Dry Dog Foot Pads

Dry and cracked paws can be painful and put your pet at a risk for infection.

Dry dog foot pads.

Pads can become dry and cracked and if an infection sets in could require veterinary treatment. However a variety of factors including hot pavement wintery conditions chemicals dry air exposure to rough surfaces and excessive licking can cause dry cracked paw pads. In addition to snow ice wind and frigid temperatures sidewalks and roads are often coated with irritants like sand and salt. Their paw pads provide support and traction as well as shock absorption for their bones tendons and ligaments.

Hot weather and pavement during the summertime the heat of the concrete can damage the skin on the bottom of your dog s paws. Likewise chilly weather can cause paw pads to dry out. Most of the time dry dog pads can be traced back to four environmental causes. 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.

These objects can then irritate the dog pads which in turn creates a dry dog foot pad. Pets paw pads are supposed to be rough so they can get traction on smooth surfaces. Be careful not to apply too much water on the pads. Get the mud out of the toes trim the hair back from the feet and wash away any salt or dirt on the pads.

Although they re meant to be tough dog footpads are still subject to trauma injury and everyday wear and tear.