Does your dog have hair pads? If so, then he might be suffering from dog paw hyperkeratosis. If you look closely, you’ll see that the “hair” on your four-legged friend’s paws isn’t really hair, but dry skin.
Hyperkeratosis of dog paws, also called hairy dog pawsis a skin condition that typically affects the pads of the paws and can cause discomfort and pain for our furry friends.
Keep reading below for a deep dive into dog paw hyperkeratosis, what causes it, what its symptoms are, how to treat it, and how to prevent it altogether.
What is Hyperkeratosis?
Hyperkeratosis is a skin condition that makes the skin thick and hard. It results from the body’s overproduction of a protein called keratin. And both humans and dogs can suffer from it. In dogs, it can affect their nose or pads.
If you’re not familiar with keratin, it’s a protein that makes up hair, nails, horns, hooves, and claws. So when your dog’s body produces too much keratin, it can lead to the formation of hard, dry, crusty material on the dog’s paw and sometimes nose.
Although it can grow on dogs’ noses and ears, it is most commonly found in the pads of dogs’ paws. And when it grows, it looks like hair growing out of your dog’s paws, hence the name. hairy dog paws.
Is hyperkeratosis of the paws painful for dogs?
When it first develops, dog paw hyperkeratosis is not painful. But if left untreated, it can be. Hyperkeratosis can progress to a point where your dog may be unable to walk or stand due to the pain associated with the skin condition.
Also, as it progresses, it can bring discomfort to your dog. It is therefore best to always check your dog’s paw for very hard and dry skin, especially if it is an older dog.
Is leg hyperkeratosis dangerous and life-threatening?
Fortunately, dog paw hyperkeratosis is usually not dangerous and not life threatening. However, in some cases, it can lead to infections or other complications if not dealt with immediately and properly.
Causes of Dog Paw Hyperkeratosis
Dog paw hyperkeratosis is not contagious, but a variety of factors can cause it. And these are the following:
1. Genetics
Hyperkeratosis of dog paws is an inherited condition. This means that many dogs are genetically more prone to it than others. For example, Labradors can suffer from it due to a genetic defect called nasal parakeratosis.
2. Age
Unlike what happens to us humans, a dog’s skin thickens with age, especially at pressure points like the paws. And this causes the formation of calluses which leads to hyperkeratosis of dog paws.
3. Canine Distemper
One of the symptoms of distemper is hyperkeratosis of dog paws. This life-threatening disease causes thickening of the skin on the dog’s foot pads and sometimes even on the nose. This is why canine distemper is sometimes called hard pad disease.
It is important to note that dogs that have been properly vaccinated against distemper as puppies are less prone to the skin condition.
4. Pemphigus foliaceus
It is a very common autoimmune disease in middle-aged to older dogs. And this can make way for the development of dog paw hyperkeratosis.
5. Zinc deficiency
Some dog breeds are prone to zinc deficiency because they cannot naturally absorb this mineral through their diet and other means. In turn, this can lead to zinc-sensitive dermatosis, which then develops into hyperkeratosis of dog paws.
6. Leishmaniasis
It is a parasitic disease caused by the bites of sandflies. And one of the signs of this disease is hyperkeratosis of dog paws with muscle pain, joint inflammation and swelling of the testicles.
Symptoms of Dog Paw Hyperkeratosis
Hyperkeratosis in dogs, as mentioned above, affects a dog’s paws or nose. In rare cases, it can develop in other parts of the body like elbows or ears. However, it is most commonly found in the pads of a dog’s paws.
When it first develops, dog paw hyperkeratosis looks like hair growing on the pads of a dog’s paws. And as it progresses, the skin becomes thicker, tougher and crispier.
Besides the dry, crusty and thick layer of skin, other symptoms of dog paw hyperkeratosis include:
- Cracks, crevices and bleeding
- Loss of skin color in the affected area
- Frequent paw licking
- Limping
- Reduced physical activity
- Secondary infections
Like any other health condition, it is important to catch dog paw hyperkeratosis as early as possible. This will help you give your dog the attention and care he needs right away.
So, if you notice any signs of these symptoms in your dog, get to your dog’s veterinarian immediately.
Treatment of Dog Paw Hyperkeratosis
Unfortunately, once your dog has hyperkeratosis, it’s unlikely to go away. And at the moment, there is no known cure for the disease, only ways to manage it.
Here are some options you can choose from to help manage dog paw hyperkeratosis:
1. Treat the underlying disease
As mentioned earlier, dog paw hyperkeratosis is caused by a number of other health conditions. If your dog has an underlying issue that is causing the skin condition, treatment will focus on addressing that issue.
So, for example, if your dog has pemphigus foliaceus, your vet will treat it with immunosuppressive drugs.
2. Trim excess skin
To make sure the hyperkeratosis isn’t bothering your dog, it’s best to go to your veterinarian to have the excess skin trimmed off. And if you’re sure you can do it yourself at home, you can ask the vet to show you how to do it properly and safely.
Do not attempt to do so without the approval and advice of a veterinarian. Because if you do, it can do more harm than good.
3. Soak your dog’s paws in Epsom salt
One home remedy that you can easily do to help manage mild dog paw hyperkeratosis at home is foot soaks.
Soaking your dog’s paws in warm water with Epsom salt for 15 minutes will help soften excess keratin. Additionally, the moisture from the soak will not only soften cracked skin, but will also relieve pain caused by the skin condition.
After the foot soak, be sure to dry your dog’s paw thoroughly to avoid secondary infections.
4. Apply ointment to paws
A balm, ointment, or butter designed for dog paws is an affordable yet effective way to manage mild dog paw hyperkeratosis.
Dog Paw Balms help moisturize excess dry skin and relieve your dog’s discomfort when walking or doing any physical activity. In addition, applying it two to three times a day can help improve the condition of your dog’s paws more quickly.
5. Consult your veterinarian
In severe cases, it would be best to ask your vet for the best course of action. Depending on the severity of the condition, they may prescribe topical or oral medications, moisturizers, and exfoliants for secondary infections.
Prevention of Dog Paw Hyperkeratosis
As things stand, there is no way to prevent hereditary hyperkeratosis. However, there are a few ways to prevent the non-genetic type.
Here are some tips to reduce the chances of the skin condition developing on your dog’s paw pads:
- Check your dog’s paws regularly. It is much easier to cure and manage hyperkeratosis if you can detect it during its early development.
- Use a moisturizing balm. Even if your dog’s paw pads aren’t dry and crispy, it’s still best to keep them moisturized all the time. In this way, they become less prone to hyperkeratosis.
- Trim your dog’s claws. This helps keep your dog’s paw clean and healthy. Plus, trimming your dog’s nails ensures that your dog’s nails won’t scratch the floor and cause accidents.
- Use dog socks or boots. When walking, it’s best to keep your dog’s paws clean and away from rough surfaces. The less irritated your dog’s paw pads are, the better.
- Have your dog vaccinated against distemper. As mentioned above, hyperkeratosis of dog paws is one of the symptoms of this life-threatening condition. So be sure to get your dog vaccinated against this virus.
Conclusion
Dog paw hyperkeratosis may not be life-threatening or dangerous, but it is still a health condition that should be taken seriously.
If not managed immediately and properly, it can cause significant discomfort and pain in dogs, especially older dogs, which can interfere with their daily activities. And we hope this beginner’s guide can help you manage this skin condition so your dog can continue to live a beautiful and healthy life!