Hi everyone, I am a proud owner of a 7 year old Doberman and I have noticed that he frequently licks and chews at his paws. I am not sure what is causing him to do this and it has been worrying me. He has been doing this for a while now and I have tried to distract him, but he keeps going back to his paws. Could this be a sign of an underlying health issue or is it just a habit? Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi there! I'm also an owner of a 7-year-old Doberman and I can understand your concern. My dog went through a similar phase of incessantly licking and chewing his paws a few months back. After some research and speaking to my vet, I found out that it could be due to allergies, boredom, anxiety, or even a fungal or bacterial infection.
I started by changing his food and making sure he was getting a balanced diet with enough nutrients, and started giving him more physical and mental stimulation to prevent boredom. I also made sure to keep his living spaces clean and free of any irritants that could be causing an allergic reaction.
If the behavior continues, I would recommend taking your Doberman to a vet to rule out any underlying medical issues and to get proper treatment. In the meantime, you could try using a cone or bitter-tasting spray to prevent your dog from licking his paws excessively. I hope this helps!