What it is
Sensory nerves carry touch, pain and temperature from the skin to the brain. In this disease the nerve cells and fibres that do this job do not develop and work as they should, so the messages from the paws grow faint. A dog that can barely feel its toes may lick and bite them as if they itch or tingle, and can hurt them badly without seeming to notice.
The disease is inherited, and its signs show up while the dog is still young, in puppyhood or early adulthood. Because the dog does not feel its injuries, you become its early warning system.
Check the paws every day, between the toes and on the pads, for redness, swelling or wounds. Choose soft, even ground for walks, avoid hot pavements, ice and rough gravel, consider protective boots, and ask your vet how best to protect the paws.
Signs you may notice
- Constant licking or chewing of paws
- Wounds on the toes or pads
- Ignores injuries to the paws
- Swollen or red toes
- Unsteady, clumsy steps
You may notice the dog constantly licking or chewing its paws and toes, with wounds appearing that do not seem to bother it. Some dogs walk unsteadily or place their feet clumsily.
When to see a vet
Book a visit as soon as your dog keeps licking or chewing its paws, or you find a wound it ignores. Bleeding, deep or infected-looking wounds on the toes should be seen by a vet the same day.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.