Dewclaw looks irritated

[Puppy Madness]

Duke has been biting on his foot on and off for a few days.  The grass was just cut in our neighborhood so we were thinking he was just itching from walking through clumps of the fresh cut grass.  I just took a closer look when I caught him bothering it just now and it almost looks like he has split the side of the nail part of the claw, and he is chewing on the little pad right there to the point that is coming off a tiny bit. Not a lot, but I pulled a bit out of his fur. Should we get this looked at?  Any advice?  Thanks DK friends in advance!

[Tait & Finn]

Weird! Finn has been doing the same thing. I've never seen him chew his feet (dew claws) like this before. It's crazy. Maybe something in the No Va air.

[Anne and Figaro]

I would go to the vet if the area in question is painful for Duke.  

My guy had an irritation on his back foot that he kept licking and it slowly got worse.  I took him to the vet this Monday where his foot was shaved down to help get air to the area for healing.  It was pretty tender at that point in time.  Pup is on a pain med for a few days and an anti-inflammatory for a bit longer.  We also have a twice daily foot soak. The foot is definitely getting better with all this care and the cone will come off tomorrow.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

How's Duke's paw doing? Is the nail too long and curling into the pad? Or, he may have ripped or damaged it someway. If it is tender to the touch, I would have it looked at. They can become easily infected and very painful.