Does your dog have hairy paws? If yes, it could be hyperkeratosis of the dog’s paws. If you look closely, you’ll see that the “hair” on the bottom of your furry friend’s feet isn’t really hair, but dry skin.
Also known as dog paw hyperkeratosis. hairy dog pawsa skin condition that commonly affects the pads of the paws and can cause discomfort and pain in our furry friends.
Read on to learn more about hyperkeratosis of the paws in dogs, its causes, symptoms, treatments, and how to prevent it altogether.
What is hyperkeratosis?
Hyperkeratosis is a skin disease that causes the skin to thicken and harden. It results from the body’s overproduction of a protein called keratin. And both humans and dogs can get this disease. For dogs, it can affect the paw pads and nose.
For those unfamiliar with keratin, keratin is the protein that makes up hair, nails, horns, hooves, and fingernails. So when a dog’s body produces too much keratin, it can cause a hard, dry, crusty substance to grow on certain parts of the body.
It can also occur on a dog’s nose and (sometimes) on its ears, but most commonly it occurs on the dog’s paws. When it develops, it looks like hair is growing out of the dog’s paws, hence the name. hairy dog paws.
Is keratosis on a dog’s paw painful?
Keratosis on the paws in dogs is painless when it first develops. However, if left untreated, it can become so. Hyperkeratosis may progress to the point where the dog is unable to walk or stand due to the pain associated with the skin condition.
Additionally, it can make your dog feel uncomfortable as it progresses. Therefore, it’s always best to check your dog’s paws for excess calluses or dry skin, especially in older dogs.
Is keratosis of the foot dangerous and life-threatening?
Luckily, keratosis on the paws in dogs is generally not dangerous or life-threatening. However, in some cases, it can lead to infections and other complications if not treated immediately and appropriately.
Causes of dog paw keratosis
Keratosis on the paws in dogs is not contagious, but there are many factors that can cause it. and they are:
1. Genetics
Keratosis of the paws in dogs is a genetic disease. This means that many dogs are more genetically predisposed to the disease than others. For example, Labradors can suffer from this disease due to a genetic defect called. Nasal parakeratosis.
2. Age
In contrast to us humans, a dog’s skin thickens as it ages, especially in acupuncture points such as the feet. And this causes the formation of calluses, resulting in keratosis of the dog’s paws.
3. Canine Distemper
One of the symptoms of canine distemper is keratosis on the dog’s paws. This life-threatening disease causes thickening of the skin on the soles of the dog’s paws and, in some cases, on the nose. That is why canine distemper is sometimes called: hard pad disease.
It is important to note that dogs that have been properly vaccinated against canine distemper as puppies are less susceptible to skin disease.
4. Foliate pemphigus
It is a very common autoimmune disease seen in middle-aged to older dogs. And that can give way to the development of keratosis on the dog’s paws.
5. Zinc Deficiency
Some dog breeds are prone to zinc deficiency because they cannot naturally absorb this mineral through diet or other means. This can lead to problems such as: zinc-reactive dermatitiswhich then turns into keratosis on the dog’s paw.
6. Leishmaniasis
This is a parasitic disease caused by the bite of sand flies. And one of the signs of the disease is keratosis on the dog’s paws, accompanied by muscle pain, joint inflammation and swollen testicles.
Symptoms of dog paw keratosis
Keratosis in dogs, as mentioned above, affects the paws and nose. Rarely, it can also occur in other parts of the body, such as the elbows and ears. However, it is more commonly found on the soles of dogs’ paws.
When keratosis pedis in dogs first develops, it looks like hair growing out of the pads on the dog’s feet. And as it progresses, the skin becomes thicker, harder, and scaly.
In addition to dry, flaky, and thickened skin, hyperkeratosis on the paws of dogs can include:
- Crack, Crack, Bleed
- loss of color in the affected skin
- lick your feet frequently
- limp
- reduced physical activity
- secondary infection
As with any health problem, it is important to detect keratosis on your dog’s paws as early as possible. This will help give your dog the proper attention and care it needs right away.
So if your dog shows any of these symptoms, see your veterinarian immediately.
Treatment of dog paw hyperkeratosis
Unfortunately, once a dog has hyperkeratosis, it is rarely cured. And at this time, there are no known treatments to treat this condition, only ways to manage it.
Here are some options you can choose to manage keratosis on your dog’s paws.
1. Treat the underlying disease
As mentioned earlier, keratosis on the paws of dogs is caused by many other health problems. If your dog has an underlying problem that causes the skin disease, treatment should focus on correcting that problem.
For example, if your dog has foliar pemphigus, your veterinarian will treat it with immunosuppressants.
2. Trim excess skin
To keep your dog from being uncomfortable with keratosis, it’s best to go to your veterinarian and have the excess skin trimmed. If you are confident you can do it yourself at home, your veterinarian can show you how to do it properly and safely.
However, do not do this without your veterinarian’s approval and guidance. Because doing so can do more harm than good.
3. Soak your dog’s paws in Epsom salt
An easy home remedy for managing mild dog paw keratosis at home is a paw soak.
Soak your dog’s paws in warm water with Epsom salt for 15 minutes to soften excess dead skin. Additionally, the moisture from soaking not only softens cracked skin, but also soothes pain caused by the skin condition.
Always dry your dog’s paws thoroughly after soaking to prevent cross-infection.
4. Apply ointment to the feet
Balms, ointments, or butters designed for dog paws are an affordable yet effective way to manage mild dog paw keratosis.
Dog paw balms help moisturize excessively dry skin and reduce discomfort in dogs during walks and physical activity. Additionally, applying this 2-3 times a day can help your dog’s paws improve faster.
5. Consult your veterinarian
In severe cases, it’s best to ask your veterinarian for the best course of action. Depending on the severity of symptoms, topical or oral medications, moisturizers, and exfoliants may be prescribed for secondary infections.
Preventing Keratosis on Dog Paws
Currently, there is no way to prevent hereditary keratosis. However, there are ways to block non-genotypes.
Here are some tips to reduce the chances of developing skin conditions on your dog’s paws.
- Check your dog’s paws regularly. If hyperkeratosis can be detected early in its development, it is much easier to cure and manage.
- Use a moisturizing balm. Even if the soles of your dog’s paws aren’t dry and flaky, it’s best to keep them moist at all times. This will help prevent keratosis.
- Cut the dog’s nails. This will help keep your dog’s paws clean and healthy. In addition, clipping your dog’s nails prevents them from scraping the ground and causing accidents.
- Use dog socks and boots. When walking, it’s best to keep your dog’s paws clean and away from rough surfaces. The less irritation to your dog’s paws, the better.
- Vaccinate your dog against canine distemper. As mentioned above, canine paw keratosis is one of the symptoms of this life-threatening disease. Therefore, be sure to vaccinate your dog.
Conclusion
Keratosis on the paws of dogs may not be life-threatening or dangerous, but it is still a health condition to be taken seriously.
If not treated promptly and appropriately, it can cause a lot of discomfort and pain in dogs, especially older dogs, and interfere with their daily activities. And we hope that this beginner’s guide will help you manage this skin condition so your dog can continue to live a wonderfully healthy life.