14/01/2025
Although a dog’s paw pads may feel rough, they are one of the most sensitive areas of their body. The skin of the paw pads is thick, with fat tissue underneath composing most of the pad. These structures absorb shock, provide traction, assist in balance, and protect the paws against harsh surfaces. It’s important to inspect your dog’s paws daily, for potential problems like cracks, corns, foreign objects lodged inside etc or such conditions like hyperkeratosis.
🐾 Hyperkeratosis in Dogs 🐾
Paw pad hyperkeratosis is a skin condition that is caused by an overproduction of a protein called keratin. This leads to thickened or extra skin growth on a dog’s nose or paw pads. Although there are varying levels of severity, the crusty, dry growth typically looks like hair. This is why it’s often referred to as ‘hairy feet’ or ‘paw pad’ hyperkeratosis. This condition can lead to some discomfort when walking if the hardened skin cracks, or if your dog develops a secondary skin infection.
The good news is that hyperkeratosis is relatively easy to prevent, treat, and manage. Monitoring your dog’s paws regularly can help catch hyperkeratosis in its early stages before any cracking or bleeding (or worse—infection) happens.
For mild cases, applying a ‘doggy’ paw ointment/ balm can help manage hyperkeratosis symptoms and help the skin heal. In severe cases, our vets may recommend a procedure to safely remove the excess skin with a dremel tool whilst coming up with a long-term diet/supplement to help reduce this conditions severity.
☎️ If you think your pets paws need tending to, call us for an appointment on 3849 4912.
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