How To Treat And Moisturize Dog Corns?
The calluses that sometimes appear on the elbows of dogs’ paws are usually nothing more than the natural consequence of leaning on them. However, as with calluses on people’s feet, they need to be taken care of and kept under control to avoid problems. In this article we tell you how to treat and moisturize dog corns.
At the beginning of these lines you will find an explanation of what corns are and what are the most common problems that can arise from them. Even when it comes to dog corns, prevention is always better than cure.
What is a callus?
A callus can be defined as a keratosis formation on the skin. To put it another way, it is a thickening in a specific area of the skin, which is normally well defined and where the hair has stopped growing.
This occurs when the dog assumes certain positions to rest, for example lying on his elbows. If the surface is hard and the posture is very recurrent, the skin ends up thickening to protect the bone.
Long-haired breeds like the border collie and spaniel, for example, don’t have a tendency to form calluses, as their fur protects the skin from pressure exerted on it. Conversely, large short-haired breeds, such as the Labrador Retriever and Mastiff, tend to develop calluses more easily due to their weight and short coat.
When is it time to treat and moisturize dog corns?
As we said earlier, corns are normal and the only impact they have is aesthetic. However, they can sometimes experience complications, such as:
- Ulcers and cracks : Because the callus is thickened and keratinized, it can rupture, causing pain, discomfort and bleeding in the animal.
- Pyoderma : the skin in this state is susceptible to infection, especially if it has cracked.
- Pain and discomfort : If the callus is too thick and very dry, the dog may feel itchy, painful when it rests or does not know how to position itself to rest.
When this occurs, a short visit to the vet can quickly resolve this problem. However, as prevention is usually the cheapest and most comfortable thing to do, below we will tell you how to treat and moisturize dog corns.
How to prevent corns from appearing in dogs
Below we tell you 4 ways to prevent the appearance of corns.
1. Prepare a soft surface for the dog to rest
Callus formation is directly proportional to the hardness of the surface on which the dog rests. That is, if the dog sleeps or rests on the ground, stone or floor, corns are much more likely to appear.
To avoid this, it is best to prepare a kennel or a soft surface for the dog to rest on. The animal will be grateful to you, not only with regard to corns, but also from the point of view of health in general.
2. Pay attention to the temperature
Dogs often don’t sleep in the kennel when it’s too hot. He will like a particularly warm bed in winter, but in summer he will look for cool surfaces to rest on, such as a marble floor or a shady area.
To ensure that the dog continues to use the kennel in the summer, it is important to buy one made with neutral materials and that does not have a tendency to accumulate heat, avoiding velvet and fur for example. The best thing to do is to choose a kennel made of breathable and washable material, which can be covered with warmer fabrics in winter and with others of refreshing cotton in summer.
3. Avoid overweight
A heavier weight of the animal implies greater pressure on the skin during rest. A dog that is not overweight will not only avoid all the health complications brought on by obesity, but will also be able to rest by avoiding calluses and pressure ulcers.
4. Always keep the kennel clean
The place where the dog rests should be as clean as possible. The animal should never rest where it eats – although it usually avoids it on its own – and the place should be washed frequently. In this way, infections and parasites are avoided.
How to treat and moisturize dog corns?
As a method of prevention, you can buy cream or wax to apply to the dog’s corns, especially when you notice that they are particularly dry. If this cream contains aloe vera and vitamin E, so much the better. Aloe vera has great moisturizing power and vitamin E is an antioxidant, which helps the skin not to crack.
It is important to ensure that the dog does not ingest these creams, so they will need to be monitored until the ointment is fully absorbed. The best time to apply these creams is after a bath.
Pad wax can also be used many times for calluses on the elbows. Do not forget to consult your vet before applying it, or a specialist or the owner of the pet shop.
If the corns have already led to an ulcer or pyoderma, you need to go to a vet to treat them. An infection can be serious, so you should never underestimate it.
In conclusion, once again the best solution is prevention. In case the corns have already appeared, it is better to treat and moisturize them with the solutions that we have described in this article and, of course, consult a specialist. All this will be essential for the dog to be comfortable.
