My dog's paw has hyperkeratosis. Is it causing her pain and limping?

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.

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.

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 Pet Coach! I recommend using a product called BioBalm by Dermoscent. Bayer makes this product and you can find this easily online. For the long hair like pieces, I usually recommend having these trimmed (there are no nerves going to these pieces and it is painless to have these trimmed back). I would recommend having this done at your veterinarian's clinic where they can trim them there using clippers or a dremmel file. Once these have been made shorter, the BioBalm can be applied 3 times daily. It may take several months for this balm to work well but I have seen cases such as Allie's dramatically improve. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

This does not look like a cut, but rather like a corn. Corns are keratin calluses on the front center paw pads, such as under the second toe bone, which lacks subcutaneous tissue or padding. This will not be cured by putting Vetericyn on the lesion, but will likely need surgery. This is a complicated condition, and here is a really good article with extensive information for you: http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/paw-pad-pain-review-corns-dogs I recommend you schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam and treatment. The information in the article should give you a good overview of what to expect.

I’ve had success using Kerasol ointment for hyperkeratosis. Some people also swear by Musher’s Secret. If your vet hasn’t examined Otis’s paws you may want to have them take a look - there are a few skin diseases that can look similar to hyperkeratosis.

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!