Treatment may involve avoiding potential allergens (if possible) and/or medications or immunotherapy that decrease the allergic response. In response, dogs lick and chew and the skin becomes red, even itchier, and oftentimes infected. Allergies to pollen, mold, mites, ingredients in food, etc. AllergiesĪllergies are a common cause of chronically irritated feet in dogs. iron, copper, zinc, vitamins A and D, etc.)is not normal due to a diseased liver, then skin/paw cells will not make enough new cells and/or the new cells will not be healthy and be a normal surface barrier.”ĭepending on the cause, treatment for liver disease may include surgery, corticosteroids, antibiotics, special diets, nutritional supplements and more. ![]() “Paw pads really need good nutrition to keep replacing dead cells with new healthy cells. While there’s no definitive reason for a dog’s pads to be a symptom of liver disease Raditic says it most likely has to do with the significant role the liver plays in digestion, nutrient absorption and metabolism. Liver disease may manifest in the paw pads as non-healing lesions that consist of chronic infections, crusting, thickening, erosions, ulcerations as well as blisters. It’s rare for most dogs other than working dogs or hunting dogs.”Īfter running tests on the Lab she discovered he had liver disease, which can be caused by toxins, medications, cancer, bacteria, viruses or autoimmune and degenerative issues. A healthy dog should be able to hike and run around without splitting or cracking his paw pads. But Raditic was suspicious because paw pads are typically resistant to injury when a dog is used to the activity. “If it takes longer than three weeks, it’s a chronic problem.” She cites one of her clients who attributed her high energy Labrador’s daily routine of running multiple laps around the pool as the reason for his worn down and bleeding pads. Liver issuesĪlthough Raditic says the pain subsides pretty quickly with proper healing it’s still important to keep track of your dog’s progress. But because paw pads are made up of tough keratinized epithelium the healing process can take up to three weeks. Healthy dogs should be able to grow new cells easily. Schedule a visit with your vet as soon as possible. ![]() Be sure not to apply tape too tightly to avoid cutting off circulation. Let the paw air out and then protect the wound by covering it with a sock and securing it with sturdy tape. The warmth and moisture takes off surface debris and draws blood flow down to the injured tissues to help prevent infection. It’s important to get your dog to the vet right away but if you can’t, Raditic recommends washing the wound by squeezing out a clean cloth that’s been soaked in warm water and laying it on the affected surface. On rare occasions dogs may develop wounds like these even without an abnormal amount of activity because of split paw pad disease, a condition with an unknown cause. You may notice loose skin (like a blister) on the bottom of your dog’s paws or even a raw ulcer. Another common paw pad injury develops when dogs exercise for an unusually long period of time or on rough, sharp or hot surfaces. If your dog is limping or he is favoring one foot over the other it may be easy to spot an injury such as a cut or puncture that may have occurred from stepping on a thorn or a sharp object. It can take something drastic before we notice there’s something wrong with our dog’s health.” Injuries If something isn’t perfect in the body it can show up there first. ![]() They require a lot of nutrition and a lot of blood supply. “The cells in a dog’s paw pads have a high turnover rate. Donna Raditic, a veterinarian who specializes in nutrition and integrative medicine, says that a dog’s paw pads can also be an important indication of your dog’s overall health. Their paw pads provide support and traction as well as shock absorption for their bones, tendons and ligaments.īut Dr. But our dogs are equipped with their own built-in sneakers. When we head out for a hike or a run with our dog we put on our most supportive pair of athletic shoes.
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