Cracked Dog Paws: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

Cracked dog paws can be painful for your canine companion, and sometimes they signal a bigger problem. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains why dogs get cracked paws and what to do about them. Plus she discusses common symptoms of cracked dog paws and when to call the vet.

Whether your hands are dry and cracked due to cold weather or frequent hand washing, sometimes a little lotion can go a long way in providing relief. But what about cracked dog paws? Is the solution as simple a reaching for some doggy lotion?

The answer is, it depends. Sometimes applying a bit of paw balm puts everything right again. But other times, cracked dog paws require a trip to the vet and more extensive therapy.

“Paws” for a bit of paw anatomy

In order to understand cracked dog paws, it helps to know a bit of dog paw anatomy. If you look closely at your dog’s paws, you will see a big pad and four smaller pads on each foot. Plus, the front paws have an extra pad up at the dog’s “wrist” called the carpal pad. If your dog has dewclaws, he or she usually has a pad associated with those too.

The largest paw pad is responsible for most of the weight-bearing. However, the digital pads under each toe offer additional help with load-bearing. And the carpal pad provides extra traction when stopping short or walking down a steep incline.

All paw pads have a tough, hairless, pigmented outer layer. Underneath lies the soft collagen and fatty tissue that acts as a cushion when your dog walks. A normal dog paw pad may be soft or a little coarse, but the outer surface is generally uniform. There should not be any large fissures, cracks, fronds, or missing bits of paw pad.

What do dry, cracked dog paws look like?

On the other hand, dogs with dry, cracked paw pads may have one large crack or a spiderweb of smaller cracks. Sometimes the damage to the paw pad is deep enough to expose the underlying tissue, but other times the cracks are more superficial. Depending on the cause, the cracks might be confined to one paw or found on all four paws.

An abnormal paw pad may also be very coarse to the touch but not visibly cracked. Or it could be white due to loss of pigmentation. Also, there may be a thickened overgrowth of hard paw pad tissue on the paw or ulcerated areas.

In addition to a change in the appearance of the paw pad, you may notice the following symptoms of a paw pad problem:

• Swelling and redness—The foot may be swollen or the tissue around the paw pad or between the toes could be reddened.
• Excessively licking or chewing the paws—When a paw is painful or itchy, one of a dog’s main solutions is to lick or chew the area.
• Limping or having trouble walking—In some cases, cracked paws are painful for dogs, leading to the dog limping.
• Not putting any weight on the paw—In severe cases, the cracked paw pad may be painful enough for the dog to refuse to use the leg.
• Brown staining (salivary staining) of the paw fur—A dog’s saliva turns the fur a rust color. This is a clue your dog has been licking the paw even if you have never caught him or her in the act.
• Bleeding from the paw—If a piece of the outer layer of the paw pad is missing or split open the damaged area may start bleeding.

What causes cracked dog paws? 11 reasons

There are many different external and internal factors that can cause paws to crack.

#1: Wear and tear

Paw pads are designed to be sort of like your dog’s shoes, so they can hold up to a lot of wear and tear. However, sometimes rough terrain on a hiking trail or lots of time pounding the pavement can take a toll on your dog’s feet, causing dry or cracked paw pads.

#2: Hot or cold weather

Extreme weather can be problematic for a dog’s paws. It is possible for a dog to get a thermal burn on the paw pads from walking on hot pavement. Additionally, pieces of ice or snow or prolonged time spent in frigid temperatures can damage a dog’s paw pads.

#3: Irritants

Ice melt and other similar products are notorious for irritating a dog’s feet in the winter months. Plus, contact with fertilizer in the summer months or other irritants like floor cleaners can cause paw pad damage. The end result is cracked and painful dog paws.

#4: Allergies

Environmental allergies, food allergies, or contact sensitivities may make a dog lick their paws enough to promote inflammation and cracking. In addition to irritated and itchy dog paws, dogs with allergies are usually itchy or have secondary bacterial skin infections (pyoderma in dogs) on other areas of their skin. They may also have ear infections (otitis in dogs).

#5: Trauma

Dog paw pad injuries from stepping on a sharp object, running on an abrasive surface like a tennis court, or other causes of trauma to the paw pads can commonly cause cracked or peeling paw pads too. Unfortunately, once they happen, cuts can take a long time to heal. It is difficult to protect paw pads from further injury when the pads bear weight each time a dog steps.

#6: Hepatocutaneous syndrome

Sometimes dogs with liver disease in dogs, diabetes mellitus in dogs, Cushing’s disease in dogs, or other liver or pancreas problems may develop hepatocutaneous syndrome in dogs (i.e. superficial necrolytic dermatitis).

In this condition, the dog has dry, cracked, ulcerated, and thickened foot pads. Plus, he or she may have crusting and irritation of the skin around the eyes, mouth, and perineal (area between the anus and vulva/scrotum) region. Sadly, the prognosis is generally poor for dogs with hepatocutaneous syndrome.

#7: Endocrine disorders

Hormone imbalances such as hypothyroidism in dogs or Cushing’s disease interfere with the dog’s skin health. While other skin manifestations of these diseases are more common, some dogs could have rough, cracked paw pads. Additionally, dogs with Cushing’s disease may have systemic signs like increased thirst and urination, increased hunger, and a pot-bellied dog appearance.

#8: Autoimmune conditions

Pemphigus foliaceus, an autoimmune condition, occurs when the body attacks the molecules that hold the skin cells together. Typically, the disease starts with crusting around the dog’s nose, eyelids, and ears. However, as pemphigus foliaceus progresses, it can also cause thick, crusted, cracked, and painful foot pads.

#9: Zinc deficiency

Some dogs, especially northern breeds like Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies, can be genetically prone to poor zinc absorption or metabolism. Plus, dogs who aren’t receiving the correct nutrition may also be deficient in zinc. In either case, the resulting condition, zinc-responsive dermatosis, can lead to hair loss, redness, and grey scales or crusts on the skin, especially around the eyes and mouth. And the foot pads may become thickened, cracked, or crusty too.

#10: Hyperkeratosis

Hyperkeratosis (excess build up of keratin in the skin) sometimes affects the paw pads and/or nose of dogs. It is more common in senior dogs, but can also occur as a result of other skin conditions.

Sometimes the paw pads might look a bit thickened and hard. But in more severe cases, the paw pads are dry, cracked, and ulcerated. Plus, they may have keratin fronds (lots of small projections of tissue that look like a shag carpet) around the edges of the paw pads. In some cases, the dog might develop a dry, thickened, and cracked nose (dog nose hyperkeratosis) too.

#11: Abnormal weight distribution

If a dog is overweight, this will put more strain on the paw pads, which can predispose him or her to cracked paw pads. Additionally, when a dog is shifting his or her weight abnormally as a result of musculoskeletal pain or injury, the abnormal forces on the paw pads may lead to cracks or dryness.

When should you go to the vet for cracked dog paws?

A variety of conditions can cause cracked dog paws. Thus, it is important to know when you can try to address your dog’s paw pads at home and when you need to see the vet.

In general, if your dog’s paws look a bit rough or cracked but he or she doesn’t seem bothered by them and isn’t showing any other symptoms, you can start with some home remedies like paw balm. But if your dog is acting painful, licking the paws excessively, or the paw pads are bleeding or ulcerated, it is time to seek veterinary advice.

Also, more widespread symptoms such as changes in thirst or urination, skin problems in other areas, or being a lethargic dog, should prompt a vet visit.

What can you expect at the vet visit?

The veterinarian will start by gathering a history. This information helps give him or her a feel for how long the problem has been going on, how it has progressed, and if there were any inciting causes. Then the vet will examine your dog carefully, paying special attention to the paw pads, skin, nose, and ears.

Based on the history and examination, the vet may suggest some additional diagnostic tests, including:

• Blood tests for dogs or urine tests to assess the dog for diabetes, Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, etc.
• Cytology to help detect bacteria or yeast on the paw pads that could point to an infection
• Biopsy of the foot pad to rule in/out autoimmune conditions or hepatocutaneous syndrome

In cases where the cause is not obvious, or if initial treatment is not successful, your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary specialist near you, namely a veterinary dermatologist.

How can you heal a dog’s cracked paw pads?

Treatment will depend on the underlying cause and the severity of the paw cracks.

Paw moisturizing products

Topical products such as paw balms and moisturizers can be helpful for many cases of dry, cracked paws. Dermoscent® Bio Balm and Atopivet® Spot-On are examples of clinically proven products. Additionally, some over-the-counter products may make good home remedies for mild cases of cracked dog paws. As you are looking at the options, keep in mind that dog-safe products for cracked paws usually include ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, and beeswax.

Home remedies like Vaseline, Aquaphor, Bag Balm, or coconut oil

Some dog parents may also try using Vaseline® or Aquaphor® for cracked dog paws. Both of these products are petroleum based. While they are technically safe for dogs, ingesting a larger amount can sometimes cause GI upset. Plus, for more severe cracked dog paws, they don’t tend to be as effective as specifically formulated paw balms. Thus, they are ok in a pinch, but it is generally better to pick a different product for long-term use.

Bag Balm® is another petroleum-based product, but it also contains lanolin to help moisturize paw pads. Like Vaseline and Aquaphor, Bag Balm can cause GI upset if your dog licks a lot of it off. However, it does seem to work for some mild cases of cracked paw pads.

Coconut oil also tends to come up often as a potential remedy for cracked paws. It does have moisturizing properties and is an ingredient in some paw balms. However, by itself coconut oil isn’t the best choice. If dogs lick too much of it off, they can get GI upset. And it may not be as effective as an actual product that is designed to moisturize the paws.

Tips for applying paw moisturizers

It can be helpful to wash your dog’s paws or soak them in warm water and Epsom salts (don’t let your dog drink it because it can cause digestive upset) before applying the paw balm or other moisturizing product. Also, try to keep your dog inside and lying down until the product has fully absorbed (approximately 30 minutes or so). Otherwise, your dog may end up tracking it around the house. Or if he or she goes outside, dirt and debris might stick to the paws. To avoid these issues, some dog parents will use dog booties to cover the paws for 30-60 minutes after applying the moisturizer.

Keratolytic products

If your dog has a lot of keratin build up on the foot pads, the vet may recommend a topical keratolytic product like Solva-Ker gel. Such products help soften and remove the excess keratin.

Antibiotics or antifungals to control secondary infection

If the vet suspects your dog may have a bacterial or fungal infection of the paw pad skin, he or she may recommend topical antibiotic like mupirocin or topical antifungals. Alternatively, the vet may decide to use oral antibiotics or antifungals.

Pain medications

If your dog’s cracked paws are painful, the vet may prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) such as carprofen for dogs. (Please note: Never give human NSAIDs (i.e. Aleve or Advil) because they can be dangerous for dogs and lead to gastrointestinal issues and damage to the kidneys.)

Allergy medication

In addition to managing the cracked paws, it is important to take steps to decrease any underlying allergic disease. This may involve using allergy medicine for dogs such as omega-3 fatty acids, Apoquel®, or Cytopoint®.

Paw protectants

There are a variety of products such as Musher’s Secret dog paw wax that are designed to create a protective barrier on the paw. This can be helpful while waiting for cracks in the paw to heal. Plus, these protective products also work well to prevent further damage to the paws from external sources (e.g. chemicals, rough surfaces, etc.).

How can you prevent cracked dog paws?

Although there aren’t any foolproof methods to prevent cracking of your dog’s paws, some of the following tips can help:

• Use a paw protectant like a dog paw wax before cold weather walks or at times when your dog’s feet need a bit of extra protection.
• Apply Pawz dog boots to protect a healing paw or decrease the effects of hot pavement, snow, or ice melt chemicals on your dog’s feet.
• Wash your dog’s feet off when he or she comes inside, especially in the winter.
• Don’t let your dog walk through harsh floor cleaning chemicals or lawn fertilizer.
• Regularly use a moisturizing paw balm for senior dogs or those who are more susceptible to cracked paws.
• Especially in hot weather, walk your dog in the grass rather than on the hot pavement when possible.
• Regularly check your dog’s paw pads as part of your 5-minute dog health scan.
• Be proactive about managing your dog’s allergies or endocrine disorders.

Cracked paws don’t have to give you pause

If you are worried about your dog’s cracked paws, don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet. He or she can help you find the products and protective measures that are right for your dog. Plus, in the event that your dog’s cracked paws are an indicator of an underlying health condition, your vet can work with you to hopefully get your dog’s paws (and the rest of him or her) back on the path to good health.

Does your dog get cracked paws?

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