Food And Home Remedies To Stop Dog Licking Paws Uncontrollably

Does your dog constantly lick their paws? You’re not alone. As a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) food therapy practitioner and dog food nutritionist, I’ve helped numerous dog owners address this frustrating issue. Through the ancient wisdom of TCVM, passed down for thousands of years we can understand and treat excessive paw licking in dogs naturally and effectively.

Understanding TCVM and Food Energy

In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, food is more than just nutrients, calories, and macronutrients. Each food carries specific energetic properties that can either help restore balance or potentially create imbalance in your dog’s body. This deeper understanding of food energetics is crucial when addressing issues like excessive paw licking.

The Energy of Foods

Foods are categorized by their:

• Temperature (warming, cooling, neutral)
• Taste (sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, salty)
• Direction of energy movement (ascending, descending, floating, sinking)
• Specific organ systems they support

For example:

• Root vegetables like turnips have a descending energy that helps ground and drain dampness
• Leafy greens like dandelion have an ascending energy that supports the Liver
• Red meats are warming and build Blood
• White meats are generally cooler and lighter in energy

Why Do Dogs Lick Their Paws?

While occasional paw licking is normal grooming behavior, excessive licking often indicates an underlying imbalance. Instead of making a diagnosis, we look at what the body is telling us and then seek to bring balance back to the areas that need it. Everything starts with the concept of Yin (internal/cooling) and Yang (external/warm).

Common causes include:

• Food allergies
• Environmental allergies
• Parasites
• Yeast infections
• Anxiety or stress
• Liver imbalances (from a TCVM perspective)
• Qi and Blood circulation issues

The Five Elements and Paw Licking

In TCVM, health issues are understood through the Five Elements:

1. Wood (Liver)

• Controls tendons and nails
• Affected by stress and frustration
• Shows up in paw issues
• Often involved in nighttime restlessness

2. Earth (Spleen/Stomach)

• Governs digestion and moisture
• Impacts muscle strength
• Affects food absorption
• Key to managing dampness

3. Metal (Lung/Large Intestine)

• Rules the skin and coat
• Influences immunity
• Connected to respiratory health
• Important for boundary issues

4. Water (Kidney/Bladder)

• Stores essential energy
• Supports bone health
• Controls water metabolism
• Influences fear and confidence

5. Fire (Heart/Small Intestine)

• Governs blood circulation
• Influences mental state
• Affects sleep patterns
• Connected to emotional balance

Signs of Liver Qi Stagnation in Dogs

Common indicators include:

• Constant paw licking rather than seasonal
• Interdigital cysts
• Sweaty paws with a “Fritos” smell
• Middle-of-the-night potty breaks
• Yeast buildup in ears
• Tension in body
• Irritability or moodiness

The Problem with Conventional Dry Dog Food

Kibble lacks cytosol, the vital liquid found inside cells that contains:

• Proteins
• Amino acids
• mRNA
• Ribosomes
• Sugars
• Ions
• Messenger molecules

The video below explains cytosol:

And while some people might say “just add water to kibble” to me that’s not enough. Water is just H2O where Cytosol has DNA, mRAN, proteins, amino acids etc which provide nutritional life energy to the dog.

When dogs eat dry dog food their body has to go into overdrive to process it.

And yes, while kibble is complete and balanced and scientifically proven to keep a dog alive, it’s not the best food in my book.

Comprehensive Treatment Approach

1. Real Food Transition

The biggest fear dog owners have when switching off kibble is that raw food won’t be balanced.

That’s no longer the case because raw food companies have started to formulate their recipes so that they are “complete and balanced” (make sure you read the label to check) and when it’s not complete and balanced, it’s easy enough to add the food and supplements to ensure that it is.

Note: Some links in this article are affiliate links (Amazon Associates or other programs I participate in). At no charge to you, as an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  

Viva Raw Feeding Instructions

Order via this LINK which has my code DAILYDOGFOOD embedded to get 20% off your first order.

The example below is for a client’s dog who is a small Boston Terrier.

The food recommendations are to make it easier for the dog owner. Alternatively, a complete and balanced DIY recipe can be formulated for your own dog by booking a call HERE.

Beef – 1 meal, assuming dog eats twice a day

For a medium-sized dog (twice daily feeding):

• 180g Viva Raw PURE beef or 190g turkey
• 15g turnip
• 15g dandelion greens
• 15g salmon
• Essential supplements

Vegetable Rotation Strategy

Always pair above-ground and below-ground vegetables:

Week 1: Dandelion greens + turnips

Week 2: Asparagus + sweet potatoes

Week 3: Collard greens + yams Week

4: Dandelion greens + pumpkin Week

5: Kale + Carrots

2. Healing Supplements

Core Supplements:

• Omega-3 (from fresh fish or powder form)
• Probiotics during transition
• Specific Chinese herbs (prescribed during consultation)

Additional Support:

• Fresh berries (2-5% of diet berries daily)
• Fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, mint)
• Bone broth without apple cider vinegar

3. Topical Treatment Protocol

For yeast-related issues:

• Antifungal shampoos containing benzethonium chloride and ketoconazole
• Medicated sprays between toes
• Cornstarch-based powder for moisture control
• Regular paw soaking and drying

Address Topical Yeast Through Shampoos

When yeast starts to grow (wax between the toes, smelly paws) you will need to address it topically.

The type of yeast that is on your dog’s skin is called “Malassezia pachdermitis” and it lives on your dog’s skin.

Yes, we can look at a diet and feeding plan to heal the gut and strengthen the immune system but at the same time we also have to address the external problem of yeast.

There is no getting around it, your dog will need an antibacterial and antifungal to get rid of the yeast growing on their skin.

Here are the products I recommend:

Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal Spray/Shampoo for Dogs and Cats

Helps relieve symptoms including yeast, redness, malodorous discharge from lesions, itchiness, pustules, hair loss, greasiness and scaly skin caused by wounds, endocrine diseases, allergies, short coats, skin folds, or ringworm.

Active Ingredients:

• Benzethonium chloride: fights against bacteria and fungi (antibacterial)
• Ketoconazole: Helps treat fungus and yeast infections and it’s also effective against ringworm (antifungal)
• Aloe vera: soothing and healing
• Lanolin: moisturizing

Application: Use this shampoo two to three times a week for 3 weeks. Let it sit three to five (if your dog will sit still that long) minutes over the areas that are affected.

If this is not available there – look for a shampoo that has the ingredients above. Use the search phrase antibacterial, antifungal dog shampoo.

The other ingredient that kills yeast is Chlorhexidine.

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Pet MD Hot Spot Treatment for Dogs – Medicated Spray for Dogs, Cats, and Horses with Chlorhexidine, Ketoconazole, Essential Fatty Acids, Aloe and Vitamin E

Perfect for use in between baths or to spot treat problem areas related to yeast or hot spots. You can spray this on the paws to spot treat bacteria that is growing.

Active Ingredients:

• Chlorhexidine Gluconate 2%
• Ketoconazole 1%

I will also use this on any tear stains if that is an issue, by spraying a small amount to a cotton pad and then wiping the affected tear stains – be careful not to get the solution into their eyes.

I also spray waxy areas between the paw pads and wipe off with a baby wipe.

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Baby Powder

A light dusting of baby powder can help keep the moisture off at night if the armpits or belly are sweaty. You can buy it on Amazon. Any cornstarch brand is great.

Herbal Supplements

I have herbal supplements that I recommend through one on one consultations.

Alternatively, you can also try nettle tea. You can find this at most grocery stores. Open up the teabag and add 1/4 teaspoon of the dried tea herbs to each of his meals. This has given relief to itchy dogs but results can vary from dog to dog.

Digestive Supplements

Probiotic – Feed this to support the transition from kibble to cooked food. Feed it at 1/4 the suggested dosage for 3 weeks, and then every other day for the 4th weeks, to every 3rd day for the 5th week to once a week on the 6th week.

In Case There is a Tummy Upset

Runs Be Done – a great digestive aid to have in your pantry for diarrhea 

The alternative is Perfect Form.

If your dog has watery poop check out this article.

Ideal Food Temperature

The spleen likes it when food is fed at room temperature or warmer.

This means when you take out their food, you can add a splash of hot water to it “to cut the cold) or let it sit out for 15 minutes before feeding or my preference… you can gently warm it in a pan for no more than 20 to 30 seconds on each side.

It doesn’t have to be “warm” it just can’t be cold from the fridge.

Avoid the microwave as it alters the cellular structure of the food.

Interdigital Cysts

Keeping them moist and the dog away from them is key.

You can try Nu Stock to help soak up the moisture and deter him from licking (it smells pretty bad).

Desired Outcome

• Dampness in the body should decrease
• Licking should decrease
• Restless nights and middle of the night potty breaks should decrease

How Long Does It Take To Heal?

It will take up to as long to heal 100% as it took to get to the imbalance. This dog has been exhibiting allergy issues for two years, and while each month the symptoms will trend better, it can take up to two years before they are 100% perfect.

Hopefully, it doesn’t take that long, and we see the dog in harmony in half of that time.

Seasonal Adjustments

Spring

• Focus on Liver support
• Increase bitter greens
• Add detoxifying herbs
• Monitor for environmental allergies

Summer

• Emphasize cooling foods
• Increase moisture content
• Add more fresh ingredients
• Monitor for heat-related issues

Fall

• Support Lung function
• Add immune-boosting foods
• Increase warming foods gradually
• Focus on boundary strengthening

Winter

• Emphasize Kidney support
• Add more warming foods
• Increase bone broth
• Focus on internal strengthening

Case Studies

Case 1: Chronic Paw Licker with Dampness

• 4-year-old Boston Terrier
• Two-year history of paw licking
• Fritos smell and interdigital cysts
• Resolution through diet change and herb therapy
• Complete improvement in 8 months

Case 2: Seasonal Allergies and Paw Licking

• 6-year-old Mixed Breed
• Spring/Summer flare-ups
• Responded well to cooling foods
• Maintained on seasonal rotation
• Annual prevention protocol established

The Healing Timeline

Feeding recommendations: Transitioned both dogs to real food diets

Ongoing maintenance needed

Initial improvements within 4-6 weeks

Significant changes by 3 months

Complete resolution varying by case

When to Seek Professional Help

Consult a TCVM veterinarian when:

• Symptoms persist despite changes
• New symptoms develop
• Current treatments aren’t working
• You need herbal guidance
• Complex cases require multiple approaches

I used to have a vet I could refer you to but he has since retired. I currently do not have a different vet for you.

Prevention Strategy

Daily Practices

• Consistent real food diet
• Regular paw inspection
• Seasonal dietary adjustments
• Preventive supplements
• Early intervention for minor issues

Long-term Maintenance

• Quarterly TCVM check-ups
• Seasonal food adjustments
• Regular exercise program
• Stress management
• Environmental modifications

Success Indicators

You’ll know the treatment is working when:

• Dampness decreases
• Paw licking reduces
• Sleep improves
• Yeast smell diminishes
• Energy increases
• Coat quality improves

A Personal Note From a Fellow Dog Parent

As someone who has been woken up countless times in the middle of the night by the sound of persistent paw licking, I truly understand the frustration, worry, and heartache you’re experiencing. Those nighttime moments, listening to your dog’s discomfort, can feel incredibly isolating and overwhelming. I’ve been there, and it’s what drives me to help other dog parents find solutions through food therapy and TCVM principles.

Through my journey and work with hundreds of dogs, I’ve developed an unwavering belief that dogs can heal from allergies and yeast infections. It’s not a quick fix – it takes patience, dedication, and the right approach to guide them back to balance. But seeing a dog finally find relief, watching them sleep peacefully through the night, and knowing they’re no longer suffering makes every step of the journey worthwhile.

If you’re struggling with your dog’s paw licking, know that you’re not alone, and there is hope. Whether you’d like personalized guidance through a consultation, want to explore more through the various articles on my website, or are interested in enrolling in one of my classes, I’m here to support you and your dog on the path to healing.

Together, we can help your dog find their way back to balance, one paw at a time.

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