Examination
Examining your dog may be a two-person job if your dog is trying to get away. You’ll want to prevent too much squirming so you can take a good look.

• Closely examine the pad and paw, especially if your dog is walking on three legs and keeping one off the ground.
• Also check the entire leg and joints for swelling, tenderness, burns, cuts or dislocations.
• If your dog is constantly chewing an area, there may be a foreign object like a burr attached. Look for these external irritants.

What to Do

• If you find a cut, burn, swelling, tenderness, dislocation, break or other serious problem, contact your veterinarian immediately for treatment.
• If you find an easily removed irritant, like a burr or something in the fur, remove it carefully.
• For more serious irritants like glass or thorns, you should see your veterinarian to rule out an infection.
• The pads are durable but not indestructible. Salt and snow can cause problems in winter, fertilizer and sand in the summer.
• Keep the pads clean and nails and fur between the toes trimmed to reduce the risk of some foot problems.
• If the pads are cracked, use a moisturizer to soothe them and consider an antibiotic cream to help them heal. Boots may be necessary for a few days of protection.
• If you can’t find any visible problem, see your veterinarian. Some problems will only be found by a professional.