I don't want to answer the "safe" part definitively for you, bc I don't think I'm really able to. I can tell you for fact, however, that lidocaine can be toxic at a certain level in the blood stream - even as a topical *cream*. So....
Was the vet clear on the fact that you'd be applying to areas that were going to be licked?
As for the claw question - when dogs have an allergy, they will lick/chew their paws/leg/pads/legs/claws - that whole general area is irritated.
That said...if there is any chance you're still thinking mites...mites can actually "burrow" and one of their favorite areas to do that would be the paw. I really kinda doubt that...but it's something to keep in the back your mind, I guess.
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~
°¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |