How to Check Your Dog’s Paws at Home — Warning Signs and What to Do

JointQ&AMeongsiljang Veterinary Advisory Board

Checking your pet’s paws and paw pads once a week at home can help detect joint issues, injuries, and infections early. Here’s a simple 5-step self-check method using touch and sight.

What Is a Home Paw Check?

A guardian's hand checking a puppy's paw pads

Home paw checks are a basic health care practice where you visually and manually inspect your pet’s paws, paw pads, nails, and the spaces between their toes once a week at home. The most important aspect is consistency. Since the paws are the starting point of the joints that support your pet’s weight, even minor issues here can have a cascading effect on their gait and joint health. By the time you notice an abnormality in their gait, the pain has often already progressed significantly.

Why Is a Weekly Home Paw Check Necessary?

Paws are the only part of a pet’s body that directly touches the ground. Foreign debris picked up during walks, tiny glass shards, burns from hot asphalt, and skin issues between the toes—paws are often the first place to show signs of trouble. In particular, small-breed dogs, senior dogs, and those with arthritis may shift how their weight is distributed, leading to localized thickening or cracking of the paw pads. While skin conditions between the toes are actually more common in dogs than in cats, cat owners shouldn’t let their guard down just because their pets live indoors. Please regularly check your pet’s claws, paw pads, and the spaces between their toes for any abnormalities such as redness, discharge, or overgrowth.

5 Areas to Check at Home

Here are five key areas to check during a home paw inspection. Gently feel each area in the order below to ensure you don’t miss anything. - Footpads: Cracks, peeling, hardness, or color changes - Between the toes: Redness, discharge, odor, or matted fur - Nails: Overgrowth, breakage, or swelling around the nail base - Dewclaws (inner front legs): Curling inward or breakage - Ankle joints: Pain response when touched, warmth, or swelling

Five key areas to check on your dog’s paws

Normal vs. Abnormal Signs Comparison Chart

Item	Normal	Watch closely	See vet immediately
Paw pad texture	Springy and moist	Slightly rough or cracked	Bleeding or deeply cracked
Color between the toes	Pale flesh tone/pink	Slightly reddened	Deep red/dark reddish-black
Odor	Almost none	Slightly sour smell	Strong foul/moldy odor
Reaction when touched	Comfortable	Flinches or pulls away	Yelping/aggression
Hair between the toes	Dry and tidy	Damp or matted	Discharge/pus

If the watch-closely stage lasts 3 or more days, a vet visit is recommended.

Checkpoints When Feeling the Paw Pads by Hand

Visual inspection alone isn’t enough. There are warning signs you can only detect by touch. Gently press your pet’s paw pads between your thumb and index finger to check for areas that feel unusually hard or overly soft. If the central weight-bearing pad is noticeably thickened, it may indicate joint strain that has altered your pet’s gait. If your pet’s ankle feels stiff or twitches when you gently rotate it, consider the possibility of joint pain.

Pressing the paw pad with your hand to check it.

Go to the Vet Immediately for These Signs

If you notice any of the following signs during a routine paw check, do not attempt home care and take your pet to a veterinarian immediately: pus or discharge between the toes, bleeding that won’t stop, a nail broken off to the quick, or the paw pad peeling away like a burn to expose raw tissue. Also seek immediate care if your pet yelps in pain or reacts aggressively when touched. In particular, if limping persists for more than 24 hours, your pet should be evaluated for possible joint injury.

Basic Care After a Home Paw Check

After a check-up, simple care can prevent many problems. After walks, rinse your pet’s paws with lukewarm water or wipe between the toes with pet-specific paw wipes. Moisture left behind encourages bacterial and fungal growth, so always dry the paws thoroughly with a clean towel. If the paw pads are cracked, apply a thin layer of pet-safe paw moisturizer. Avoid human petroleum jelly or lotions, as they can be harmful if licked.

Pet owners who clean their pets' paws after walks

Check More Frequently for Senior Dogs and Those with Arthritis

Senior dogs and those with arthritis, as well as dogs with orthopedic conditions such as patellar luxation or hip dysplasia, often experience uneven weight distribution, which can cause the pads on certain paws to become unusually thick or cracked. This abnormal weight-bearing pattern is linked to these orthopedic issues and may result in uneven wear on the paw pads. For these dogs, we recommend checking their paws two to three times a week. If you notice even subtle changes in their gait, the issue may not be limited to the paws but could indicate joint problems; therefore, also check for stiffness or reduced range of motion in the ankles. If joint care is needed, please also refer to our Patellar Luxation Management Guide.

Reviewed by a veterinarian

Dr. Tony — Punnawat Phongkittirak

Veterinarian

A veterinarian who majored in veterinary medicine at Khon Kaen University, Thailand, and completed the IVSA program at North Carolina State University in the United States. Drawing on clinical experience at animal hospitals, he works in the pet healthcare field and is dedicated to building a digital care environment that connects pet parents with veterinarians.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you check your pet’s paws at home?

For healthy adult dogs and cats, we recommend checking once a week. For senior pets or those with joint issues, two to three times a week is advisable. If your pet is active and goes on frequent walks, it’s a good idea to do a quick check after each walk.

My pet’s paw pads feel rough. Is that normal?

A little roughness is normal. However, if the pads are cracked, showing gaps, or if there is bleeding or pain, it's a concern. Use a pet-specific paw balm to keep them moisturized, and if there's no improvement after three days, please visit the vet.

If your pet keeps licking between its toes, will a simple check-up be enough to resolve the issue?

Repeated licking can be a sign of itching, pain, or allergies. Lesions between the toes are often linked to allergic inflammation or irritation from licking, so check at home for redness, discharge, or odor. If symptoms persist for more than three days—even if the cause isn’t obvious—please consult a dermatologist.

Do cats need their paws checked too?

Yes, it’s necessary. While skin conditions between the toes are more common in dogs than in cats, it’s still a good idea to regularly check your cat’s claws, paw pads, and the spaces between its toes for any abnormalities. Since many cats dislike having their paws handled, it’s best to get them accustomed by touching their paws briefly and frequently.

What is the appropriate length for a pet's nails?

When standing on a flat surface, your pet’s nails should not touch the ground. If you hear a clicking sound or notice the nails dragging while walking, they are too long and can put unnecessary strain on the joints.