Dog suddenly licking paws constantly, any advice or similar experiences?

[indianrunnerduck]

Hello, I have a two year old poodle, who I adopted from a rescue centre last year, in July. Before coming to live with me he had been living in a very restricted environment as his owner was elderly & unwell. I understand that he had not been taken out for walks or been socialised with other dogs, he was terrified by everything in the outside world, especially other dogs and had separation anxiety and many other fears and anxieties. He is much better now in every way but he has now started this obsessive foot licking and he has created a small, oval shaped sore patch on one of his feet.

I took him to the vet yesterday but it was a bit of a confusing consultation as the vet said it was problematic that he didn't have any medical history documented, so we would be guessing what had caused the problem. He ruled out diet on the basis that he has been on the same food for 6 months, ruled out home environment as I haven't changed anything & said that it could be an allergy but we didn't know what to, as there is not much around at the moment in terms of pollen? So, we left after he had received a steroid injection, with a steroid cream to use twice a day and 10 steroid tablets, to take once a day. The vet said that it could knock it on the head, if he was allergic to a one off allergen, such as something at the groomers, where he had been two weeks ago, when it started or I would be returning in ten days time to say that he is still licking and chewing.

Any advice or shared experience would be very gratefully received 😊

My labradoodle suddenly doing similar. had an over growth of fur between their paws. Took to the vet thinking serious. Vet simply cut the fur back. A simple but expensive solution for a ‘dumb’ owner 🤭

My spanners are prone to getting in stinging nettles at this time of year as they're growing like wildfire, and it sends them mad itching/biting at their paws. I usually have to soak their paws in bicarb of soda/water mix to stop it - maybe an idea to change where you're walking just in case?

Our dog suddenly started licking her paws, despite being on the same food for years.
A switch to hypoallergenic food cured it after a biopsy, taken when under anaesthetic for a hip issue, confirmed she had dermatitis.

My poodle has skin allergies and biting her paws is one of the main symptoms, as well as itching her armpits. The vet said it’s common for her breed. It is about the time that seasonal allergies would be getting worse. She has cytopoint injections which really help

Thank you to everyone who has replied, I did read that poodles are very sensitive to allergies, which made my heart sink as it has been awful seeing him chomping and chewing at his feet & to think he could suffer every year like this.
@BridgetJonesV2 I walk in the woods and fields every day and like you I have noticed that the stinging nettles are growing tall and strong, along with everything else.
@ItsEitherAMasterpieceOrADisasterpiece One of my Staffies used to suffer from allergies and inter digital cysts and after countless tests and investigations into everything under the sun, he was found to be allergic to storage mites in his food and he had to go onto a white fish diet.
I am currently hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
@ByDearRoseGoose Off to google cytopoint injections.
@indigorising He is licking the tops of his feet & has this warty looking oval "hot spot" but I am taking note of all tips!

Many thanks 😊