Effective Ways to Prevent Dog Interdigital Dermatitis

Many pet owners, including groomers, often overlook the paws of their dogs. Even when the hair on the bottom of the dog's paws turns red or darkens, it's often brushed off as a minor issue. However, this oversight can lead to bacterial infections, causing severe interdigital dermatitis in dogs. To prevent the occurrence or recurrence of this condition, pet owners should take the following precautions:

1. Nutritional Supplementation

While interdigital dermatitis can affect dogs of any breed, it poses a greater threat to shorthaired varieties. Consider giving your dog a supplement like Purina's multivitamin tablets to boost their intake of vitamins B and E, along with other trace elements. This will nourish your dog's skin, making their paw pads more elastic, enhancing their immune system, and improving overall metabolism, effectively warding off various pathogens.

2. Promptly Address Wounds

After each outing, carefully inspect your dog's paw pads for any abnormalities. If you notice your dog walking oddly or showing a lack of interest in walking, take a closer look at their feet to check for injuries.

Dogs' paw pads are in direct contact with the ground when they walk outside, so they can easily be pierced by sharp objects. This is often noticeable because the dog will lift the affected paw in pain, turning into a "threelegged dog"!

When you find a wound on your dog's paw, it's essential to clean it immediately and apply some iodine to disinfect it. You can also use Betadine PovidoneIodine Solution and other antiseptic sprays to kill bacteria and promote healing.

3. Maintain Hygiene

Dogs' paw pads have sweat glands, and if they're frequently exposed to dirt, it can lead to bacterial growth during their cooling and sweating process. Over time, this can weaken the paw pad skin's immunity, leading to interdigital dermatitis. Therefore, pet owners should regularly check for dirt between their dog's toes and keep their paw pads dry.

4. Regularly Trim Paw Hair

Long hair can trap a lot of dirt, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and mites, increasing the likelihood of interdigital dermatitis. It can also cause your dog to slip while walking. Most pet shops trim the hair between a dog's toes during baths. If you bathe your dog at home, make sure to trim the hair on the bottom of their paws regularly as well.

5. Keep Paws Dry

One of the most crucial steps in preventing interdigital dermatitis is to keep your dog's paw pads dry. If your dog's paws get wet outside, wash and dry them thoroughly. This isn't enough; you should also use a hairdryer to ensure the paw pads and surrounding hair are completely dry. Don't forget to pay attention to those hardtoreach areas after a bath, as they are more prone to bacterial growth.

This concludes our guide on preventing interdigital dermatitis in dogs. We hope this information is helpful to all pet owners. If your dog experiences recurring interdigital dermatitis, we recommend seeking treatment from a veterinarian or consulting with an online pet doctor promptly.