Dog Split Paw Pad

Walking on the injured foot often opens up the wound and further delays healing.

Dog split paw pad. What causes cracked pads. Common paw pad injuries include lacerations punctures and abrasions. Check the pads for damage frequently. Walking around outside exposes their feet to the elements.

This includes dryness of the pads which then develops into a more serious problem namely painful cracks. Apart from objects on the ground that might injure a paw there are other things that might be the cause of the problem. Your dog s cut paw pad will heal faster if it s protected until fully healed. There s dirt debris bacteria and all sorts of unmentionables left behind by other animals which can result in any kind of cut tear or cracked pad becoming infected.

Injuries to a dog s paw pad range from blisters and abrasions to pressure callus formations to ulcers burns avulsions lacerations and more. She may have a foot pad that is torn punctured or burned. A torn foot pad doesn t hold stitches well so cuts and punctures take longer to heal. A dog s paws are incredibly tough but they are not indestructible.

Hard pad disease a condition which manifests itself by affecting your dog s paw pads causing them to be sore and cracked may occur after your dog has battled canine distemper. You may notice loose skin like a blister on the bottom of your dog s paws or even a raw ulcer. Even after your dog s pad has healed enough that it isn t painful to touch it will still be tender and vulnerable to reinjury. Dog paw problems can quickly escalate into a bigger problem if not treated early.

Keep him quiet and prevent him from running or chewing at the bandage this may require the use of an elizabethan collar. Zinc deficiency a poor quality diet will also cause a dog to have very thick paw pads leaving them more susceptible to drying and cracking. If your dog limps or licks at her pads take heed. In addition rocky terrains or simple sharp stones can also cause pad injuries.

During a walk or carelessness at home your dog may step on a piece of glass or other sharp debris. Recovery of paw pad issues and injuries in dogs ensuring that you trim your dog s nails including the dew claw on a regular basis will prevent ingrown toenails as well as helping to maintain proper alignment of the feet and improving traction. A dog can injure their paw pad in numerous ways. 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.

Additionally because the paw pad is made from a different type of skin and tissue it serves very specific and distinct functions for your dog.