SYMPTOM
Footpad abnormalities
Owners may notice pads that look thickened, crusty, cracked or peeling, pads that are soft and swollen, raw patches or ulcers on the pad, or a change in pad colour. Licking or chewing at the feet, limping, or reluctance to walk on hard or rough ground often draws attention to the paws first.
Dermatological
Changes to footpad texture, colour, or integrity can arise from inflammatory skin conditions or infections (bacterial, fungal, or parasitic). These conditions may affect one or several pads and often alter the pad's surface or cause separation of layers.
Environmental and mechanical
Exposure to hot surfaces, cold weather, salt, chemicals, or rough terrain can damage pad tissue, leading to cracking, abrasion, or blistering. Repetitive friction or changes in activity level may also contribute to thickening, smoothing, or localised wear patterns.
Allergic and hypersensitivity
Allergic responses to environmental allergens, food components or contact irritants usually show on the paws as redness, swelling and licking of the skin between the toes and around the pads, and can lead to secondary changes in texture. The paws are often involved as part of a broader pattern that also affects the face, ears, armpits and belly.
Metabolic and nutritional
Certain metabolic disturbances or nutritional imbalances can alter keratin production, leading to thickened, crusted pads that may crack or ulcerate. In superficial necrolytic dermatitis (hepatocutaneous syndrome), a rare disease of middle-aged and older dogs linked mostly to liver disease and less often to a pancreatic tumour, the pads become thick, cracked and often painful enough to cause lameness, and the outlook is poor. Zinc-responsive dermatosis, seen particularly in Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes or with a poor diet, also causes thickened, crusted pads. These changes tend to develop gradually and may be accompanied by other systemic signs.
Neoplastic
Growths arising from or near the footpad, whether benign or malignant, can alter pad architecture, cause swelling, or produce ulceration. These lesions may appear as nodules, discolouration, or areas of tissue breakdown, and progression varies widely.
Immune-mediated
Autoimmune conditions that target the skin or its structures can produce pad ulceration, crusting, or loss of normal architecture. These disorders often involve multiple pads and may coincide with changes elsewhere on the body.
Why timing matters
Early observation
When footpad changes are first noticed, the picture often reflects the direct cause, such as recent exposure, an acute injury or the early phase of an inflammatory process. The pad's appearance at this stage can offer clues to mechanism: sudden cracking may point to environmental insult, while gradual thickening or colour change may suggest a slower process. Early observation also establishes a baseline against which any evolution can be measured.
Later presentation
If pad abnormalities persist or recur, the pattern may shift from acute injury to chronic adaptation, ongoing inflammation, or an underlying process that has not resolved. Recurrence after apparent improvement can indicate sensitivity to a repeated exposure, a relapsing condition, or incomplete healing. The persistence itself becomes a piece of information, particularly when other signs emerge or when the animal's activity or comfort changes over the same period.
Footpad changes can evolve in various ways: some resolve with time and minimal intervention, others plateau, and some progress to deeper tissue involvement or secondary infection. The rate and direction of change tend to reflect the underlying process: rapid worsening may accompany infection or severe inflammation, while slow, stepwise progression can characterise metabolic or immune-mediated conditions. Individual variation in healing capacity, activity level, and exposure means that timing alone does not predict outcome, but it does help shape the broader picture.
Conditions commonly associated
Pemphigus
Pemphigus can cause thickening, cracking, and crusting of the paw pads, sometimes causing discomfort when walking.
Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs
Atopic dermatitis commonly involves the paws, particularly the skin between the toes and around the pads, as part of a wider allergic skin disease, with inflammation causing redness, swelling, and sometimes secondary infection or discolouration. Dogs may lick or chew affected paws, which can further alter the appearance and texture of the pads.
Hypothyroidism in Dogs
Hypothyroidism does not directly cause footpad disease, but it can make the skin of the feet more prone to secondary bacterial and yeast infection. Other signs tend to develop gradually, such as a dry coat, slow hair regrowth and symmetrical hair thinning on the body.
Pyoderma
Pyoderma affecting the interdigital spaces or pad margins can cause swelling, ulceration, and discolouration of footpad tissue. The infection often develops secondary to trauma, moisture, or underlying allergic or anatomical factors that compromise the skin barrier.
Mosquito Bite Hypersensitivity in Cats
Mosquitoes can bite exposed footpad skin, and the resulting hypersensitivity reaction may leave the pads swollen, crusted or ulcerated.
Plasma Cell Pododermatitis in Cats
This condition causes the footpads themselves to become soft, swollen, and sometimes ulcerated.
The page on this condition is being checked again and is offline for now.
Vasculitis
Vasculitis can cause ulcers on the footpads, typically in the centre of the pad, often alongside ulcers or crusting on the ear flaps, lips or tail tip.
Alabama Rot (CRGV)
Alabama rot often first shows as an unexplained sore, ulcer or swelling on a dog's pad, foot or lower leg, and some dogs go on to develop acute kidney injury within days, which kills most dogs once it develops.
Canine Distemper
Canine distemper, mainly in unvaccinated dogs, can cause crusting and thickening (hyperkeratosis) of the footpads and nose.
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When to explore further
When pad changes do not settle once obvious environmental triggers are removed or exposure to rough surfaces is reduced.
When abnormalities involve multiple pads, particularly if they appear symmetrically or are accompanied by changes to other areas of skin or mucous membranes.
When the animal's gait, willingness to walk, or comfort on various surfaces shifts alongside the pad changes, or when licking or chewing of the feet becomes frequent.
When the pad's appearance progresses, for example with deepening cracks, increasing softness, spreading discolouration, or new nodules, ulcers or discharge.
When footpad abnormalities coincide with other signs such as changes in appetite, energy, coat quality, or generalised skin condition, suggesting a broader systemic process.
When a sore, ulcer, swelling or patch of red or raw skin appears on a dog's pad, foot or lower leg without an obvious cause such as a cut. In the UK this can be the first sign of cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (Alabama rot), seen mostly between November and May. In published cases, kidney injury followed a median of 3 days after the skin lesion was noticed, and early kidney injury cannot be judged at home because it needs blood tests.
Footpad abnormalities gain meaning when considered alongside the animal's environment, recent activities, and any other observations that have emerged over the same period. Patterns of change, whether isolated or part of a broader picture, can help clarify what might be happening. These are useful threads to bring into conversation with those who know the animal's history and can examine the pads directly, assess comfort, and explore what might be contributing.
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026 · Dr Alastair Greenway MRCVS