I was recently watching something on the animal planet wherea dog was obsessiving licking it paw pads and basically where its "wrists" would be if it were a person. The vet said that when doggies have allergies, this "wrist" and front paw area can get just as itchy as a mosquito bite and that is why the pups will nibble and lick that area...to try and get relief.
~ You learn something new everyday.
