There are a lot of paw related problems that I see in practice everyday. I have compiled a list of the most common paw related problems that I see in dogs. Many of these problems are treated relatively easily, but some may require a trip to the vet.
Table of Contents
These are the most common paw problems we see in dogs:
The most common nail problems in dogs
- Nail and nail bed infections
- Torn or avulsed nails
- Brittle and malformed nails
The most common paw pad problems in dogs
- Burned pads
- Hyperkeratosis
- Foot pad corns
The most common problem between the toes of dogs
- Bacterial and yeast infections
- Interdigital cysts
- Foreign bodies/fox tails
- Viral papillomas
Nail problems in dogs
The most common nail related problems in dogs are bacterial and yeast infections and trauma to nails causing them to get torn.
Nail bed and nail infections in dogs
Infections of the nail bed are usually due to a bacterial infection. However, fungal infections with a yeast called malassezia happens as well. Your veterinarian will make this diagnosis by examining a sample from the inflamed skin or scraping some of the accumulated dark debris around the nail bed onto a microscope slide.
The picture below shows a bacterial infection of the nail bed causing moist swelling, redness and discomfort.
Treatment of nail and nail bed infections in dogs
Foot soaks for 5 to 10 minutes twice a day with an antiseptic solution of 2% chlorhexidine are very helpful. This is an antimicrobial solution and does not need to be diluted or rinsed off following treatment and is relatively inexpensive and available on Amazon. If you’re having trouble soaking your dog’s paw in solution (using a bowl), you can fill a large ziplock bag and wrap your hands around the top of the bag once your dog’s paw is submerged.
Alternatively, you can fill a 16 oz spray bottle and spray the paw until it’s well soaked and then do not allow your dog to lick the foot. Let the solution dry and no need to rinse off. Perform this task twice a day until the area looks like it’s healed. ** This treatment will turn the area blue in color but will slowly wash away later **
If the foot soaks are not working to treat the problem, you may need antibiotics to help clear up the infection. Sometimes oral steroids are used as well to reduce the swelling and discomfort.
You should always consult your veterinarian about foot problems in your dog.
Fungal nail infection in dogs
Another common nail and nail bed infection is a yeast infection with malassezia. A classic sign of a yeast infection in the nail is a rust colored change to the nail. This often comes with dark colored debris that collects at the skin:nail interface.
Fungal nail infection treatment
Yeast infections of the nails are treated with oral antifungal medication. The most common antifungal used is oral ketoconazole given once to twice daily for several weeks.
The picture below shows the rust colored nail changes associated with yeasty feet. You can see the normal healthy nail growing behind the rust colored rings where the infection started.
Torn nails in dogs
Another common nail malady is a torn or avulsed nail. Nails that are overgrown create a curved hook that can get snagged and torn. Most of the time the nail is not completely torn off, but is twisted or at a jaunty angle. Owners will notice their dogs licking their feet or guarding their paws.
Treatment for torn nails in dogs
Most of the time when I see these nail injuries in practice the nail is very mobile and not firmly attached at the base. The nail can be grasped with a pair of hemostats and a quick jerk will easily remove the nail. Removing the nail provides a lot of pain relief as the dangling or slightly attached nail is painful with any slight movement. Removal of the nail will expose the fleshy quick which is the blood supply to the nail. This will be protected once again once the nail grows back in a few weeks.
The foot should be soaked in an antiseptic solution like 2% chlorhexidine. If the nail bed is not bleeding it’s best to then allow the foot to dry and remain uncovered so the area can heal faster and the quick can form a scab. The dog should wear a cone collar to prevent them from licking the site. Additional foot soaks may be recommended daily for the next few days. Additionally, your dog should only be walked on pavement for a week so no grass or debris brushes the wound.
Most of the time if the area is kept clean and dry (and not licked by your dog) the area will heal quickly and oral antibiotics will not be necessary.
The picture below shows a torn or partially avulsed nail. You can see part of the pink fleshy quick is exposed underneath.
Sometimes the nail is still firmly attached but was traumatized enough to cause bleeding and a partial tear. In this situation, it’s best to trim the nail short so that there is less chance that it gets snagged again while you wait for the nail to grow out past the tear.
Dogs with brittle and misshapen nails on all feet: Symmetric Lupoid onychodystrophy (SLO)
Sometimes dogs develop brittle and malformed nails that affects most of the nails on their feet.
SLO primarily develops in dogs between the ages of 2-6 years, but can develop at any age and is suspected to be an immune mediated condition. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to developing SLO.
When SLO initially develops, it may cause a dog to lose a claw and the claw. The claw that regrows will look abnormal and this will eventually happen to many claws on the dog.
SLO can cause limping, swollen digits, nail loss, bleeding, licking and secondary infection of the claws.
Treatment for brittle and misshapen nails (SLO):
The most common treatment for SLO is immune-modulation combination therapy with tetracycline antibiotic and the B vitamin niacinamide is given three times daily for three months and then tapered.
Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation can also be helpful. A product should be a human grade fish oil like Nordic Naturals available on Amazon. The best dose is 50-60mg/kg/day of EPA and DHA combined. EPA and DHA are the omega 3’s that are best suited for dogs. For more information about the disease and treatment please read this more in depth article about nail problems in dogs. This article contains a useful chart for dosing fish oil for your dog.
Common paw pad problems in dogs
Paw pad burns
Dogs that walk on hot pavement in the summertime can easily burn their pads. Owners may notice this only after their dog comes home and find that they are licking their feet. Burns cause the hard surface of the pad to bubble up and peel.
Treatment for burned paw pads:
Burns should be cleaned with an antiseptic solution (chlorhexidine 2%) and then coated with silver sulfadiazine cream. You may need to place gauze squares over the wound after applying the cream and then placing a bootie.
Silver sulfadizaine cream (also called silvadene cream) may be hard to find. A good product you can purchase is Curad gel silver wound gel available on Amazon.
The pictures below show a paw pad that is peeling and raw from a thermal injury. It will take a couple of weeks for the pad to heal.
Booties are recommended to cover and protect the paws. There are rubber booties you can purchase that are thin and allow for easy traction. They do trap heat and moisture, so they should only be placed on for short periods of time when going outdoors.
Ruffwear makes booties that have a rubber sole for traction and a strap to adjust the fit. The canine recovery dogs at 9-11 wore Ruffwear booties.
“Furry paw pads” or hyperkeratosis of paw pads
Paw pads are covered in a thick skin called keratinized epithelium. Sometimes the epithelium has exuberant growth and this can cause the pads to grow furry. The picture below shows a mild case of paw pad hyperkeratosis with frond-like projections. Mild cases don’t cause discomfort. Some breeds like Cocker spaniels and Boxers are more prone to hyperkeratosis . Hyperkeratosis can also develop from lack of appropriate wear while standing or walking or secondary to immune diseases (pemphigus), liver diseases (hepatocutaneous syndrome), a zinc deficiency, or fungal infection (dermatophytosis).
Treatment for hyperkeratosis of paw pads
Severe paw pad thickening affecting many pads should be evaluated by your veterinarian.
More severe paw pad hyperkeratosis. If this is only on a few pads, you can try softening with Musher’s secret and trying to dissolve some of the excess keratin with Solve a Ker gel.
Hyperkeratosis can affect the nose as well in dogs. To learn more about nasal hyperkeratosis in dogs look read this.
For more severely thickened pads affecting multiple pads on multiple feet investigation for the underlying cause if more urgent.
Canine footpad corn
Round, well demarcated hard spots on the digital pads are called corns (sometimes footpad hyperkeratosis or keratomas) and occur most often in Sight hounds (particularly greyhounds). These Lesions are made of a hardened conical core of keratin. They can be very painful.
Corns are thought to develop secondary to chronic pressure and wear (noted mostly in racing greyhounds) or possibly due to a foreign body reaction or secondary to a viral papilloma that grows inside the pad due to pressure from walking.
Treatment for corns in paws
The most common treatment is surgical removal of the painful lesion. Because there are some lesions that might represent an inverted viral papilloma, a course of the antibiotic azithromycin dosed at 10mg/kg once daily might be worth trying. Speak to your veterinarian about recommended options.
Problems between the toes in dogs
Interdigital dermatitis: a red paw
The most common problem that arises in the interdigital area (area in the webbing of the paw) are infections. These are commonly bacterial infections but may be secondary to yeast overgrowth as well. Your veterinarian can diagnose the infection with a skin cytology (sample taken from the skin by pressing a glass slide or clear acetate tape onto the affected skin and looking for organisms under the microscope.
Treatment for a red, inflamed paw
Interdigital dermatitis is typically treated with oral antibiotics or antifungal medication, oral steroids to reduce the redness and itch and foot soaks with and antimicrobial solution like 2% chlorhexidine solution.
Interdigital cysts in dogs ( a lump between the toes)
Another common problem that arises in the interdigital area are interdigital cysts. These are also called interdigital folliculitis or furunculosis. This is an infection and inflammation of the haired skin between the toes that causes a swollen cyst to develop. The cyst can rupture and leak infection fluid. This happens more commonly in short coated breeds of dogs with coarse hair coats like English bulldogs, boxers , basset hounds, bull terriers, great danes and mastiffs.
Dogs with wider paws bear more weight on the interdigital skin; increased pressure can contribute to these lesions. Dogs with wider paws are Labrador retrievers, English bulldogs, German Shepherds and Pekingese.
Treatment for interdigital cysts in dogs
Treatment is aimed at treating the secondary infection (most likely bacterial infection ) with oral antibiotics and reducing the swelling with oral steroids. The area should be kept clean with 2% chlorhexidine solution or a similar antimicrobial wash.
Penetrating foreign body (fox tail) between the toes
Another possible cause for a swelling between the toes that can leak pink tinged fluid is a penetrating foreign body with something sharp like a fox tail. This plant awn has a sharp tip and can burrow into skin and keep working its way more deeply into the body. If a swelling between the toes remains persistent despite treatment for an infection, surgical exploration of the swelling is recommended to look for a foreign body.
Viral papillomas on the feet in dogs
A virus can cause warty growths to develop in dogs. Papillomas that affect the feet commonly grow on the foot pads or between the toes. The good news is they often regress on their own in about 2 months.
Many small inverted papillomas on a puppy’s foot
Treatment for warty growths on a paw:
If the papillomas do not regress on their own, treatments that can be tried include surgical removal, freezing the warts off, or using an antibiotic course with azithromycin. Azithromycin has immune modulating properties to help viral papillomas regress.
An inverted viral papilloma on the pad.
To learn more about viral papillomas in dogs and treatment options read this.
Conclusion:
There are many things that can affect your dog’s paw. I hope this article has helped you better understand what may be affecting your dog if something similar happens. However, it is always the best practice to see your veterinarian for a firm diagnosis and treatment plan.