Help With Odie's Licking & Biting

[mollyollie]

Hi. I need some help with my precious Odie. He is constantly licking or biting at his front paws. I groom him every day, plus he goes to his regular groomer once a month so his nails are all properly trimmed. He stops if I talk to him firmly but I'm afraid of what he is doing when I don't see him. He has been to the vet & he says it is probably allergies but I don't want to give my precious baby something that might harm him in the long term. Does anyone else have these problems? And also, the lady who had Odie before we rescued him didn't groom him and ever since we have had him he hates, and I mean hates to be groomed. He rolls on his back, rolls on his side, jumps away from me. He is just a little wiggly butt.I do eventually get it done. I talk to him in a soft voice, etc. Any ideas. Thanks.

[Yorkiedaze]

It could be he's allergic to weeds and grass. Another reason some lay and lick their feet is out of boredom. They need two good long walks a day, and a lot of other stimulation. They are terriers, and this means energetic!
As for grooming, it's like having a new puppy. You have to take it just a tiny step at a time all the while "cooing" and talking softly and giving hugs. Don't make the brushing a long one. Just a few seconds and end with a treat. Brushing teeth is the same way.

[Reese1]

Our Yorkie Poo licks her front paw, just one of them. We think it started when she actually got nicked at her old groomers and then turned into a habit.
Our vet said sometimes what can start out as an injury, can turn into an anxiety thing, or even boredome as someone else suggested.
She is sooo much better than she used to be, she used to lick it raw and we had to use medicine and take her to the vet all the time and they would have to freeze it. Now she seems to go through periods where she won't do it at all and then she will just pick it up again. Our vet said we could put her on anxiety medication if we wanted to go that route, but we really don't.
We do what you do, we talk to her when we see her starting and just try and watch her as much as possible.
My friend's dog obsessively licks carpet!
I'm sorry I don't have any great solutions, hopefully your Odie will be like Crosley and he will calm down and stop or at least not as much.

[marcerella02]

Originally Posted by mollyollie

Hi. I need some help with my precious Odie. He is constantly licking or biting at his front paws. I groom him every day, plus he goes to his regular groomer once a month so his nails are all properly trimmed. He stops if I talk to him firmly but I'm afraid of what he is doing when I don't see him. He has been to the vet & he says it is probably allergies but I don't want to give my precious baby something that might harm him in the long term. Does anyone else have these problems? And also, the lady who had Odie before we rescued him didn't groom him and ever since we have had him he hates, and I mean hates to be groomed. He rolls on his back, rolls on his side, jumps away from me. He is just a little wiggly butt.I do eventually get it done. I talk to him in a soft voice, etc. Any ideas. Thanks.

first...w hat is he eating? that could be a HUGE help in fixing this
also, like Yorkiedaze said, he could be bored.. have you given him toys like a Kong where you put treats in it and he has to work to get it out... there are lots of toys like that that keep pups occupied. I also agree with the long walks.... if he is tired out... he won't be chewing.
soemthing else you can try as long as he hasn't broken his skin from licking and biting is Bitter Apple. pups HATE the way it taste... i'd probably water it down a bit before you put it on him but it will deter him from licking

Grooming.. the trick i use is TREATS TREATS TREATS... lol... at first Layla got a treat for ANYTHING i did when i groomed her... now she will probably get 3-4 throughout the entire grooming.

so.. let me know about the food and hopefully i can help you out

[mollyollie]

I am so sorry for not getting back but my brother-in-law was in the hospital & I haven't been on the computer for a few days. Thank you so much for the advise for Odie. He has a lot of toys that he plays with but I know that he doesn't get taken for "walkies" as often as he should. As soon as the weather gets warmer I'm going to get him into more daily walks. We feed him Mini Yorkshire 28 by Royal Canine. He's getting groomed tomorrow and I'm going to try the treats and see what happens. Again thanks so much for your help. Odie's Mom Helen

[sbrown2517]

Hi,

You can buy Bitter Apple.