# 55 — Why Dogs Lick Their Feet (and What It Means) Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-marty-laura-show-7153313/55-why-dogs-lick-their-feet-and-what-it-means Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-marty-laura-show-7153313/55-why-dogs-lick-their-feet-and-what-it-means.md Podcast: [The Marty & Laura Show](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-marty-laura-show-7153313) Published: 2025-12-31T16:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://martyandlaurashow.com//55-why-dogs-lick-their-feet-and-what-it-means Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/34d40f70-347e-47d2-b2c5-1a0c1b01f8ef.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-marty-laura-show-7153313/episodes/55-why-dogs-lick-their-feet-and-what-it-means Duration seconds: 1839 ## Resource Why Dogs Lick Their Feet (and What It Means) If your dog is constantly licking, chewing, or biting their feet, it’s not “just a habit.” In this episode, Marty and Laura break down what foot licking really signals , why the red-colored staining happens, and how to sort out environmental allergies vs. food sensitivities . You’ll learn why some dogs become “closet lickers,” why elimination diets must be strict for 12 full weeks and what modern prescription options may help itchy dogs feel better. 🐾 In This Episode, We Cover: The difference between itch (sensation) and scratching/licking (action) Why dogs lick their feet — and why it often gets worse over time What rust-colored saliva staining really means “Closet lickers”: why you may not see the behavior happening Environmental allergies vs. food allergies/sensitivities Why winter is often the best time to diagnose food allergies How to do a true 12-week elimination diet (and what can ruin it) Why switching foods randomly can make diagnosis harder Prescription allergy options including Apoquel, Zenrelia, and Cytopoint A surprising crossover: Demodex mites in people and dogs ✅ Key Takeaway Dogs don’t lick their feet for fun — they lick because they’re uncomfortable. Early veterinary guidance and careful tracking of foods and treats can save you months of frustration and help your dog get relief faster. The Marty & Laura Show is produced by Pure Dog Talk Inc. , with sound design and editing by Premium Audio Services . ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-marty-laura-show-7153313/episodes/55-why-dogs-lick-their-feet-and-what-it-means/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-marty-laura-show-7153313/55-why-dogs-lick-their-feet-and-what-it-means.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.