Dry Dog Foot Pads

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.

Dry dog foot 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. 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.

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. These objects can then irritate the dog pads which in turn creates a dry dog foot pad. Dogs have a lot of hair on their feet and this hair can trap objects in it.

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. Hot pavement wintery conditions exposure to chemicals and allergies. Be careful not to apply too much water on the pads.

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