Dogs use their paws on every surface, in every weather condition, every single day — yet paw care is one of the most overlooked aspects of canine health maintenance. Cracked pads that cause limping, mysterious swellings between the toes, lumps that come and go, or relentless paw-licking are among the most common paw complaints dog owners bring to the vet. This guide covers the most frequently encountered paw problems, from the simple to the serious.

Cracked and Rough Paw Pads

Some degree of pad roughness is normal — pads naturally toughen with use on varied surfaces. Problematic cracking, however, causes pain, bleeding, and entry points for infection.

Common causes of severely cracked pads:

• Environmental exposure: Hot pavement in summer can cause burns and cracking; ice, snow, and road salt in winter are equally damaging. The "two-second rule" is useful: if you can't hold the back of your hand on the pavement for two seconds, it's too hot for paw pads.
• Nutritional deficiency: Zinc deficiency is a classic cause of paw pad hyperkeratosis (excessive thickening and cracking), particularly in Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and Bull Terriers who have a hereditary zinc absorption disorder.
• Hepatocutaneous syndrome (superficial necrolytic dermatitis): A serious condition associated with liver disease or glucagonoma (pancreatic tumor) that causes dramatic crusting and erosion of the paw pads. Dogs also develop facial crusting and lesions on pressure points. This requires urgent veterinary evaluation.
• Autoimmune diseases: Pemphigus foliaceus and other autoimmune conditions can affect paw pads, causing crusting, scaling, and ulceration.
• Hypothyroidism and other endocrine disorders indirectly affect pad quality through altered skin metabolism.
• Nasodigital hyperkeratosis: An idiopathic condition in older dogs where excessive keratin accumulates on the nose and pads, creating thick, cobblestone-like fronds. It is not painful unless the overgrowth cracks.

Home management for mild cracking: Veterinary-formulated paw balms or waxes (such as Musher's Secret or similar products) protect and moisturize pads during extreme weather. Apply before walks in hot or cold conditions, and wipe paws after walks in salted areas. coconut-oil-cats" title="Coconut Oil for Cats: Safe or Harmful? Vet Analysis">coconut-oil-cats" title="benefits" title="Coconut Oil for Dogs: Benefits, Risks & How Much to Give">Coconut Oil for Cats: Safe or Harmful? Vet Analysis">Coconut oil can provide temporary moisture but washes off quickly. For paws that crack despite regular care, veterinary evaluation is warranted to rule out systemic causes.

Interdigital Cysts (Interdigital Furuncles)

Interdigital furuncles — commonly called interdigital cysts, though they are not true cysts — are painful, red, swollen nodules that develop between the toes. They are one of the most frustrating recurrent paw problems in dogs, particularly in short-coated breeds with thick, chunky paws: English Bulldogs, Labrador Retrievers, Great Danes, Mastiffs, Bull Terriers, and Boxers are most affected.

The lesions begin when hair shafts or keratin become embedded in the skin between the toes — often due to walking on hard surfaces that push coarse hairs backward into the follicle. The embedded material triggers a foreign body reaction, leading to abscess formation. Secondary bacterial infection is common. Dogs are typically visibly lame and lick the affected foot intensely.

Treatment involves:

• Warm water foot soaks (2–3 times daily, 10 minutes each) to soften the tissue and encourage drainage
• Antibiotics for 4–6 weeks (these infections are frequently deep)
• Addressing underlying allergies, which often drive the chronic inflammation that predisposes to furuncles
• In refractory cases: CO2 laser ablation or surgical excision of the affected interdigital web

Recurrence is extremely common — up to 80% of affected dogs develop repeat episodes without addressing the root cause. According to the AVMA, dogs who experience more than two episodes should be evaluated for allergic skin disease as the primary driver.

Paw Pad Lumps and Masses

A lump on a dog's paw can range from completely benign to malignant — and the paw is an anatomically complex area with many tissue types that can give rise to growths.

Common paw lumps:

• Histiocytoma: A rapidly appearing, button-like pink growth seen in young dogs (under 3 years). Histiocytomas are benign and spontaneously regress within 2–3 months in most cases. No treatment is needed unless the dog is traumatizing it.
• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the nail bed: The most common malignant tumor of the digit in dogs. Dark-coated large breeds (Labrador Retrievers, Standard Poodles, Giant Schnauzers) are over-represented. Typically presents as a swollen, ulcerated toe with nail deformity. A biopsy is essential. Amputation of the digit provides good local control, though spread to lymph nodes is possible.
• Subungual melanoma: A malignant tumor arising under or around the nail. Presentation is similar to SCC. Prognosis depends on whether metastasis has occurred.
• Mast cell tumor: Can appear anywhere on the body including the paws. Variable behavior — from benign to highly aggressive. All mast cell tumors should be graded histologically after removal.
• Warts (viral papillomas): Caused by canine papillomavirus; most common in young or immunosuppressed dogs. Appear as cauliflower-like growths on paws and in the mouth. Usually self-limiting but can be removed if causing problems.
• Cysts and follicular hamartomas: Benign fluid-filled structures that may wax and wane. Fine-needle aspiration distinguishes these from more concerning growths.

Rule of thumb: Any new lump on the paw that persists for more than 2–4 weeks, grows rapidly, bleeds, ulcerates, or causes lameness should be evaluated by a veterinarian and sampled (fine-needle aspirate or biopsy). Do not assume a lump is benign based on appearance — the only reliable way to identify a lump is cytology or histopathology. Visit VCA Animal Hospitals for a useful overview of lump evaluation.

Nail Problems

Broken or torn nails are among the most common emergency presentations — the exposed quick is exquisitely painful and bleeds freely. Immediate management involves applying styptic powder or corn starch to control bleeding and wrapping the paw. Most broken nails require veterinary attention to remove the damaged portion, often under sedation, and to prescribe antibiotics and pain management.

Chronically brittle nails, nails that crumble or separate from the nail bed, or a nail that grows curved back into the pad (claw embedded in pad — particularly common in elderly dogs' dewclaws) also require veterinary assessment. Brittle nail syndrome (symmetric lupoid onychodystrophy, or SLO) is an immune-mediated condition causing all nails to lift, crack, and fall off — it is painful and requires long-term management with fatty acid supplementation and sometimes immunosuppressive therapy.

Paw-Licking: When It's More Than Habit

Chronic paw-licking is one of the hallmark signs of allergic skin disease in dogs. Dogs who lick their paws until the fur stains a reddish-brown (due to porphyrin pigments in saliva) are almost invariably doing so in response to allergic itch — environmental, food, or contact. The licking itself then causes secondary yeast (Malassezia) overgrowth between the toes, creating more itch and more licking in a self-perpetuating cycle.

Effective management requires addressing the underlying allergy — not just the paw-licking behavior itself. Regular paw wipes after outdoor walks (to remove environmental allergens), foot soaks in dilute chlorhexidine solution, and allergen management collectively reduce the itch burden. The ASPCA also notes that compulsive licking with no apparent physical cause may have a behavioral or anxiety component warranting behavioral assessment.

When to See the Vet

See a veterinarian promptly for: any lump that has been present more than 3–4 weeks or is growing; a swollen, deformed, or ulcerated toe or nail bed; severe lameness; bleeding that doesn't stop within 10 minutes; signs of deep infection (pus, heat, swelling above the paw); or paw pad lesions that appear dramatically thickened, crusted, or ulcerated (possible hepatocutaneous syndrome or autoimmune disease).