Dog Biting Feet

Q.     My pet dog has recently started biting his feet a lot. It seems to be worse after he's been walked through our local woods and fields.  What could be the cause and how do we treat it?

A.     It would be best to get this checked by your vet as if it's linked to walking him on grassland as you describe, this is most likely to be a contact allergy. Please be aware that this can be the underlying cause of skin infections so your dog may need antibiotic treatment even when the primary cause is allergy.

For treatment of contact allergy of the paws the grassland areas can be avoided, the feet can be enclosed in small boots to avoid contact or (often most practical) the dog can be given medication prescribed by your vet.  There is also the possibility that your dog may be allergic to pollens and foods in which case he may need skin tests and allergy testing to investigate further.