licking&biting hair on feet

Question
Last week my 1 year old Maltese started biting the hair off her front feet and lower leg, now she is constantly licking them.  I haven't done anything different with her.  I don't know why she started this or ow I can get her to stop it?  

Answer
Check these sites out; I think you might want to look at them:

http://www.faqs.org/qa/qa-1187.html

http://www.seefido.com/html/when_a_dog_licks_his_paws_exce.htm

http://www.seefido.com/html/dog_paws_and_feet.htm

http://addy.com/hicc/skindisorders.html

http://www.urbanhound.com/houndTalk/Forum.asp?linkid=4746&linklevel=1

Your dog is either doing a normal grooming, perhaps cleaning a thorn wound or previously cut nail, or needs to see the vet--in which case it is probably just 'doggie allergies' or dermatitus. The vet will know what to do and may recommend a different dog food--one without corn meal in it, a cheap subsitute in dog food. Humans sneeze and dogs lick their feet when allergy season comes. Also, if you live in a place where salt or other chemicals are put on the sidewalks, and you walk your dog there, you might want some little booties for him. :)

It is usually just corn meal or dust allergies when it comes to maltese, but look at the sites carefully, all the way to the bottom of the pages. There is usually more valuable information as the sites progress.

Also, my dog bites his hair where there is matting with knots, areas with recent shots, injuries or bug bites. Has your dog been injured or bitten by someone or some other animal/insect? I would wash his paws and fur to look for problems around the skin and nails that seem to distract him constantly. Also, did the groomer cut the dog's quick (the nails) too short recently? He may have developed an infection if the minor injury wasn't kept clean.

A dog may start to limp if the quick was cut so short that he is is in immense pain. Sometimes groomers just put a powder when the dog's quick is cut short to stop the bleeding; however, they might not have told you about the little injury they caused, thinking they solved the problem by clogging the nail with white powder.

I believe it is most likely just allergies to the dog food or surroundings. Maltese are sensitive to these sorts of things, so it would be the most common answer you'd find around the internet.

Spraying the feet with a spritz bottle when he licks or bites it may help. Also, there is apple bitter spray, which is applied to dogs when they have IV's and the dogs try to pull them out, like my dog does during dehydration IV's. (Tt was uncomfortable but he hates the taste of apple bitter spray! He gave up.) I recommend a bath, though, after the apple bitter spray, due to the fact that it makes him a little sticky or smelling like apple bitter.   

Thanks for the question and I hope it is just allergies!