Our pets are our whole world. As responsible pet parents we should always keep an eye on even the slightest changes happening in them. And what better way than reading and learning about them!
Your pet’s paws bear the weight of their body. It is essential to keep a check on them too. Sometimes, you must have noticed a red rash on the skin of their paws. The skin rash can lead to irritation and itchiness in paws. This rash can turn red and become a breeding ground for bacteria as well.
These rashes can be caused by multiple reasons. The reasons can be infections, hormonal disorder, seasonal allergies, environmental stresses etc. It is important to know about their causes, symptoms and how to treat them as well.
What are these rashes?
In medical terms, this condition is referred to as Pododermatitis.
Pododermatitis in dogs is a commonly occurring problem. In layman terms, it is also called ‘paw rash’.
Symptoms
The clinical signs of Pododermatitis are as follows -
- Erythema or redness
- Swelling in the paws
- Edema - when swelling reaches the legs
- Small lumps or nodules
- Frequent licking of the paws
- Limping because of swelling
- Blisters & wounds
- Hair Loss in the paw region
- Allergic dermatitis (allergic reaction)
Apart from these, other symptoms may also arise out of hormonal or metabolic changes in the body. It can also be a tumour in the form of swelling but tumors are more commonly found in cats than dogs. These symptoms can be visible on four paws at once as well. The degree of infection or swelling may vary but the diagnosis remains the same.
Why do they happen?
Pododermatitis in dogs can happen due to many reasons such as:
- If your pet is obese or over weight, their paws will bear more burden while walking, thereby causing red rashes.
- Another reason for rashes can be parasites which creep in their body through their paws. They tend to irritate the skin hence causing rashes.
- If you expose your pets to water too often, that might also lead to rashes.
- Sometimes the grass they walk on can have pollen and mites. They can also lead to inflammation and redness. These are known as environmental irritants.
- While walking, small pieces of stones & sand tend to pierce through the skin of the paws causing abrasion, redness and rashes. These stones are often neglected and ignored by the pet parents but they can harm the skin causing micro tears. These stones can’t be seen through naked eyes.
- Your pet’s paws might have experienced some cuts or wounds and upon being exposed to sand or grass, the infection spreads throughout the paw. Hence causing rashes.
- Walking on unusual surfaces like hot pavements, sand or cool surfaces might also lead to a reaction causing rashes.
- Pets can have reactions to grooming products as well but it happens in the rarest of rare cases.
- Apart from these, if your dog is ageing or is a senior dog, the paws get infected easily. Due to being old, the recovery rate also decreases.
What can you do about it?
- Dog rash or Pododermatitis in dogs can be treated easily. There are also easy home remedies for dog’s skin rashes and itchy paws.
- Remember, prevention is better than cure. Don’t leave your pet for too long on any water surface or in the water (like a swimming pool) in general.
- If your pet loves to be in water, then make sure that once they are out of the pool, their paws are cleaned and dried properly.
- The treatment is mostly topical. Clean their paws regularly after every walk. For cleaning the paws, shampoo and foot soaks can be used. Antifungal & antibacterial wipes and lotions can also be applied.
- Make sure to check their paws after every walk. Look for abrasions or cuts and treat them immediately.
- If your dog is overweight, work on their diet needs. That can bring a huge change!
- If you see rashes, treat them with home remedies like aloe vera gel. It will help soothe the rashes.
- In some cases, medication also becomes necessary. For that, the exact cause needs to be identified and based on that, further treatment can start. In severe cases, oral medication in the form of antibiotics & antifungal may also be prescribed. But for oral medication, a visit to the vet becomes necessary.
- If the condition still persists, a visit to the vet becomes necessary.
In cases which need help, our vets will always be there to assist you. Do set up an appointment with our vets for a home visit by calling us on +91 8431620000 for any kind of consultation regarding your pets! You may also choose Wiggles SmartVet-Video Consultation with our expert Vets at a nominal fee.