Does your dog constantly scratch at its paws? Are they biting them until they bleed? If so, you probably have a very itchy dog on your hands. While there are many different causes for itchy paws in dogs, the most common ones include grass and plants, pollen, mold, asphalt and environmental irritants. We're going to look at each of these causes in depth so that you can figure out which one is bothering your dog and how best to solve the problem.
Grass and plants
Most dogs with allergies have a reaction to grass and plants. Some people are allergic to grass, too. In general, if you can't eat it, your dog shouldn't be allowed to eat it either!
The types of grasses that cause immediate reactions include Bermuda, St. Augustine and Zoysia. The more common types of grasses that usually don't create an allergy include Kentucky bluegrass (the most common type in the US), tall fescue, fine fescue, meadow fescue and perennial ryegrass (which is also known as Italian ryegrass). You may be able to find these varieties at your local nursery or garden center so your dog doesn't have any reactions while outside running around on walks or playing fetch at home!
Pollen
It's a common misconception that pollen is only an issue for humans. But as we know, your dogs can also have itchy paws and other symptoms of pollen allergies.
Pollen is the fine powder produced by flowers and trees for reproduction. It's not just an annoyance for people with allergies; many animals suffer from seasonal allergies too—and the same irritants that bother us can cause problems for them too!
Here are some symptoms that might indicate your dog has a pollen allergy:
● Scratching or rubbing their ears or face on the ground
● Itching around the eyes and muzzle area
● General discomfort when outside (like shaking off grass)
Mold
Mold is a fungus, and it’s common for dogs to be allergic to mold spores. The allergy can cause your dog’s paws to become itchy and irritated.
When you breathe in the air, you take in both good (fresh) air and bad (polluted) air. Mold spores are everywhere; they float through the atmosphere and land on things like food, plants, soil, pets—and yes—your dog's paws! When these spores touch your pet's skin or fur, they're absorbed into their system. In response to this foreign invader, their immune systems mount an attack against them by releasing histamines which causes inflammation in the area around where they entered the skin or fur of your pet's paw pads. This leads to irritation on those areas making them very sensitive so much so that even walking on hard surfaces can cause severe pain!
Asphalt
Asphalt is a chemical irritant that can irritate your dog's paws. It is commonly used in roads, parking lots and driveways. Hot asphalt can cause damage to your dogs paws by burning their pads. This will leave them itchy and irritated.
Environmental Irritants
Environmental irritants can be found anywhere, from your dog’s food to the linoleum in your kitchen floor. Your dog’s paws are vulnerable to environmental irritants because they spend so much time on the ground. If you suspect that a specific substance is causing your dog’s paw itching, try conducting an experiment: remove all sources of that substance from their vicinity for one week and see if their paws improve. If not, there may be another cause at play here!
Here are some common sources of irritation:
● Fruits and vegetables (especially citrus)
● Dust
● Grasses and weeds
● Chemicals such as pesticides or bleach This can include things like flea collars! Make sure those chemicals aren't getting onto their skin when you apply them too close to where they walk around outside all day long...
Grass, pollen and asphalt can all cause itchy paws
● Grass, pollen and asphalt are common irritants.
● Your dog's paws can become itchy when they come into contact with these substances, which cause the skin to become inflamed.
● Itching is a symptom of an allergy but not always one that should be taken lightly because scratching can lead to infections if the skin becomes broken or cracked.
Understanding what your dog is allergic to is the first step in helping them get relief. If you are able to identify what they are reacting to, then it will be easier to keep them away from it. This can be done by
rinsing their paws with water after walks or not letting them walk on grass at all times of year.
