6 Coyote-Looking Dogs

Paw licking sometimes is a typical grooming activity in dogs. On the other hand, excessive and continuous licking is typically an indication of an underlying issue. Your dog may develop pododermatitis if the paws are likewise red or swollen. 

Early identification and treatment of the underlying cause is essential to controlling pododermatitis in dogs. If not, it may result in infections and crippling chronic flare-ups.

What is Pododermatitis in Dogs?

The fact that pododermatitis might have several contributing factors is one of its main problems. Pododermatitis always has a major underlying cause. However, the inflammation may also be influenced by other reasons.

Primary Causes of Pododermatitis in Dogs

According to Dr. Rosales, "It's important to understand that pododermatitis has a variety of causes." 

There are instances when the root reason is clear. In other situations, it's more subtle and necessitates meticulous diagnosis. Additionally, some dogs may have more than one fundamental reason, which makes treating pododermatitis more difficult. Determining if a dog's damaged paws are one or more is also crucial.

Dr. Rosales says allergies, whether food-related or atopy (an environmental allergen such as pollen from grass, trees, weeds, etc.), are frequently the cause of paw inflammation. According to her, "Their allergies will make the dog's feet extremely itchy, and the chewing and licking leads to trauma and frequent infection."

 

Other reasons why dogs get pododermatitis include:

• Manage
• autoimmune diseases, including pemphigus vulgaris or foliaceous pemphigus
• hormonal conditions including Cushing's illness and hypothyroidism
• diseases involving metabolism, such as hepatic cutaneous syndrome
• nutritional conditions including zinc deficiency
• fungus-related illnesses, including ringworm
• The parasites, like hookworms
• Splinters, glass, or the seed heads of foxtail grass are examples of foreign objects. When only one paw is impacted, this is the most typical reason.
• Behavioral problems including anxiety or obsessive disorders
• Leishmaniasis
• Cancer

Secondary Elements 

Dr. Rosales notes that a secondary bacterial or fungal yeast infection frequently presents itself to a veterinarian for the first time in a dog with pododermatitis. Infections are frequent due to the skin's changed microenvironment and the dog's need to gnaw and lick their swollen paws.

One or more paws may be afflicted by the infection. Different kinds of infections might occasionally affect different paws, and they can also be superficial or deep. 

Predisposing Factors

Canine pododermatitis is more likely to occur in dogs that are predisposed to it. Dr. Rosales notes that while some breeds—like Mastiffs, Bulldogs, and other bully breeds—are more likely to experience paw inflammation due to allergies or obesity, their general conformation is also an issue.

They may bear weight differently and have thicker pads or webbed paws. Deep and persistent infections can result from typical issues such as interdigital cysts and interdigital furunculosis (lesions or lumps). Dr. Rosales said, "We can't change how these dogs are genetically built, so these cases are challenging to manage."

The likelihood of paw inflammation is higher in any dog with altered weight-bearing. Large breeds, overweight dogs, and dogs with orthopedic or rheumatoid arthritis fall under this category.

Perpetuating Factors

The inflammation and subsequent issues are made worse by perpetuating factors, which also prolong and aggravate the symptoms of pododermatitis. This might involve long-term infections, ingrown hairs, lesions, altered pad development, altered weight bearing in the dog, and scarring. Occasionally, these aggravating conditions may lead the dog to experience more severe chronic issues and discomfort than the original cause of pododermatitis. Prompt main and secondary cause identification and treatment can reduce harmful perpetuating variables that contribute to long-term problems.

Signs of Pododermatitis in Dogs

Licking and chewing on the paws is a frequent indication of discomfort and itching in a dog with pododermatitis, according to Dr. Rosales. The paws could be red as well. "It may not occur to a dog owner to separate and check between the toes for indications of inflammation," the expert explains. The dog may then experience worsening symptoms, including bleeding, ulcers, crusting, cracking, swelling paws, and discomfort when walking.

Additional indications might be: 

• hair thinning
• Hyperpigmentation: the development of dark skin areas 
• Spots of brown saliva on the hair surrounding the paw 
• thinning of the pads or skin 
• clearing tracts 
• Reducing 
• Laziness 
• Insufficient appetite 

Sluggishness 

Consult a veterinarian right away if your dog begins to lick or chew on its paws excessively. Infections that are challenging to cure and other reinforcing factors may arise from waiting. 

How is Pododermatitis in Dogs Diagnosed?

Finding the root cause of pododermatitis necessitates a systematic approach. This usually includes obtaining a comprehensive medical history, doing a physical examination, and ordering diagnostic tests from your veterinarian. Dr. Rosales would want to know if the issue is symmetrical if it began in one paw or all four, and when the owner first observed it. Inquiries from your veterinarian may also concern other family pets, the location of your dog's activity, food, and prescription regimen.

Your veterinarian uses the history and physical examination to determine the best course of action for testing. "I wouldn't be too worried about allergies if the dog is ten years old and has never had a foot problem and now has these crusty, awful feet," advises Dr. Rosales. An autoimmune or hormonal condition is more likely in these cases.

According to Dr. Rosales, testing can take several forms, but it usually entails obtaining skin samples. This might be aspirations with fine needles, hair pulling, or scrapings. These samples aid in the detection of main and secondary causes, including cancer and infections.

 According to Dr. Rosales, "I sometimes have to take a biopsy of different areas on the foot so that it can give me an idea of what's going on." Samples from each affected paw may need to be obtained to determine whether the infections are distinct and if many paws are affected by the pododermatitis. 

X-rays to look for foreign things or blood tests and endocrine studies to identify autoimmune or hormonal diseases might be on the diagnostic list. Your veterinarian could recommend an allergy test or a food trial if they think you have allergies.

How to Treat Pododermatitis in Dogs

There are typically two approaches to treating pododermatitis. Together with treating any secondary infections, your veterinarian will also create a plan of care for the underlying problem. 

Taking Care of Secondary Cause

According to Dr. Rosales, "there's a high likelihood your dog will get a secondary bacterial or yeast infection." "Treating that is crucial because a lot of the pet's discomfort, inflammation, and itching are caused by this." While developing a treatment plan for the underlying cause of pododermatitis, you may provide your dog with comfort by treating any infection as soon as possible to reduce the chance of it getting worse. 

ntibiotics and occasionally antifungal drugs are usually used to treat any secondary infection. 

ddressing the Root Causes

Treatment options for pododermatitis differ significantly based on the diagnosis because there are several fundamental causes of the condition. Individual or combination pharmaceutical regimens, topical creams, pain management, anti-itch drugs, lifestyle modifications, specialized equipment (such as boots in the case of a confirmation problem), and maybe surgery to remove foreign things or cancer diagnosis could all be involved. While some therapies are transient, others may last a lifetime.

Avoiding ingestion or contact with the allergens is achievable for some food and contact hypersensitivities. Dr. Rosales states, "If the pet has a pollen allergy, I need to give it allergy medication to stop it from chewing and licking its paw." Oral antibiotics, antihistamines, and frequent foot washes with medicated shampoo can all significantly reduce discomfort and symptoms. Depending on the kind and severity of the allergy, your veterinarian may also investigate immunotherapy treatment and hyposensitization vaccinations.

When pododermatitis causes alterations to the paw that result in persistent pain, surgery could be the last choice. However, because the procedure is complicated and frequently results in postoperative problems as well as possible additional conformational concerns, Dr. Rosales advises other therapy techniques. Furthermore, the inflammation may potentially flare up.

Pododermatitis in Dogs Prognosis

According to Dr. Rosales, "the prognosis depends on the underlying cause." Thankfully, she adds there is hope for the most prevalent cause since allergic illnesses may be controlled. When pododermatitis is brought on by foreign substances, parasite infections, or nutritional deficiencies, a favorable result is also frequently observed. 

There are certain illnesses and diseases for which there is no favorable prognosis, like cancer. "Hepatic cutaneous syndrome is another metabolic disorder that has a poor prognosis and is a really bad disease," Dr. Rosales adds. Severe damage to the paws from pododermatitis might lead to recurring issues that need lifetime treatment. In cases when the pododermatitis is associated with significant autoimmune disorders or conformational problems, ongoing care may also be necessary.