What to Do About Your Dog’s Dry, Cracked Nose and Paws

1 Overview

So today we learn what paw and nose hyperkeratosis is.

Note: only these two spots over-keratinize, and they don’t affect each other – a dog can have both at once.

Nose

Here it hurts the scent, drying the nose.

It also hurts looks; long ignored, the skin fully cracks into wounds, infecting the nose.

Paws

Here it affects walking – a limp, less desire to move.

Less exercise brings many problems, so paw keratosis matters. Like the nose, long uncared, paws crack, wound, infect.

So why hyperkeratosis?

Maybe keratin – the fibril protein in the skin’s outer layer; too much makes skin overgrow.

Maybe distemper after-effect – one is nose hyperkeratosis.

Maybe poor zinc uptake – some dogs can’t absorb it; paws and nose over-keratinize from lack of zinc.

More likely genetics – many lines inherit it.

Data: hereditary hyperkeratosis appears around age 1; if yours is past 1 with neither spot affected, congratulations – it won’t self-develop.

Maybe breed – short-nosed dogs like French/English Bulldog, American Bully, Pug; also long-nosed like German Shepherd, Poodle, Pomeranian.

Maybe low immunity – if your dog has a very short nose, smaller/larger build, heavy bones, or obesity, immunity is lower and hyperkeratosis comes.

Maybe the water bowl – switch to stainless or ceramic, easiest to clean and least bacterial. Beyond how many germs plastic hides, most plastic makes a dog’s nose over-keratinize from long contact.

Final question: how to handle the keratin?

First, take it to the vet and follow advice.

Most vets suggest regular petroleum jelly to stay moist and soften the keratin.

If extremely severe, you or the vet may trim the overgrown tissue.

Remember: to this day no drug fully cures hyperkeratosis. The only relief is regular petroleum jelly, coconut oil, and such moisturizers.