Should I Worry About Overgrowth on Foot Pads?
Chessy’s mommy here. I was just trimming
Chessy’s nails (something he loves oooohhhh so
much, NOT) and noticed on one of his paw pads a
growth of some kind.
It is the same color and
texture as his paw, but the shape is almost like
another nail growing out of his paw. It doesn’t
seem to hurt him when I touched it, but it is new.
I know it wasnt there the last time I trimmed his
nails (about a month ago).
He is eating, playing,
acting fine. I had him at the vet a week ago for
his rabies shot and the vet found nothing wrong
with him.
I tried googling it and found some people
mentioning similar things but no one seemed to
know what exactly it was. Is this something
common?
Of course I am freaking out over it.
P
Eagan, MN
Based on your description, I think there is no need to freak out. The types of growths that you describe are very common, and they generally are harmless.
I suspect that your dog has developed an area of overgrowth on his foot pad. These areas are similar to calluses or corns that people develop on their feet. They consist of thick, firm protrusions from the foot pad. Sometimes the growths resemble toe nails growing from the foot pad. In other cases, areas of pad overgrowth may be feathery and softer.
Some cases of foot pad overgrowth occur in response to irritation or trauma to the pad. Other dogs appear to have a hereditary tendency to develop the growths.
Of course, there is a remote chance that something more serious is going on. So, and I’ll bet you saw this coming, I’d recommend that you have your vet take a special look at the area of interest. If foot pad overgrowth is occurring, the vet may be able to trim the excess tissue back to make the pad’s appearance more normal.
You have questions. 
Dear Dr. Eric, Thank you for answering mommy’s question about my horn-y toe *grin*. The little growth has since fallen off/disappeared, so I guess I am good.
One question, does your answer change at all when I tell you I am a CAT not a dog *smile*??? Assume it is still just as harmless for me???????????????????????
Purrrrrssss Chessy!!!!!!!! You are pretty cool for a v-e-t !!!
Foot pad overgrowth can occur to cats, too, although it’s more common among dogs. Thanks for not taking offense!
No offense at all. My pals did get a good laugh out of it, even got dog bone rosies sent to me. The funny part is I behave more like a dog some days than a cat. Maybe my feeties are confused *grin*.
Hi…just wanted to bring your attention to a hereditary disease that only shows up after the dog is over 4 years of age…My Vizsla, Zoey is being treated for Sebaceous Adenitis a hereditry skin problem where most all of the hair on the body falls out..Vizslas don’t have much.either. Baths then oil treatments baths s are helping, but when she was treated with the human drug Cyclosporine, a organ rejection drug ($300 amonth) she is doing fine..just adjusting the dosage…. with blood test for high liver counts…crosisng our fingers. Breeders MUST know about this…so trac your breeder tell them…it can be stopped
I get these too. I was declawed on the front by a previous owner and my vet said it’s just a kind of callous… just like Dr Barkus said. Mine grow out and look like a black claw growing in the reverse direction. :) When they get really long, mama just clips them like she does my back claws… not very close so it won’t hurt me, but just enough so it’s not curled around to my foot and irritating me. ;)