Health & preventionPart of · Health & prevention

Caring for your dog's paw pads

7 min read

Paw pads take the brunt of hot ground, winter salt and summer grass seeds. Check them after every walk, rinse the paws when you get home, trim any stray hairs flush if needed, and keep the pads supple. A pad that blisters, bleeds or causes limping means a trip to the vet.

Why paw pads matter

They are the dog's only contact with the ground: shock absorbers, richly innervated sensors, and one of the few places where he sweats a little, since he cools himself mostly by panting (Cornell Riney Canine Health Center). This weight-bearing area takes everything: scorching tarmac, salt, grass seeds and the small everyday cuts.

The daily habit: inspect, clean, maintain

A few seconds after each walk are enough to avoid most paw-pad troubles.

Inspect after every walk

Look under the pads and between the toes: a cut, a splinter, salt, or a grass seed just caught in the hair (peaks from May to September).

Rinse and wipe the paws when you get home

In winter, grit salt irritates and the dog swallows it as he licks himself; in summer, rinse off sea salt and sand. Clean water is enough.

Trim stray hairs flush

On a dog with hairy feet, use round-tipped scissors held flat against the sole, never in the webbing between the toes. On short-coated dogs with no bother, there is nothing to cut.

Keep the pad supple

If it is dry or cracked, use a balm designed for dogs; never a cream made for humans, which he would lick off.

Get him used to giving his paw

Open hand, the paw resting on it, you mark with a "yes" and reward. Care built on trust needs no restraint.

Paw pads face different threats depending on the season.

Summer

Scorching tarmac and sandGround in the sun gets far hotter than the air and burns quickly.

Grass seedsThese grass awns work their way between the toes and migrate under the skin (May to September).

Sea saltIt dries out and cracks the pad; rinse with fresh water after the beach.

Winter

Grit salt and de-icersThey irritate, crack the skin, and get swallowed when the dog licks his paws.

Snow and iceThey form painful balls between the toe hairs.

Dry coldIt cracks the pad; in severe cold, the extremities can freeze.

All year round

Cuts and splintersGlass, gravel, brambles: to spot during the inspection when you get home.

Matted hair between the toesIt forms painful knots and makes the dog slip on smooth floors.

From mild discomfort to the sign that calls for the vet.

Keep an eye on

A pad that is a little dry or rough
The dog briefly licks a paw after the walk
Small stray hairs that catch

Time to see the vet

A pad that is red, swollen, cracked or bleeding
Limping that lasts, the dog refuses to move forward
Persistent licking or nibbling at the same spot between the toes
A small lump or weeping tract between the toes (possible grass seed)

Right away

Blisters or a raw pad (burn)
Bleeding that does not stop under pressure
A deep wound or an embedded foreign body
Hot, painful swelling that is spreading

Hot weather, hot pavement and paw safety, American Kennel Club
Walking your dog in hot weather and the 7-second pavement test, The Kennel Club
Cold weather pet safety : de-icing salt and paw care, ASPCA
Hall et al. — Risk factors for heat-related illness in dogs (VetCompass) (2020)
Prévention des épillets : entretien des poils aux zones à risque, AniCura France

Going further

guideHeatstrokeHot ground is only one of summer's dangers.Read the guide guideTrimming claws without stressThe cooperative care that makes the paw easy to handle.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Should you cut the hair between a dog's paw pads?

Sometimes, and flush only: it is not a must for every dog. It helps on a dog with hairy feet, where long hairs mat into knots, trap snow and ice, cause slipping on smooth floors and catch grass seeds. Trim flat against the sole with round-tipped scissors, never in the webbing between the toes. On short-coated dogs with no bother, there is nothing to cut.

How do I moisturise my dog's paw pads?

A healthy pad needs no daily moisturising. If it becomes dry or cracked (cold, winter salt), you can apply a balm designed for dogs, never a cream made for humans that he would lick off. The most effective thing is still to rinse off salt and sand, and to avoid scorching tarmac. If it cracks or bleeds despite this, get the vet to take a look.

How do I treat my dog's paw pads?

On the surface only: cool a burned pad with cool water, rinse a shallow cut with saline solution, then keep the paw clean. A deep wound, bleeding that does not stop, blisters, limping or an embedded grass seed are for the vet: paw pads get infected quickly and heal poorly. Do not dig to remove a foreign body.

Is the tarmac too hot for my dog's paws?

Often, yes, in hot weather. Press the back of your hand on the ground for 5 to 7 seconds: if you cannot hold it there, it is too hot for his pads. In the sun, asphalt tops 50°C from around 25°C of air temperature and can burn within a minute. Choose grass and shade, or head out early in the morning and in the evening.

How do I protect my dog's paw pads in winter?

Rinse and wipe the paws when you get back from a walk: grit salt irritates, cracks the pad and ends up swallowed when the dog licks himself. A suitable balm keeps the pad supple if it dries out, and remove any snowballs stuck between the toes. In severe cold, keep the walks shorter.

Why does my dog lick his paw pads?

A brief lick after the walk is just grooming, nothing to worry about. On the other hand, persistent licking or nibbling at the same spot between the toes, with redness, swelling or limping, is a sign: grass seed, cut, salt irritation or allergy. Look without digging, and get the vet to take a look if it persists.

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