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What to do if my dog's paw pads are peeling and painful from cement?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Female | spayed | 2 years old | 52 lbs

My dog was running a lot on cement today at the park and now she has large chunks of her paw pads peeling. She seems to be in pain because she won't put much weight on it

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Rebecca, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 6th, 2017

Ouch. Poor Skye. Paw pad burns can certainly happen on concrete in the summer. If she is very painful or a large area of the pad is missing she needs to see a veterinarian. If it's moderate you can clean with gentle warm water, apply antibiotic ointment and bandage her feet. Do not give any otc pain medication. If she is painful take her to a vet for prescription medication. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/first-aid-for-torn-or-injured-foot-pads-in-dogs

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Emily, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 2nd, 2017
Those look pretty ouchy. I recommend Jackson get looked at by his veterinarian as soon as possible as he may need prescription antibiotics and pain medication. Your vet may wrap these feet but I recommend at home applying just a light layer of triple antibiotics ointment and keeping him restricted from exercising/walking. This is because a bandage can cause more harm if it is too tight, gets dirty, etc.
Do not give Jackson any medication at home as it can be very toxic to dogs.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 27th, 2018
Owie. This looks like her paws were burnt or got into some acid or lye. This is very painful and you should have this examined by a vet. He will likely prescribe some silvadene ointment and antibiotics to prevent infection as well as pain medicine. If she is very painful, I suggest you take her to a pet emergency room where they will likely bandage the feet with antiseptic ointment. If you think she is not so painful you can put socks on him to protect the paws until you can see a vet.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Maria DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 26th, 2019
It really depends on how severe it is. I typically recommend buying booties for Hugo but I also would recommend having your veterinarian look at him to make sure he doesn't need pain medications or antibiotics. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

What can I put on my dog's dry, cracked paws from hot concrete?

Poor Sky! Sure to always touch the concrete to make sure it is not too hot as pets can get serious injury. Avoid walking Sky during the hot time of the day. Walk in the very early mornings or in the evenings after the temperature has dropped. Booties can help as well to protect her feet from hot temperatures. Also make sure she does not lick at the feet (have her wear an elizabethan collar at all times) and keep her on soft surfaces with no walks, running or jumping until the tissue is fully healed. You can apply a dab of coconut oil and rub it in well. Make sure she does not lick this as it can cause GI upset. You can also purchase the balm that mushers use on sled dogs. If the area does not start looking better or if it begins to look worse at any point, have her examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog's paw is sore from concrete. What should I do to treat it?

That looks like a bit of a sore! I would keep the area clean and dry and place an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Blossom to keep her from licking the spot which can lead to secondary infection. If the wound worsens or begins to ooze debris, swells, or becomes very hot or painful to the touch, these can all indicate an infection that should be treated by your vet. If the concrete play area is outside, it can heat up very quickly in the summertime, which may lead to burns or sores on the feet in addition to abrasions. Making sure to have a cool, shaded play area as well as mats or other items that can help soften the surface can help reduce chances of injury in the future.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog's paws are burned and peeling. Should I take my dog to the vet?

I would definitely recommend taking Daisy to the vet. She may need topical medication, very likely needs pain medication and possibly antibiotics as well. Burns on the feet can take a long time to heal but proper care from the start will help them heal faster. I hope Daisy feels better soon.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog is limping with a cracked, raw, painful paw. What should I do?

You can clean it daily with a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution and dry it thoroughly afterwards. Anything you apply will likely be lucked off unless you use an e-collar. It may have been abraded on rough surfaces inside or outside his enclosure. Since he is limping, he is likely painful and should be seen by your veterinarian. Pain medication can be administered or dispensed if indicated. If possible, the paw should be protected until it heals. This may require a bandage/bootie, coming indoors, an e-collar (cone) or a combination of the three. Your veterinarian can determine the best course of treatment after an exam.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has split paw pads. What's the best way to help them?

Poor Saha! I would gently clean her pads with warm water and antiseptic soap. Then I would place a bandage over the paws to keep her from licking at them. You may need to put an Ecollar on her to keep her from doing this. You can get one at a pet store or you can make one at home. Change the bandage daily and look for signs of infection include redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, and pus. If you see any of those signs, take her into the vet as she will need antibiotics. I know it's summer in Australia and very hot there, and hot asphalt can cause a dog's paws to split. Test the pavement with the back of your hand, and if it's too hot for you to put your hand on it, it's too hot to take her for a walk. During these hot periods, it's fine to restrict her walks to protect her pads and keep her from overheating. Just allow her in the backyard grass to potty, then bring her back in when she's done. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's paw pads are peeling, but he's not limping. What's wrong?

It could have been a thermal injury if the sidewalk was hot on recent walks. If you haven't taken Vinny on any walks recently, then I would recommend having him evaluated by a vet, some types of infections or autoimmune diseases can cause sloughing of the paw pads. Continue to make sure that Vinny doesn't lick at all. Don't try to pull of the dark part, as it is protecting the more delicate tissue underneath - it will fall off on its own. If you take Vinny outside, use dog booties to protect the pads. Don't apply any ointment unless directly advised by your vet.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why are my dog's paw pads red and blistered after the kennel?

It looks like poor Leo has blistered paw pads. This can be quite uncomfortable. Seeing where your location is, it is likely that Leo just came in contact with hot pavement. These will heal on their own. I would not try to peel the pads off. New pad will form and you may even notice pink pad that is raw looking once the old pad falls off. I would have your vet check the pads out to be on the safe side in case there is something more thst needs to be done. To prevent this, avoid long walks on hot pavement and use dog boots. Hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns you may have

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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