Common Causes

• A dog's foot pads frequently come in contact with contaminated areas because they are constantly touching the ground. Fungal organisms found in soil can easily enter the foot pad and cause infection, especially if the pad is hard, cracked or injured. Foot pads that have been lacerated, punctured or burned are especially susceptible to infection.
  
  

Signs and Symptoms

• An infected foot pad may bleed, secrete fluid, change colors or be tender to the touch. In addition, the dog may try to avoid putting weight on the foot pad by limping or refusing to walk at all. Dogs with an infected foot pad also tend to lick the affected pad constantly.
  
  

Diagnosis

• A skilled veterinarian can diagnose a foot pad infection by performing a physical examination, blood tests or x-rays. However, if the infected area is accompanied by a mass, the veterinarian may remove the tissue and perform a biopsy to determine whether the mass is cancerous or just infectious.
  
  

Treatment

• Most foot pad infections can be treated with an oral antibiotic. If the infection, however, is the result of some other injury, then the veterinarian will likely direct treatment toward the original injury. This may include cleansing the wound thoroughly and wrapping the foot pad or paw in a bandage.
  
  

Prevention

• It is important that dog owners not allow their dogs to walk in areas that are littered with trash, feces or other contaminated elements because dogs are most likely to incur foot pad infections from contaminated organisms on the ground. In addition, a veterinarian should treat all foot pad injuries promptly, in order to avoid a wound infection.