Why Should I Care About Extra Fur Between My Dog's Paw Pads?

What is Canine Hyperkeratosis? 

Canine hyperkeratosis can be very painful for your dog, making it difficult to walk or stand. When you examine the paws of a dog who has this condition, you’ll understand why. 

Without even knowing much about the condition, it looks uncomfortable: your dog may have dried out, calloused-looking paw pads. The skin may be cracked, which increases the risk of infection. At a certain stage of hyperkeratosis, it even looks like the skin on the paws is coming apart and mimics the look of hair or fur. 

If your dog has a lot of fur between its paw pads, it may be difficult to see that something is wrong. That is why it is recommended that you trim the extra fur between your dog’s paw pads so that you can quickly recognize if your dog is affected by canine hyperkeratosis. Take it a step further and make sure you’re educated on hyperkeratosis so that you can take preventative measures. 

Here are some causes of canine hyperkeratosis:

• Age: As dogs grow older, their chance of developing canine hyperkeratosis increases.
• Breed: Some breeds have a genetic makeup that is more prone to hyperkeratosis.
• Canine Distemper: Schedule an appointment with your trusted veterinarian and begin shots for canine distemper. Treat this like you would with any other vaccination.
• Zinc Deficiency:  Dermatosis stemming from zinc can open up an arena of issues, including canine hyperkeratosis. 

Other causes of canine hyperkeratosis are rooted in auto-immune issues like leishmaniasis, which is a disease caused by sandfly bites. 

How Is Hyperkeratosis Treated?

Canine Journal reports, “Unfortunately, there is no known cure at this time. However, the skin condition can be managed by softening and then removing the hardened skin on your dog’s paws and nose. Make an appointment with your vet to have this done frequently.” 

If you discover that your dog has canine hyperkeratosis, after grooming your dog and trimming the extra hair between your dog’s paws, you can apply a paw balm. This will help rejuvenate your dog’s paw pads. Using a moisturizing paw balm specifically formulated for dogs will help keep the dry calluses under control by softening the excess keratin. You want to look for natural, dog-safe products and try to limit your dog from licking the area after you apply the paw balm. Dog socks can help with this.

If you suspect that your dog may have canine hyperkeratosis, make an appointment with your vet right away. Since hyperkeratosis is usually a symptom of another underlying problem, you should get a thorough checkup to make sure your dog isn’t sick with something else, too. 

So remember! Keep the extra fur between the paw pads trimmed for better visibility of symptoms and increased chances of handling canine hyperkeratosis effectively once diagnosed.