The term “paw pad” refers to the skin on the base of your dog’s paw. This rough exterior is there to protect their paws from injury, making the base of their paw a bit tougher than the rest of their skin. While this area is certainly more resistant to harm than other parts of the body, it does not mean the area is invincible.
While the paw pad is tough, the tissue underneath the paw pad is not. Injuries to the paw pad are serious in dogs, as the tissue beneath the paw pad can easily become exposed with a serious injury.
Since the tissue underneath the paw pad is so sensitive, paw pad injury can cause temporary lameness in dogs due to pain when they bear weight. These injuries are also prone to infection due to direct contact with the ground and the germs that live there.
There are always more possibilities for paw pad injury in the summer due to many reasons. Paw pads can become injured due to hot cement, due to increased activity outdoors that can cause “road rash”, as well as coming in contact with sticks and other sharp objects.
More outdoor time always puts your dog at more risk to paw pad injury, making it important to protect their paws when you can.
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