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I have a 7 month old puppy (Golden Retriever/Poodle cross) and he has this "habit" of chewing his back paws and legs. He chews to the point where I worry that he will end up hurting himself. He does this when he is in the presence of the whole family so I don't believe he has a separation issue. He doesn't walk like his hind legs hurt him so I don't think there a physical problem. Is there anything else I should be looking at before I visit the vet and ask them what it could be?

I would still see the vet to rule out stuff. In the mean time did you do anything new ?
How long has pup been chewing back legs and see if anything was introduced ard that time and elimate it.
Is puppy eating the same food as always -or has had anything new to eat? Any "treats".?
Their feet get ichy-with allergies to food or enviroment. New soap? or not rinsed enough if you bathed pup?
The vet will want to know what you feed take the label of what is in the food. Being just the back legs is wierd.
Something is bothering puppy - hope you find out fast cause a chewing on itself puppy can wear their fur off and cause open wounds so see vet before that.

He's always done it it just seems to be getting worse and worse, he's getting more vigorous with it. His food is the same as when we got him. Treats are the same. I've always been very careful with rinsing him after a bath because his fur is so thick.... although my wife did bathe him just the other day but she says she was careful about rinsing him. My wife and I are wondering if he has always had an allergic reaction to his food... we're debating the option of a RAW diet.

This may sound weird but my puppy does it as well, but when she is bored or not getting something she wants. Basically her version of pouting. You might want to try distracting the pup from chewing on themselves with something else to chew. Mine stops when I give her a "chewie". Just a thought. Hope everything turns out okay.

I'll keep that in mind. He spent the whole day playing with another dog today and is just zonked right out and isn't chewing. Well I'll keep an eye on him and see how he does...

My older dog Kara used to chew one paw basically to the skin raw. I don't honestly know what caused it as it was always in the spring/summer and there were no food changes or triggers that I could think of. What I had to do to keep her form chewing them was to bandage the paw. I put some anti-biotic cream on the area, then gauze and Vet Wrap around it. I would then use bitter lotion on the bandage to stop her form chewing on that. I would change it at least twice a day.

This summer, she has only chewed a little bit. I have changed the diet to raw and some some training. I don't know what has stopped her form chewing.

You may want to try a diet change or check for allergies with your vet. It could also be a boredom thing, so going for walks, to the park of giving your dog a bone of something to chew may help. You could also put some bitter spray on the legs to see if it helps. interrupting him when he does it can help. Using a medicated shampoo could help too.

I think it is something to do with food -if he has always done it. You sound like you know how to care for his coat-and rinse him well.
doesn't hurt to try something else -for diet. Raw does sound good --from reading I can see that takes time too but results are worth it according to waht I have read. haven't tried myself yet//did talk to butcher about some bones. In my goal to replace rawhide I read that big beef bones are good for dogs.
if you are trying another kibble-there are some good ones. Over a week mix 1 new to 3 parts old -by third day half and half and by 7th day-totally new diet.
I f you don't they could get problems with change. And you don't need him with the runs or throwing up.
So slow change is key-and simple -introduce one food at a time. then when stable and well on main diet-watch for any reactions to any additions. It is usually in a day that Kobe shows if he can eat it. My dad is bad cause he likes to share with Kobe then I have a gassy dog all the way home so results can be quick. Thank goodness no runs in the car. Told my dad kobe can't visit if he would respect Kobes diet //cause Kobe suffers for it and i do not like that at all!!
kobe too was allergic to what he was eating when he came to us. he was so itchy-the vet thought he had walking dandruff(which requires meds) but it wasn't-simple test said so.
so we changed him to medical dry food. I bought it right then and there at the vet. They did not push on me -just said that it was a high end kibble he was eating but to try another to see if it helped.
Ichiness stopped in a week and in a month his coat was clear of white flakes and he looks like he is polished once a day- he is shiny.
I may change him again-I am just checking out different kibble mentioned on here somewhere.
I did try some wet food with his dry and anything beef seems to give him the runs. He likes pixels and freeze dried chicken or liver. I didn't know about rawhide being risky and he loved the flat ones---. so I stopped giving him the rawhide chips and bought some dried chicken.
It is supposed to be real meat and a chew for him. A whole one -which was amost the size of a strip of bacon was too much so cut in half was better.
with Kobe its gas we don't want to encourge and we have that under control-as long as i watch every reaction with any new food.

I should make clear// vet kibble- " Medical" is the brand name-no special medical diet. He is just changing over from puppy formula to adult. and were are half way thru with no problems. good luck with ur sweetie!

Dogs that lick their paws to this degree are like people who bite their nails. Its habit.

My Dally started mouthing her paws after a fungus infection she had. She had small black blotches in between her toes which went away with a special shampoo. Ever since then she found it a habit to chew her paws. When she feels uncomfortable, when she is sleepy and when she is bord! To get her out of the habit I put little drops of Albus oil on her paws (Its that smelly stuff you use when you have a cold to unblock your nose!). She hated the smell and soon stopped.

Make sure it is not an attention seeking behavour. It seems possible as your pup does it when you are about. Try ignoring him when he does it if previously this would cause you to give him attention. I cant imagine he will do himself too much damage
Lilo never did even though once she was finished her paws looked so sore!

I would defo check out the vet though. Just incase it isnt a habit.

Katie
-x-

When I took my Beagle to her first vet appointment, one of the big things he stressed was to watch for signs of chewing her feet and legs - big indicator of allergies. Food or environmental(contact).

If it's allergies, unfortunately it could be hard to figure out what the culprit is. Could be his food/treats if it's been the same since your brought him home. Could be your carpet, your cleaners, even your grass outside.

But as others have said, some dogs do it out of habit. I would however try to rule out all allergies, before coming to conclusion he does it just because. Typically when dogs chew for no reason, it's some sort of anxiety or boredom problem. But definately talk to the vet about doing an elimination diet, and experimenting around the home to see if it could be something inside making him itchy.