her paws without even realizing it. In cases like this, the best that you can do is to distract your beagle from this behavior. Playing a game with your beagle, taking them on a walk or otherwise entertaining them will often be enough to get them involved in something else. When you are not home, you can leave your dog with “busy toys” or activities to occupy him or her and keep their mind off of the chewing behavior.
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Topical sprays
For simple environmental allergens or itching, topical itch sprays can be a life-saver. Although many are sold over the counter and contain ingredients that soothe itchy skin and inflammation, your vet may also prescribe a topical cream or spray that addresses your dog’s specific needs, especially if the itching is because of a genetic condition. My vet recommended Bexley Labs’ Medicated Chlorhexidine Spray off Amazon.
When grooming, you might also wish to use a shampoo that is specially formulated for soothing irritated, itchy skin. When the itch goes away, there is a good chance that the foot-chewing behavior will taper off as well.
Other Potential Causes of Paw Chewing
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Dry Skin
Dry skin can come about for a mix of reasons, but if prolonged it can become a difficult annoyance for your dog to deal with. Dogs tend to experience dry paws in arid climates or during cold winter weather, but there are also genetic and biological factors that can contribute to it, such as conditions like dermatitis.
Dog’s skin can dry out with certain nutritional deficiencies, like not getting enough healthy fatty acids in their diet, or not having their skin moisturized enough. You can usually tell if your dog is suffering from chronic dry skin if they’re also experiencing a lot of dandruff, as I mentioned earlier.
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Parasites
One big factor that you may have not considered is parasites. Little creatures like mites, fleas, and ticks are fairly common in dogs, and can easily cause itching sensations that will drive your dog to chew their feet to relieve the pain.
Ticks can usually be easy to spot because they latch on to one spot, but mites and individual fleas can be more difficult. I’d recommend consulting your vet to make sure that your dog has a flea preventative in place, but you’ll also want to frequently bathe them and thoroughly clean your home to ensure that you get rid of them if they’re already a problem.
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Hormonal Imbalance
Certain hormonal problems can also contribute to excessive licking, biting, and chewing of the paws, for a few different reasons.
Dogs can be more prone to stress if they have an imbalance of the hormone cortisol, which can lead them to act out in ways like chewing their feet more than normal. Additionally, if your dog is having an issue with their thyroid, it may result in distress that causes compulsive behavior, including paw chewing.
If you suspect that your dog is acting hormonal for more than one reason (such as rapid weight change and mood swings), a vet consultation and some bloodwork should be able to help decipher the issue.
- Psychological Compulsive Behavior
There are a few genetic predispositions that put certain dog breeds at higher risk for different types of Canine Compulsive Disorder, according to the Veterinary Centers for America.
These tend to be inherent, and exacerbated by stressful events or behaviors like separation anxiety or loud environments. If your dog is experiencing paw chewing as a compulsive behavior, you may need to make some changes to your environment to reduce their stress, and work with a behavioral trainer to help mellow them out and gain more confidence and stability.
It may feel like nothing is working, but there’s a lot of good that can be done through behavioral trainers and animal psych experts. You should first consult with your vet about these compulsions, and they’ll be able to help refer you to your best local options.
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Foreign Object
Lastly, a lot of dog owners tend to forget that one of the more likely causes of paw chewing could be right in front of them. Dogs, especially hound dogs like beagles that like to dig and stay low to the ground are particularly prone to getting foxtails and thorns stuck in their paws.
If your dog is excessively chewing their paws, especially right after any walks or long hikes, you should examine their paws thoroughly and see if its maybe a foreign object that’s stuck in their paw that could be causing them pain. You may need to help with some tweezers to get it out, or even take them to a vet. Most vets will be able to recognize a foreign object and fix the issue fairly quickly.
More Solutions to Help Your Beagle’s Paws
- Anti-Itch Shampoo
- Anti Itch Vitamins
- Flea Preventative
- Itch Relief Balm
- Moisturizer
Best Hypoallergenic Dog Foods for Beagles
If you have a beagle with dietary allergies, the best choices for foods are those that either eliminate common allergens or use limited ingredients or both. Look for a dry or set food that is labeled “allergy control” or “limited ingredient.” Your vet may also suggest a prescription food that more specifically addresses your beagle’s dietary needs and allergic triggers.
There are some concerns with certain ‘natural’-marketed dog foods that aren’t as widely vet approved, and some even have links to heart disease. The following list consists of vet-approved hypoallergenic foods for beagles:
Final Thoughts
Paw chewing in beagles can be irritating for both you and your dog, but it is typically a problem that can be solved with just a bit of detective work and some simple changes in your dog’s environment. Your veterinarian should always be consulted before you make any drastic changes to your dog’s diet or lifestyle. However, simple home measures such as increasing cleaning and laundering, using a humidifier, and using topical sprays and shampoos can greatly decrease symptoms while your pet is healing or waiting for a visit to your vet.
