Dog won't stop licking her paw

I took my dog into the vet because she was licking nonstop at her left front paw. The vet said that it was because of her food but didn't give me any recommendations on what foods to keep clear from or what he recommended, so I'm lost on that front and he gave me a laughably small bottle of ear drops that cost way to much to put on her paw. It cleared it up but she's started on her back left paw now and I don't have anymore medicine and don't have that much money right now to get the ear drops again. Her paw doesn't smell despite being so irritated. She is literally licking her fur off of her body at this point because she won't stop. What can I do for her? I've put a cone on her but she still somehow manages to lick her paw despite being the correct size cone for her.