My dog's paw pads are dry and crusty. What should I put on them?

Phoenix's paw pads may benefit from a change in diet. Royal Canin diets are fortified with Omega 3 fatty acids which are good for the coat and skin. They make a diet for sensitive skin (you may need to look online for the product) and this one would be a good option. It will take about 4 weeks to see if they improve with a new diet. You could also try a product such as Baely's Paw Shield. This balm may help to heal the cracked skin. Lastly, avoid rough surfaces and dry the paws well when they get wet. If the skin starts looking red, bleeding, scabbing or if he seems bothered, have hime seen by his vet. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello. We need to know why Max's feet are dry & cracked. This could indicate a bacterial or even a fungal cause. Until you can have him evaluated, you can wash his feet in a skin antiseptic like Hibiclens ( available at all pharmacies ), dry well & then apply a very light coating of Vaseline. Try to do this at least 1-2 times a day. If no response within a couple of weeks, do see your veterinarian for further recommendations. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

You may just be seeing hyperkeratosis of the pads which is very common in a lot of dogs. It's essentially just an overgrowth of the skin in this area and commonly occurs to the nasal planum and paw pads, especially as dogs age. As long as your pet is comfortable and walking well for most dogs it is just cosmetic. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello, & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I hope I can assist with your concerns today. Whatever caused this lesion on Smith's paw looks pretty quiet now. If he is not showing any lameness or discomfort, & is not licking or chewing at the lesion, then it may be OK to just monitor it for now. If any signs of pain & redness should become apparent, or the lesion appears to be enlarging or worsening, then please contact your veterinarian for evaluation. Take care.

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, you can use petroleum jelly on paw pads. This can help to moisturize the paw pads if they are dry or callused. Some dogs try to lick it off, however, so I would recommend being conservative with it and only apply a very thin amount. I hope this helps!

Although I think Pro Plan is a great diet, you may try Royal Canin as it tends to be a little better for skin. You could also supplement an additional Omega 3 fatty acid (make sure it's made for dogs). Lastly, look for a product like Baely's Paw Shield or you could also use Coconut oil. Rub it into the areas once to twice daily. Do not allow Otis to lick the product off as it will not help if he does. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.