Carpal Pads - Hyperkeratosis?
Not sure which category to put this under, feel free to move it.
The carpal pad is the highest pad on the dog's leg, on the inside of the wrist joint. It doesn't touch the ground while walking so it doesn't get worn down naturally. On my childhood dog and friends' dogs, this never seemed to be an issue. The carpal pad was no different than any other pad on the foot. However, a couple of my dogs seem to have longer "fringe" on their pads. I have noticed it but not thought about it until recently; I met a Shiba owner this past weekend whose Shibas had the same thing only more pronounced.
Is this a problem? Is there anything I can do for it to wear down? I think it is skin or keratin so I don't want to cut it. Should I be treating it with anything like Bag Balm?
Some googling has lead me to a condition called "hyperkeratosis" and some pictures that look similar, but it seems more severe than what my dogs have. The carpal pads don't look infected, swollen, discolored, or otherwise unhealthy - just not smooth. It doesn't affect the pads on the feet, the nose, or any other part of the body.
Do any of your dogs have this, and is it common among Nihon Ken and/or Shibas and Akitas?
The carpal pad is the highest pad on the dog's leg, on the inside of the wrist joint. It doesn't touch the ground while walking so it doesn't get worn down naturally. On my childhood dog and friends' dogs, this never seemed to be an issue. The carpal pad was no different than any other pad on the foot. However, a couple of my dogs seem to have longer "fringe" on their pads. I have noticed it but not thought about it until recently; I met a Shiba owner this past weekend whose Shibas had the same thing only more pronounced.
Is this a problem? Is there anything I can do for it to wear down? I think it is skin or keratin so I don't want to cut it. Should I be treating it with anything like Bag Balm?
Some googling has lead me to a condition called "hyperkeratosis" and some pictures that look similar, but it seems more severe than what my dogs have. The carpal pads don't look infected, swollen, discolored, or otherwise unhealthy - just not smooth. It doesn't affect the pads on the feet, the nose, or any other part of the body.
Do any of your dogs have this, and is it common among Nihon Ken and/or Shibas and Akitas?
Comments
Also, a lot of dogs get that kind of thing on their noses as they get old... it's like little bumpy things. I asked a vet about it one time and they said it's just part of the aging process for some dogs.