How Socks, Probiotics, and Simple Nutrition Helped Hannah Find Her Calm...Her Journey Continues

Mondays in our house used to mean more than just “back to work.” They also meant watching our girl, Hannah, struggle with paw licking, scooting, and the restlessness that comes from discomfort. Like so many pet parents, we were searching for answers — was it yeast, boredom, or something else entirely?

The Paw Problem Hannah developed a habit of chewing and licking her paws. She would flip her paw and start nibbling on the bottom of her paws. Sometimes she would put her whole paw in her mouth. At first, we thought it was simply yeast — a common issue for dogs that causes itchiness, odor, and irritation (corn chip odor). Her paw fur even turned brown, a telltale sign of long-term licking. But what puzzled us was this: when she wore socks, she stopped.

That simple barrier made us wonder: if the itch was unbearable, wouldn’t she chew even through the socks? Maybe it wasn’t just itch — maybe it was also habit, or even boredom.

Changing What’s in the Bowl One of the biggest changes we made was her diet. Since sugar feeds yeast, Hannah now gets food which is seafood based and treats that are low in sugar. We shifted her snacks to recipes that keep yeast at bay while still giving her something delicious to enjoy. This is part of why we developed our Sugar-Lite Collection at Watson & Wallie — treats that are low in sugar while still feeling special. For dogs like Hannah, it isn’t just about a tasty bite — it’s about keeping their health and comfort in check, too.

Connecting the Dots: Gut, Glands & Calm Alongside diet changes, we added:

• A daily probiotic, to help balance her gut and reduce yeast flare-ups.

• Gland-X and daily wipes for her bottom, which completely stopped her scooting. Actually this was like an almost instant miracle. I wipe her bottom once to twice daily and the scooting and bottom licking simply stopped.

The results were surprising. Not only did her scooting stop, but she also seemed calmer overall. The odor in our home — something we didn’t realize was connected — faded too. It became clear: Hannah had been living with discomfort, and once that was lifted, she was happier and more at ease.

Why Socks Work The socks turned out to be more than just a cute accessory. They:

• Blocked her from licking and reinforcing the habit.

• Reduced yeast exposure from constant saliva.

• Seemed to give her a sense of comfort, almost like she knew they were helping.

Instead of paw chewing, she is relaxed. She even seems to accept the socks, which tells us that she associates them with feeling better.

What Other Pet Parents Can Learn If your dog struggles with paw licking or scooting, here are a few takeaways from Hannah’s journey:

• Sometimes the root cause is yeast, gut imbalance, or anal gland discomfort — not just “bad habits.”

• Probiotics, gland support, and a low-sugar diet can make a real difference in overall comfort.

• Barriers like socks can interrupt compulsive licking and give the skin a chance to heal.

• Odor in the house may actually be a signal — once the issues improved, our home felt fresher too.

Hannah reminds us daily why we do what we do at Watson & Wallie. Dogs can’t always tell us when they’re uncomfortable, but with a little care, patience, and love, they show us when we’ve helped them feel better. This is not a one and done but more of a day by day. At the end of the day, they’re not just pets, they’re a part of us.

Made with love, for the hearts that beat beside us.