Your dog’s paws do a lot of work. They hit hot pavement, cold salted sidewalks, long grass and rough trails, and they are also one of the first places allergies show up. When something is wrong, the signs are usually licking, chewing, limping or a lump you notice while drying their feet.
This guide covers the most common paw problems and how to tell when a vet visit is needed.
For problems with the claws themselves, see nail and nail bed problems in dogs and cats. Have a cat? See footpad problems in cats.
Paw licking and red paws: often allergies
Frequent paw licking is one of the classic signs of an itchy dog. International veterinary allergy guidelines list the distal extremities (lower legs and paws) among the body areas most commonly affected in canine atopic dermatitis, the environmental allergy of dogs. [1] “Affected front feet” is one of the clinical criteria vets use when judging how likely atopic dermatitis is. [1]
Signs to look for:
- Licking or chewing the feet, often in the evening or after walks
- Red skin between the toes or on the underside of the paws
- Brown or rust-colored staining of the fur from saliva
- A greasy feel or yeasty smell between the toes
That staining is a clue. The same guidelines note that salivary staining indicates excessive licking and is often associated with Malassezia yeast. [1] Yeast and bacterial overgrowth commonly affect the skin between the toes in allergic dogs. [2]
If your dog licks one spot on a leg until it is raised and raw, see lick granuloma in dogs.
Food allergy and fleas can also cause itchy paws, so your vet will usually work through the causes step by step. Read more in our guide: Why Is My Dog So Itchy?
Bumps between the toes: interdigital furuncles (“cysts”)
A red, raised bump between the toes that may ooze blood or pus is often called an “interdigital cyst.” That name is misleading. Most of these bumps are not true cysts but hair follicles that have become inflamed, filled with deep bacterial infection and then burst into the surrounding skin. [3] Vets call this interdigital furunculosis or interdigital pyoderma, and each bump an interdigital furuncle.
What they look like
Look for inflamed red bumps, firmer lumps or blood-filled blisters between the toes. [3] Over time they can open and leak bloody pus, and in long-standing or severe cases the whole paw may swell. [3] One paw or several can be affected, and because these lesions hurt, many dogs lick the area or limp. [3]
Why they happen
- Deep bacterial infection of the hair follicles is what drives the swelling and discharge. [3]
- Breed and coat. The problem can affect any dog, but it is seen more often in short-coated breeds such as English and French Bulldogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and mastiff types. [3]
- How the paw carries weight. Joint problems such as arthritis or a cruciate ligament injury, or carrying extra body weight, can change how a dog stands on its feet. That uneven pressure leads to plugged, widened hair follicles between the pads, which later become inflamed and rupture. [3]
- Allergies. Allergic skin disease, including atopic dermatitis, is one of the common conditions that set the stage for bacterial skin infections. [3]
- Demodex mites can cause similar lesions on the feet, so vets check for them with skin scrapings. [3]
- Foreign bodies and injuries. A splinter, burr or grass awn can carry bacteria into the skin, and it usually affects a single paw. [3][4]
A single bump on one front foot: think grass seed
When a foreign body or a local injury is behind the problem, usually only one paw is affected. [3] Grass awns (the barbed seed heads of some grasses) can work their way into the skin and keep moving; the spaces between the toes are one of the common places they end up. [4] In a study of 182 cases of grass awn migration in dogs and cats seen over one year at a veterinary hospital, grass awns made up 61% of all foreign-body cases that year, and Springer Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Brittany Spaniels and Airedale Terriers were over-represented. [4]
If your dog suddenly has one swollen, painful spot between the toes after a walk through long grass, see your vet. Your vet may need to explore the swelling to find and remove the grass seed. [4]
How they are treated
Interdigital furuncles need patient, thorough treatment. Deep infections are treated until every lesion has healed, not just until the paw looks better, and your vet will want to recheck your dog before stopping. [3] Topical treatment is part of the plan, and your vet may add medicine by mouth when the infection is deep. [2][3]
These bumps often improve only partly, because pieces of hair shaft left in the skin after a follicle bursts keep the inflammation going. [3] Finding and managing the underlying cause, such as allergies, mites, extra weight or a joint problem, is key; dogs whose paw problems come from abnormal weight bearing sometimes need surgery. [3] In some stubborn cases, CO2 laser treatment is an option. [3]
Paw pad burns from hot surfaces
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) warns that hot sidewalks, roads and other surfaces such as asphalt can burn a dog’s paw pads, and advises sticking to grass when the weather is very hot. [5][7]
Simple habits that help:
- Walk early in the morning or in the evening during hot weather.
- Test the pavement with the back of your hand. If it is too hot to hold for several seconds, it is too hot for paws.
- Watch for limping, refusing to walk, licking the feet, or blisters and darkened, peeling pads after a walk.
If you think your dog’s pads are burned, the AVMA’s first aid advice for burns is to flush with cool (not cold) water and seek immediate veterinary care. [6]
Winter paw damage and de-icing chemicals
Cold weather brings different risks. The AVMA recommends: [7]
- Check paws frequently for cold-weather injury such as cracked or bleeding pads.
- After walks, wipe or wash your dog’s feet, legs and belly to remove de-icing products, antifreeze and other chemicals, which could be toxic if your dog licks them off.
- A sudden limp during a winter walk may be an injury or ice building up between the toes. Some owners use booties to protect their dog’s feet; if you use them, make sure they fit properly.
Cuts and pad wounds
Paw pads bleed a lot and are easily cut by glass, sharp rocks or ice. For first aid steps (pressure, rinsing, covering) and when a wound needs a vet, see our guide to minor wound care for dogs and cats. Deep pad cuts often need veterinary care because the pads bear weight and move with every step.
When to see your vet
Book a visit if your dog:
- Licks or chews their paws most days
- Has red, stained, greasy or smelly paws
- Has a bump between the toes, especially one that keeps coming back
- Has cracked, peeling or dry pads that do not improve
Go promptly if:
- There is a single, painful swelling between the toes after a walk in long grass (possible grass seed) [3][4]
- Your dog is limping or will not put weight on a foot
- A pad is cut deeply, bleeding heavily or has a flap of tissue
- You suspect a burn from hot pavement [6]
- Your dog may have licked de-icing chemicals or antifreeze off their feet [7]
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dog lick their paws so much?
Allergies are a very common reason. The paws and lower legs are among the areas most often affected by canine atopic dermatitis, and affected front feet are one of the criteria vets use to assess it. [1] Yeast or bacterial overgrowth between the toes can make it worse. [1][2] Fleas, food allergy, a foreign body or pain are other possibilities, so see your vet.
What is the red bump between my dog’s toes?
It is often an interdigital furuncle: an inflamed hair follicle with a deep infection that has burst into the skin between the toes, often wrongly called a cyst. [3] When only one paw is affected, a grass seed or other foreign body is also possible. [3][4] Your vet can tell the difference.
Do interdigital “cysts” go away on their own?
Usually not. Deep infections are treated until every lesion has healed, and finding the underlying cause, such as allergies, mites or extra weight, helps stop them coming back. [3]
Why are my dog’s paws stained brown or red?
Saliva staining from frequent licking. Veterinary allergy guidelines link salivary staining with excessive licking and often with Malassezia yeast. [1]
How hot is too hot for my dog’s paws?
The AVMA warns that hot asphalt and other surfaces can burn paw pads and recommends grass over pavement on very hot days. [5][7] If the ground is too hot for the back of your hand, keep walks short and on grass or in the shade.
Should I wash my dog’s paws after winter walks?
Yes. The AVMA recommends wiping or washing your dog’s feet, legs and belly after walks to remove de-icing products and other chemicals they might lick off. [7]
The bottom line
Paw licking is most often a sign of allergy, and stained, smelly paws suggest yeast. Bumps between the toes are usually deep infections, not true cysts, and need long treatment and a search for the cause; a single bump on a front foot can mean a grass seed. Protect pads from hot pavement and winter chemicals, and check your dog’s feet regularly.
See your vet if your dog keeps licking their paws, has a bump between the toes, or is limping.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian about your pet’s health. If you think your pet has a medical emergency, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away.
Sources
- Hensel P, Santoro D, Favrot C, Hill P, Griffin C. Canine atopic dermatitis: detailed guidelines for diagnosis and allergen identification (ICADA). BMC Veterinary Research. 2015;11:196. doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0515-5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4531508/
- Loeffler A, Cain CL, Ferrer L, et al. Antimicrobial use guidelines for canine pyoderma by the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID). Veterinary Dermatology. 2025. doi:10.1111/vde.13342. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12058580/
- Torres SMF. Canine Pyodermas. Small and Large Animal Dermatology Handbook, Vol. 1. University of Minnesota, 2025 (CC BY 4.0). https://open.lib.umn.edu/animaldermatology/chapter/canine-pyodermas/
- Brennan KE, Ihrke PJ. Grass awn migration in dogs and cats: a retrospective study of 182 cases. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 1983;182(11):1201-1204. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6345495/
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Warm weather pet safety. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/warm-weather-pet-safety
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Pet First Aid: Brought to you by your veterinarian (client brochure). https://ebusiness.avma.org/files/productdownloads/LR_COM_ClientBroch_FirstAid_010816.pdf
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Cold weather animal safety; Walking or running with your dog. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/cold-weather-animal-safety ; https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/walking-your-pet