03 May Cracked Dog Paws; Causes And Treatments

Do cracked dog paws damage dogs’ overall health? And if so, how can you help your puppy recover quickly? Why do dog paws crack? When you notice your dog licking his dry and cracked paws or limping during a walk, it’s natural to worry. Read the rest of this article to learn what causes your dog’s paws to dry and crack. In addition, you will learn the symptoms of this condition and its treatment methods. Stay tuned to the end.

Why Are My Dog’s Paws Cracked?

In general, dry and cracked paws in dogs are not uncommon and can cause damage to dogs and discomfort to their owners. In addition, excessive dryness of the paws in dogs may be related to an underlying disease. However, this condition is usually easy to treat. However, the occurrence of this complication in apartment dogs depends on their environment and the ground conditions where the dog walks during the day and night.

Cold weather is one of dogs’ most common causes of dry paws. During the winter months, a combination of indoor heating, snow and ice can draw moisture from your dog’s fur. In addition, the summer heat can cause problems for the dog’s paws. Surfaces like hot sand or paving stones can dry them out quickly and cause hard calluses that crack more easily. Dogs often living near a pool or water environment may be even more prone to these problems. Because both chlorine and salt dry the skin of their paws.

Allergies and Cracked Dog Paws

Dogs often lick their paws in an attempt to relieve their itchy paws due to allergies, and they may become red, irritated, and inflamed. According to the Canine Health Foundation ( AKCCHF ), breeds such as Beagles, Bichon Frises, West Highland White Terriers and Poodles are particularly susceptible to this problem. Other potential causes of dry and cracked paws in dogs are:

• Acral lick dermatitis (Lick granuloma)
• Excessive paw licking due to boredom, stress, or compulsion
• Nutritional problems due to poor diet or liver disease
• Hyperkeratosis is a thickening of the skin around the paws and nose, especially in older dogs, which is common and harmless.
• Pemphigus foliaceous (PF) is an autoimmune disease that causes scaly skin, blisters, and sores.

Symptoms of Cracked Dog Paws

By identifying several signs, you can find out if there is a problem with your dog’s paws. For example, you may notice the following symptoms:

• Redness and swelling
• Licking or chewing paws
• Bleeding in the leg or around the toe
• Limping or sudden difficulty walking
• Rough skin, cracking or flaking of the dog’s paws

Most dogs have four paws that help them move around their environment. Dogs’ paws have complex textures. They are made of different tissues.

Does Cracking Claws Harm Domestic Dogs?

Just as dry skin and chapped lips hurt humans, cracked paws are also painful and uncomfortable for different dogs. If your dog has dry and cracked paws, do not leave them alone. Rather, you should treat them.

You should consider treating your dog if you see symptoms such as redness, swelling, odour, yellow or green discharge, or bleeding. 

In the first step, you should consult a veterinarian about your dog’s problem. A veterinarian can help you understand the root of your dog’s problem and suggest the right treatment method for your dog. On the other hand, if your dog’s paws are just a little dry and cracked, you can try treating him at home first.

How to Treat Cracked Dog Paws?

Dogs can usually recover well. You should increase the speed of natural recovery of your dog’s paw as much as possible by providing the right conditions. Among the methods of support for the recovery and repair of dog problems are:

• Clean the bottom of the paw with warm soapy water to remove any irritants. Then, rinse the paw well. 
• Moisturize your dog’s paws with a suitable product before going out for a walk or play. Apply the moisturizer as thoroughly as possible to your dog’s paws. 
• In addition, you can use a temporary Elizabethan collar to prevent your dog from chewing or licking its paws if necessary. 
• Also, pay close attention to what may be causing your dog’s dry paws.
• In the case of some dogs, dry paws are caused by chronic contact with a pet dog. This happens more often in the cold winter months. With the help of appropriate methods, such as using appropriate moisturizers, you can prevent signs of cracking in your dog’s paws.

Important and Practical Treatments 

1. Moisten the Dog’s Paws: Since your dog may be tempted to lick almost anything you put on his paws, it’s important to use non-toxic, dog-friendly moisturizers. It is not always possible to prevent a dog’s paws from cracking, but by taking some appropriate preventive measures, you can prevent severe and unpleasant symptoms in your dogs. 
2. Use Boots for Apartment Dogs: Using boots for apartment dogs may seem a little strange and unusual. But these boots are one of the best tools available to protect the toes from hot, cold, uneven terrain, ice, and irritating de-icing products on the ground. With the help of these boots, you can protect your dog’s paws. 
3. Trim the Fur Around Your Dog’s Paws: If wearing dog boots is too much of a hassle, other options exist. For example, you can prevent your dog’s paws from drying out by keeping the fur around the toes trimmed and using a foot moisturizer before going outside.
4. Prevent the Dog from Moving on Unsuitable Surfaces: If you can’t keep your dog outside, it’s too hot for your dog to go outside, or the weather isn’t suitable, there are some points to consider. Do not walk your dog on rough terrain, cobblestones, gravel or asphalt roads to prevent blisters and painful burns. Consult your dog’s veterinarian to ensure that your dog receives a proper diet that contains all the nutrients he needs and is appropriate for his age and health status. In addition, you can also ask the veterinarian about the use of food supplements.
5. Check Your Dog’s Paws Regularly: Check your dog’s paws after a long walk in a park or playing outside to detect any holes or stuck bits of grass. Pay attention to cracks or injuries that need treatment. In the winter, if exposed to ice, wipe them off.
6. Walk Your Dog at a Cool Time of Day: If it’s summer and the weather is hot, change when your dog goes out for a regular walk. Midday walks can easily be very uncomfortable for both of you, so switching to an earlier or evening time can be the ideal solution. Keep your walks short and supplement with plenty of cool indoor play. Always give your dog plenty of water to drink to ensure he doesn’t get dehydrated.
7. Keep Toenails Short: Some dogs need their nails trimmed regularly, while others can go months without trimming them. If your dog’s nails are long, they split more easily and are more prone to peeling. This problem is very painful and can lead to an infection that takes a long time to heal. Walking your dog frequently on sidewalks can help keep nails short. However, most dog owners should get a nail clipper and occasionally give their dog a manicure.
8. Be Careful with Floor Cleaners: When cleaning your floor, remember that the chemicals in these products harm your dog’s paws. Their skin can directly absorb those chemicals when they walk on the cleaned surface. Even worse, they are tempted to lick the liquid off their wet paws, which results in chemicals entering their system. Choose your cleaning products wisely to make sure they are safe to use around them.

When Do You Need a Vet?

Don’t let your dog’s cracked paws go untreated. Continuous care at home may not always be the right solution. If your dog’s cracked paws are not treated, it can lead to pain, lameness and infection. If you notice lameness, persistent licking or chewing, or a change in the appearance of your dog’s paws, contact a veterinarian immediately. In rare cases, cracked paws in apartment dogs may indicate an underlying disease such as an autoimmune disorder, exposure to canine distemper virus, or a skin condition such as hyperkeratosis. Hyperkeratosis causes roughness of the dog’s paws. Although this condition is not always painful for dogs and may not appear as a serious and fundamental problem.

To Wrap Up

While a dog’s paws are fairly tough and can handle a lot of things, once paw problems develop, they can be long-lasting and difficult to deal with. Prevention is better than cure, especially to protect your dog against problems like pad burns, frostbite, torn nails or cracked dog paws, you need to know how to protect your dog’s paws year-round. To have a healthy and lively dog, you must pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming, etc. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. You can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming in all these steps. Our experienced and precise groomers have carefully and accurately groomed your dogs so they count the moments for the next session.