My dog's paw pads are rough and hard. What can I do to soften them?

I recommend to leave his paws as they are since he has no signs of pathology. The paws will roughen in response to his environment. Softening the paws may make them more prone to injury. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, they do appear fairly normal on that picture. Like us, dogs can develop calluses and thick paw pads depending on the substrate they walk on. Cement and gravel contributes to thicker pads, and Chloe being a Husky I assume she lives outdoors a great deal of time. Im not surprised that her paw pads are tougher than other dogs. You can get her boots to protect her feet and this may make her pads less tough over time. The boots may also help to protect you from her pads as well. You can also put socks on her as protection to you, but make sure she does not chew them off or swallow them. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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!

It may be something about the way that he walks or stands on that paw. Dogs do develope calluses in the paws (just like we do on our feet) and they are protective in nature so you don’t want to soften or remove them. The best way to know if it is a callus is to have the paw examined by the veterinarian. The doctor will palpate it and will likely be able to know if it is pathologic or normal. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

This rough, white spot could be due to exposure to the elements outside, or it could be due to running and walking on rough surfaces such as concrete. I'd get Musher's Secret to put on Macey's paws to protect them.

Those look like very normal changes to a more adult paw pad. If there is any redness, swelling, or crusting then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by a veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

I have not had good success with applying anything to the pads to protect them. If Nova won't walk in dog boots you can try applying Vaseline to her pads to soften them and keep them from cracking. You are doing a good job keeping her walking on the grass or soft dirt. As she grows her pads should thicken and give her more protection. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Nova.