My dog's paws are pink, dry, and discolored. Should I be worried?

Coloration of the paw pads can change as a dog ages, and may turn pinkish or brown, especially if old skin has sloughed off or there was an injury that healed. Signs of a problem to look out for include licking or chewing of the feet, redness or inflammation, pain, visible swelling or injury, strange smells, or if the discolored area is painful to the touch or non-weight bearing. These are all signs of something else ongoing such as an infection, allergy, or injury, which should be treated by your vet.

Depigmentation can be normal, but if the skin is also thick or crusty or there are other skin lesions it might also be a sign of an autoimmune skin disease. If Iker has scabs or crusts on his paw pads that aren't obvious in the picture, if he seems itchy or if he has other skin problems I'd recommend having your vet take a look.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding King. His paws are red and appear inflamed. This is typically due to allergies. As humans, we inhale allergens such as weeds, grasses, pollens, etc. We will have watery eyes, runny noses, etc. Dogs will experience these symptoms to a certain extent. However, they are out walking through the grass so their paws are most commonly affected. Start by wiping his paws off with a damp rag each time him comes in from outside. This will physically remove some of the allergens. You can also bath his paws with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula. Discourage him from licking the paws (with an e-collar of necessary) as this will only make the inflammation worse. If his paws worsen, he will need to see his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Licking at the paw can mean their is an irritation, injury or an allergy. If Archi will not let you closely inspect the paw, I recommend to have him examined by his veterinarian to look for an injury or evidence of infection. Otherwise you can wash the paw well and rinse it. An omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs can help improve skin health and decrease itchiness. If the behavior continues, then he needs to see the vet to check for allergies and discuss next steps. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The tan on the pink part of his paws in normal callus formation over time. In dogs with black paws it is less obvious. The brown discoloration in the nails usually indicates a yeast infection of the nails. If he isn't licking the feet or having any problems you may not have to do anything for the yeast. I hope this helps!

Poor Bjorn! It sounds like he may have allergies (food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment), a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or even some type of mange - these are all common causes of excessive itching and redness affecting the paws. Epsom salt baths were a very reasonable thing to try - but since they aren't helping anymore, I'm afraid it's definitely time for a vet visit. Your vet can do some simple skin tests to help determine what is causing the redness and itching, and will prescribe appropriate medication to treat the problem depending on what is found.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not possible to know this without an examination. You may be referring to irritation secondary to allergies. I highly recommend that you consider having him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this possibility and treat accordingly. Good luck and have a great day!