swollen paws

Question
Hi
I have a male westie 12 months old. over the last few weeks he has started to chew at his paws, mainly his front but also to a lesser degree his back left. The two front paws have become very swollen although there are no signs of wounds etc.
The fur between his pads is thicker now and i wondered if this was the cause but his front pads feel very rough.
He doesnt appear to be in any pain when walking and running but doesnt like me inspecting them.
Any ideas?

Answer
Westies are one of the most susceptible breeds for allergic skin diseases.  Foot licking is typical of this disease.  Also the swollen feet can become infected with a fungus called Malassezia.  You should take the dog to the vet for an exam to determine if it is allergic and if the feet are infected.