I've noticed Bess has been licking her paw obsessively for about 15 mins non stop this afternoon.  She did have a break, but now has started again for a few minutes before falling asleep infront of the fire.She also has one eyebrow which is going slightly bald, even though she's always had a tiny bald patch there it does seem to have gone bigger about the size of a 5p coin.  Otherwise there are no obvious signs of any health problem. 

She does have problems with her anal glands and she had them emptied xmas week, but for some reason I've  not been convinced that they have been done properly, as she still seemed to be chasing her tail a little when she returned from the vets when usually she stops this.  Do you think that these could be symptoms of her gland being blocked?  I'm asking as I know that paw licking can be a sign that there is a problem with them.  I've started adding bran to her food this week, a teaspoon full morning and evening, do you know if this is the right amount to give her?  She is a 2 year old patterdale.  I have thought about emptying her glands myself as she's at the vets every 5 weeks or so.  I know it's not a nice job but I am willing to give it a go.

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks

u could take her to a local groomer and get them to do the glands i ve never heard of paw licking beig a symptom of gland problems
have u ever thought about having them removed

my dog sometimes takes to licking her paws she has made one of them red raw before but that hasnt happened in a long time
has ur dog trod on anything or split a nail slightly as that could be making her lick 

>i ve never heard of paw licking beig a symptom of gland problems
>have u ever thought about having them removed

Paw-licking is a recognised displacement activity when there is trouble with the anal glands; best bet is to get the vet to show you how to do the job yourself. Anal gland removal is a serious operation with quite unpleasant side-effects (incontinence being one of the more common ones) so it isn't something to be undertaken lightly.

OP, has Bess's routine changed recently? Stress can cause obsessive licking. Or it could be mites, or salt from the roads irritating her. I'd try bathing her feet with diluted hibiscrub when you come back from a walk.

On the other hand it could be chemicals sprayed on the roads to stop them icing. However like all things if in doubt visit the vet. Is she loosing hair on the feet as well as on her face? Has she been ill of late or has she had an operation in the last 6 months? Has her routine changed or have you changed the furniture layout or the chemicals you use in the house? Any or a combination of these things could start an anxiety episode, an allergic reaction or a bout of demodetic mange.

did you walk anywhere that had been gritted today?

She was much better yesterday, but yes the area that I walk her has been gritted, so that's probably what it was.

Thanks for the help.

thought that would be it. seen a few dogs doing the same thing the last few weeks after being walked on grit