When Paw Licking Isn’t an Allergy: How Neck and Back Pain Can Show Up in Your Dog’s Paws
When the Cause May Be Nerve Pain in the Neck or Back
Excessive paw licking or chewing is one of the most common concerns dog guardians raise. It’s often quickly labelled as allergies—and sometimes that’s correct. But when allergy treatments, diet changes, medicated washes, and supplements don’t fully resolve the behaviour, it’s worth considering another, less talked-about cause:
Nerve irritation or pain originating in the neck or back.
Integrative and Holistic veterinarians, including Dr. Peter Dobias, frequently highlight that paw licking can be a referral behaviour—a dog’s attempt to cope with an uncomfortable sensation that isn’t actually located in the paw at all.
The “pins and needles” sensation — in dog terms
When nerves are irritated, inflamed, or compressed (often due to spinal tension, disc issues, injury, instability, or chronic postural strain), they can send abnormal signals down the limbs.
In humans, this often feels like:
○ Tingling
○ Numbness
○ Burning
○ “Pins and needles”
Dogs experience similar sensations but can’t explain them. Instead, they may respond by:
○ Licking, chewing, or nibbling their paws
○ Fixating on one paw or one side more than the other
○ Appearing restless or unable to settle
○ Showing sensitivity when touched on the paws or around the neck, shoulders, or back
○ Having intermittent or shifting lameness
○ Becoming irritable during handling
The licking itself can act as a distraction or self-soothing behaviour, helping the dog cope with a strange or uncomfortable nerve sensation.
Why the neck and spine matter so much
The nerves that supply the paws originate in the spinal cord:
• Front paws are commonly linked to the neck and upper back
• Hind paws are more often linked to the lower back
If there is inflammation, tension, or compression anywhere along those pathways, the brain may misinterpret the signal as a problem in the paw—even when the skin itself is healthy.
This helps explain why some dogs lick obsessively without redness, infection, or obvious injury, or why treatments aimed only at the paws or a allergies bring limited relief.
Always rule out the obvious first
Paw licking can absolutely still be caused by:
• Environmental allergies or food intolerances
• Contact with chemicals in the home (e.g. floor cleaning products or grass fertilisers/pesticides)
• Yeast or bacterial infections
• Grass seeds or foreign bodies
• Nail bed pain or arthritis in the toes
• Anxiety or compulsive behaviour
Visible redness, swelling, discharge, limping, broken nails, or sudden pain should always be assessed by a veterinarian.
The nervous-system explanation becomes more relevant when:
• Paw licking is chronic or recurring
• It worsens after walks, pulling, jumping, or rough play
• Skin-focused treatments don’t fully resolve it
• There are subtle mobility or posture changes
One of the biggest (and most overlooked) contributors: walking equipment
If nerve irritation is suspected, pressure on the neck is a major factor to address.
Even gentle pressure from a collar can load sensitive cervical structures when a dog:
• Pulls on lead
• Hits the end of the lead suddenly
• Is redirected quickly or “corrected” by yanking on the lead
• Lunges or reacts
Over time, this can aggravate existing neck tension or nerve irritation—especially in dogs already prone to spinal sensitivity.
Why a humane Y-front harness matters
A properly designed and correctly fitted Y-front harness:
• Distributes pressure across the chest/sternum rather than the throat
• Avoids compressing delicate neck structures
• Allows more natural movement when well fitted
We recommend humane Y-front styles such as anny.x harnesses, particularly for dogs showing signs of discomfort, reactivity, or unexplained paw behaviours.
It’s important to note that not all harnesses are equal—poorly designed or badly fitted harnesses can restrict movement. Fit and design truly matter.
Supporting the nervous system: a supplement to trial
When nerve irritation may be contributing to paw licking, supporting pain modulation and inflammation can be helpful alongside management changes.
One compound receiving increasing attention is PEA (palmitoylethanolamide).
PEA is a naturally occurring fatty-acid compound produced by the body. Research shows it plays a role in:
• Modulating pain signalling
• Supporting the body’s inflammatory response
• Helping regulate overactive nerve responses
Because of these properties, PEA is often trialled as part of a gentle, low-risk approach to chronic discomfort, including cases where neuropathic-style pain is suspected.
A PEA-based pain support supplement is available via Aussie Pooch and is often trialled consistently over several weeks (a bottle) while observing changes in:
• Paw licking frequency
• Restlessness or sleep quality
• General comfort and mood
PEA has no contraindications with other pharmaceutical drugs and no side-effects so is very safe and can be used alongside other drugs.
PEA should be given twice daily morning and night 12 hours apart.
When to seek further veterinary support
Do not delay professional assessment if you notice:
• Weakness or wobbliness
• Dragging toes or scuffing
• Vocalisation of pain (even if mild)
• Significant changes in mobility
• Rapid worsening of symptoms
A veterinarian may recommend neurological or orthopaedic assessment, imaging, pain management, or referral to a rehabilitation professional.
Quick checklist: Could this paw licking be nerve-related?
This checklist doesn’t replace a veterinary diagnosis, but it can help you decide whether the neck or back might be contributing to your dog’s paw chewing or licking.
You may want to look deeper if you answer yes to several of the following:
Paw behaviour
☐ My dog licks or chews their paws without obvious redness, infection, or injury
☐ The licking is intermittent, comes and goes, or suddenly flares
☐ One paw (or one side) is targeted more than the others
☐ The licking seems worse at night or during rest
Movement & posture
☐ My dog is stiffer after rest or slow to get moving
☐ They are more reluctant to jump, use stairs, or play as they used to
☐ I notice subtle changes in posture (head held low or high, hunched back)
☐ There is occasional limping that doesn’t stay consistent
Neck & back clues
☐ My dog can be sensitive when touched around the neck, shoulders, or back
☐ Paw licking worsens after walks, pulling on lead, or rough play
☐ They seem uncomfortable when turning their head or body
Walking equipment
☐ My dog is walked primarily on a collar / choker chain / slip lead / halti / gentle leader
☐ They tend to pull, lunge, or hit the end of the lead or I yank on their neck with the lead
Response to treatment
☐ Allergy or skin treatments have not helped or only partially or temporarily
☐ The behaviour improves when my dog is rested or handled more gently
What to do if this checklist sounds familiar
If several of these points resonate:
• Consider reducing neck pressure by switching from a collar to a humane Y-front harness
• Lift your dog out of vehicles and lower furniture that they jump off or provide foam-based stairs or ramps
• Avoid activities that strain the neck or spine while you observe changes
• Discuss nerve pain or spinal discomfort with your veterinarian/qualified rehab specialist
• Consider a PEA-based pain support supplement as part of a monitored trial
Sometimes paw licking isn’t a skin problem at all—it’s the nervous system asking for help.
Scientific evidence summary (plain-language overview)
1. PEA and chronic pain in dogs and cats
Veterinary review literature describes the use of micronised PEA as a supportive option in chronic pain management, outlining its role in modulating inflammation and pain pathways.
2. PEA (ALIAmides) in small animal practice
Reviews of ALIAmides (including PEA) discuss their mechanisms of action and potential applications in managing pain, pruritus, and inflammatory conditions in dogs.
3. Clinical studies in dogs
Controlled studies in dogs with chronic inflammatory skin disease have shown measurable benefits from oral ultra-micronised PEA, supporting its biological activity and safety profile in canine patients.
4. Emerging pain research
More recent clinical research in dogs with chronic pain reports improved pain scores and tolerability with PEA-containing products.
5. Harness biomechanics and movement
Bio-mechanical studies show that walking equipment influences canine movement patterns. Harness design and fit significantly affect shoulder and limb motion, reinforcing the importance of choosing appropriate, well-designed harnesses—especially for dogs with pain or mobility concerns.
The Science behind PEA
Abramo, F., Campora, L., Albanese, F., della Valle, M. F., Cristino, L., Petrosino, S., ... & Miragliotta, V. (2014). Increased levels of palmitoylethanolamide and other bioactive lipid mediators and enhanced local mast cell proliferation in canine atopic dermatitis. BMC Veterinary Research, 10, 1-10.
Cerrato, S., Brazis, P., Della Valle, M. F., Miolo, A., Petrosino, S., Di Marzo, V., & Puigdemont, A. (2012). Effects of palmitoylethanolamide on the cutaneous allergic inflammatory response in Ascaris hypersensitive Beagle dogs. The Veterinary Journal, 191(3), 377-382.
della Rocca, G.; Re, G. Palmitoylethanolamide and Related ALIAmides for Small Animal Health: State of the Art. Biomolecules 2022, 12, 1186. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12091186
della Rocca G, Gamba D. Chronic Pain in Dogs and Cats: Is There Place for Dietary Intervention with Micro-Palmitoylethanolamide? Animals. 2021; 11(4):952. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11040952
Gugliandolo E, Peritore AF, Piras C, Cuzzocrea S, Crupi R. Palmitoylethanolamide and Related ALIAmides: Prohomeostatic Lipid Compounds for Animal Health and Wellbeing. Veterinary Sciences. 2020; 7(2):78. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci7020078
Noli, C., Della Valle, M. F., Miolo, A., Medori, C., Schievano, C., & Skinalia Clinical Research Group. (2015). Efficacy of ultra‐micronized palmitoylethanolamide in canine atopic dermatitis: an open‐label multi‐centre study. Veterinary dermatology, 26(6), 432-e101.
Petrosino, S., Schiano Moriello, A., Cerrato, S., Fusco, M., Puigdemont, A., De Petrocellis, L., & Di Marzo, V. (2016). The anti‐inflammatory mediator palmitoylethanolamide enhances the levels of 2‐arachidonoyl‐glycerol and potentiates its actions at TRPV1 cation channels. British Journal of Pharmacology, 173(7), 1154-1162.
Re, G., Barbero, R., Miolo, A., & Di Marzo, V. (2007). Palmitoylethanolamide, endocannabinoids and related cannabimimetic compounds in protection against tissue inflammation and pain: potential use in companion animals. The Veterinary Journal, 173(1), 21-30.
Scuderi C, Golini L. Successful and Unsuccessful Brain Aging in Pets: Pathophysiological Mechanisms behind Clinical Signs and Potential Benefits from Palmitoylethanolamide Nutritional Intervention. Animals. 2021; 11(9):2584. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092584
