Just another shot in the dark. Was his food changed? I have seen dogs with a food allergy bite and luck the hair of their front legs and chew their paws nonstop.
Iv got catdo that chews and lick her feet, but not an everyday event, maybe once a wk, but her feed dont change very often, except for the people food i feed her like, carrots n ranch dressing, pickles, tamatoes, potatoes, cabbage, collard greens, strawberries, grapes (in very small qty), oranges, apples, bananas and any kind of meat product we eat.