Why are my dog's dewclaw pads crusty? Could it be hyperkeratosis?

I can definitely see the area you are concerned about. It is probably a combination of poor nutrition and the environment that Luna was in before you adopted her. If the area is not inflamed, tender, or sore, I would not worry about it at all. If she does seem uncomfortable then you should take her to your vet to be checked out just in case. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

For some dogs, developing hyperkeratosis is a matter of genes: Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Dogues de Bordeaux, Irish and Bedlington Terriers are all known to develop this condition. When hyperkeratosis develops as a result of inheritance, it generally occurs in the first year of a dog’s life. In contrast, idiopathic hyperkeratosis develops for unknown reasons, generally occurs in older pets, over the age ten. Aside from inherited or idiopathic occurrences, hyperkeratosis can occur as a symptom of one of these following problems: Leishmaniasis: Caused by a parasite frequently carried by sandflies. Canine Distemper: This virus is relatively rare now, due to vaccinations given to puppies. When distemper strikes, it can cause all sorts of symptoms, among them hyperkeratosis, typically on the nose. Zinc Responsive Dermatosis: Hyperkeratosis can occur as a result of zinc responsive dermatosis, a skin disease that occurs when dogs do not properly absorb zinc. Pemphigus Foliaceus: One of the most common autoimmune skin diseases diagnosed in cats and dogs, it causes pustules and hyperkeratosis to form on the paws. This disease can be diagnosed with a biopsy, and is treatable with immunosuppressive drugs. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for hyperkeratosis. That said, the condition can be managed -- the treatment goal is to reduce symptoms, by softening and removing the hardened skin on paws and muzzles. The most important first step of treatment is to determine if another disease is causing hyperkeratosis as a symptom, and begin the treatment process for that disease. To treat the hyperkeratosis directly, bring pets in for frequent vet appointments, where the vet can carefully trim and cut away the excess keratin. If your vet and you both feel comfortable with the idea, it’s possible that your vet can train you on the proper process for this puppy pedicure. Other treatments involve wet wraps, soaks in propylene glycol, and other topical solutions.

This looks like hyperkeratinosis of the paw pad. It is basically a callous. There isn't much you can do about it. If you have it cut off, they usually grow back. I would try some pad balm to help keep it smoothe and to prevent it from cracking and causing any discomfort. Most dogs are never bothered by it. If it ever causes him to limp, start to crack, or is growing rapidly, I would have your vet take a look at it to ensure he doesn't need any additional therapy. I hope this helps!

Thank you for posting the pictures. The hyperkeratosis in the pictures looks very normal in presentation to me. It is rare that hyperkeratosis causes any problems, but if You feel at any time that it is becoming excessive or causing any discomfort then I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From the pictures, it appears that Freya has hyperkeratosis of the paw pads. This condition does not cause any major problems and is more of a cosmetic problem. You can try and file the overgrown pad by using a dremmel (I recommend having a veterinarian or veterinary technician do this) and then try to help prevent this from occurring by using dog booties and BioBalm by Dermoscent (can be found online). I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

It does look like hyperkeratosis, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. If it seems like it is bothering Oscar, I would have him examined by the vet to see if there is a reason that it is occurring and why it is uncomfortable. There are also some prescription ointments that can be used to reduce the excess growth.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! For dry pads you can use a moisturizing cream such as the one made by Tomlyn which you get from amazon. It works great for this scenario. It is hard to know if this is truly needed without being able to see it and examine it though this is usually a good option in most cases. Good luck!