Paw Problems That Are Common In Dogs

Paws are one of the most overlooked parts of the dog’s body and encounter sundry health issues and injuries because of the lack of proper care. Since paws pads are majorly responsible for providing balance, traction and maintaining the pace of your dog’s gait, they undergo a lot of wear and tear. 

Thus, when attention and care are not provided, they tend to suffer from miscellaneous issues which directly hamper the mobility of your pet.

Thus, it is important for all pet parents to pay cognizance to paw issues that can emerge in dogs in order to prevent them before they occur. 

6 Paw Issues Caused In Dogs

Fungal Infections

Fungal infections like ringworm and yeast infections are quite common paw problems in dogs. These infections can either be transferred by other animals or can happen due to constant humidity between the paws and nails which allows the already existing yeast or fungus to multiply. So, if your dog is persistently chewing or licking his paws, has swelling and pain in the area, or there is redness and greasy discharge between the skin folds of the paws, he may be suffering from fungal infection.  Yeast infection in dogs can often be a secondary symptom to an allergy hence, pet parents need to be 

watchful of the main reason behind the infections and treat their dogs accordingly.

Bacterial Infections

Bacterial infections are almost alike. They have the same symptoms as of fungal infections like redness, itching, greasiness between the skin folds, and swelling, etc. Thus, getting your pet examined by the vet is necessary. He is most likely to determine the kind of infection by taking a sample tissue and would suggest the antibiotics or other topical treatments as per the necessity. Well, antibacterial and antifungal shampoos are also effective in relieving the symptoms. However, one must take vet’s advice as he/she would know the intensity of the bacterial or fungal growth in your pet’s paws better and decide the best treatment your dog requires.  

Cracked Paws

Cracked paws can be painful and may lead to bacterial and fungal growth if not treated on time. Hot pavements, dry air, chemicals, increased exposure to rough surfaces and excessive licking can be an array of factors that may give rise to such condition. Thus, make sure you check your dog’s paws regularly and consult the vet for their treatment, if the problem persists.

Parasites like Ticks and Mites

Ticks often lodge themselves secretively in between the dogs’ paws to receive the warmth, and take blood meal simultaneously to help them grow. Dogs who have ticks in their toes often find difficulty walking and it is needless to say, the kind of diseases they bring along are debilitating to dog’s health. Thus, check his paws on a regular basis and if you find a tick hidden beneath the skin folds somewhere, remove it with the tweezers. Also, get your dog examined for any prevailing or recently acquired tick-borne disease.

Mites, on the other hand, can thrive and infect the hair follicles above or near the paws leading to swelling or hair loss. Thus, the examination of paws is necessary if you see such symptoms in your pooch. 

Allergies

Allergies like canine atopic dermatitis which mainly arise due to allergy to foods, pollens or other environmental factors can be one of the major reasons behind excessive itching in your dog’s paws. However, when dogs lick their paws continuously, the skin can often crack and may further lead to deep bacterial or fungal issues. Thus, it is important to figure out the causative agent of such allergies to prevent the dogs from self-inflicting their paws.

Blisters and Frostbites

Dogs walk barefoot and their paws directly come in contact with the hot pavements in summers and ice-laden paths in winters. So, when a dog walks on those hot surfaces, their paws can suffer from inflammation, redness, burns, and blisters. Similarly, when the surface is icy, they can often get frostbites. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to touch the surface with your hand when you take your dog outdoors. In case, if it is too hot or too chilled, it is better to avoid that route or let him stay at home.

Ingrown nails

It is often observed that dogs who have long nails or ingrown nails face challenge while walking. Their gait changes and leads to excessive pain. Therefore, pet parents should trim their pet nails regularly. In case, there is an ingrown nail which is hard to remove, it must be surgically chopped off.

Paw problems can mar your pet’s health and well-being significantly. Thus, it is necessary that pet parents must not take any of the above conditions lightly. Do regular check-ups and consult your vet if required. Besides, whenever you head out, consider the weather conditions and plan his walks accordingly.

Since dogs cannot convey their debacle to us, it is our responsibility that we pay heed to whatever adversities or situations can harm their paws and overall health. So, in case you have been observing your pet and realizing that he has all the symptoms of poor paw health and his limbs smell stinky, take prompt actions and consult your vet immediately to prevent further damage.