Pododermatitis in Dogs 

At the vet, it’s important to answer all questions as accurately and thoroughly as possible. During this time, the vet will examine your dog’s paws to find potential indications of the cause of pododermatitis. This includes the presence of foreign bodies or mites.

Diagnosis Through Skin Samples

When external examinations show no signs of the illness, a deep tissue culture can provide further clues. This includes, for example, infestation with Demodex mites, which is only detectable under a microscope with a skin scraping.

Exclusion of Allergies

If all results point towards an allergy in the affected dog, an allergy test can provide confirmation.

You can learn how to recognise an allergy in dogs at zooplus’s Dog Magazine.

If your dog has pododermatitis, treatment is necessary. Which treatment is needed besides supportive medications, such as anti-inflammatories or pain relievers), and regular wound care depends on the cause of the ailment.

Therefore, it’s essential to seek a vet’s evaluation if you suspect your dog has pododermatitis, even though diagnosis and treatment may take some time.

What to Do if the Dog Is Licking Its Paws Sore?

Licking is your dog’s natural response to pain and inflammation. However, this reflex must be avoided because the licking introduces germs, such as bacteria, into the wound, worsening the inflammation.

To prevent this, using aids such as cones, paw bandages, or dog boots is appropriate.

Targeted Treatment of the Underlying Condition

Once your vet has identified the trigger for the pododermatitis, they can treat it directly. Possible measures include:

• Surgical removal of foreign bodies
• Laser surgery to remove cysts
• Antibiotic treatment for bacterial infections
• Antihistamines for allergies

If Nothing Else Works

In very severe cases of pododermatitis in dogs, a so-called podofusion may be necessary: to prevent inflammation in the interdigital spaces, the vet surgically fuses together one or all the toes of the affected paw under anaesthesia.

Various diseases can lead to inflammation in one or more of your dog’s paws. Often, immunosuppressive illnesses that weaken your dog’s immune system play a role, providing a breeding ground for invading pathogens.

Once germs have penetrated the skin of the paw, this can lead to recurring inflammations. The most common causes of pododermatitis in dogs also include the following:

• Infectious causes: Infectious diseases can also be a trigger. They are caused, among other things, by parasites (such as demodicosis, hookworms, harvest mites)), bacteria like staphylococci, or fungi such as ringworm.
• Allergy: Dogs can react to various allergens, which can cause skin inflammations on the paws. Dogs often react to allergens found in flea saliva.
• Injuries and foreign bodies: Any paw injury, such as those caused by embedded foreign objects like grass seeds or torn nails, can lead to inflammation of the paws.

For both dog and owner, pododermatitis can be a source of frustration. This is because the inflammation doesn’t always heal completely after treatment and can flare up as a chronic condition in dogs.

To help your dog in the long term, it’s therefore important to visit a vet early on and faithfully follow their instructions. If you prematurely discontinue treatment, the inflammation may recur even if symptoms appear to be subsiding.