What this means
The pads work every day: they are the dog's shock absorbers and protection against heat, cold and rough surfaces. Wear after long walks, hot asphalt or ice is ordinary, but pads that crack again and again, thicken a great deal or become painful raise more questions.
The causes vary widely. Environmental damage, such as salt and grit on paths, hot asphalt or cold, is just one group. Another is inflammation or infection between the toes, and another a wider skin or immune-system problem, where other areas change too, the nose for example. Some dogs are born prone to thickened, cracking pads.
Look at all four paws, the spaces between the toes and the nails. Note whether your dog limps, licks or chews at the paws, whether the pads bleed or seem sore, and whether the change affects one paw or all of them. It helps the vet get to the cause sooner.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Environmental wear
Hot asphalt, cold, salt or grit on paths and rough surfaces wear down the skin of the pads. The change is generally on every paw.
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Thickened, hardened pads
In some dogs the pad skin thickens too much and cracks. It can be inherited, and sometimes shows up early in life.
About the condition: Hereditary footpad hyperkeratosis -
Inflammation or infection between the toes
Red, swollen, wet or smelly paws suggest inflamed skin. The dog is likely to lick or chew at them.
About the condition: Pododermatitis (inflamed paws) -
Skin changes caused by the immune system
In some cases the body attacks its own skin. The pads can crust, crack and hurt, while the nose or other areas change too.
About the condition: Autoimmune disorders -
Injury or a foreign object
A cut, a burn, or a thorn or stone lodged between the toes can leave a crack that is slow to heal.
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Allergy or irritation
Cleaning products, road chemicals or plants can irritate the skin. The pads redden and dry out, and the dog starts licking the paws.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Whether all the paws have changed, or just one or two
- Whether your dog limps, avoids hard ground or licks the paws
- Whether the pads bleed, weep or smell
- Whether the pads are thickened or hardened
- Whether the nose or skin around the eyes has changed too
- Whether the change appeared after one particular walk or gradually
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if the pads have been cracked for more than a few days, if your dog is limping, if you see blood, discharge or a smell, or if the nose or other areas of skin are changing alongside. Do not use human products on the paws without asking a vet.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Hereditary footpad hyperkeratosis Skin and coat Hereditary footpad hyperkeratosis is an inherited disorder in which the skin of the paw pads produces too much keratin and becomes very thick. The pads turn hard, horny growths form on them and cracks appear. The cracks can be painful and can become infected, which can make walking difficult.
- Pododermatitis (inflamed paws) Skin and coat Pododermatitis is inflammation of the skin of the paws, affecting the skin between the toes, the pads or the skin around the nails. It is not a disease in itself but a sign that something is wrong: allergies, bacterial or fungal infections, parasites, a trapped foreign body such as a grass seed, hormonal disorders or other illnesses can all cause it. Because there are so many possible causes and sore paws make walking hard, finding the cause is a job for a vet.
- Autoimmune disorders Blood and immunity This is an umbrella term for conditions in which the immune system, instead of defending the body against germs, starts attacking the dog's own tissues. The skin, blood cells, joints or internal organs can be affected, so these diseases can look very different from one another. What the condition is and what caused it is for the vet to determine.
Body systems: Skin and coat Blood and immunity