Familial footpad hyperkeratosis is an inherited condition in which a dog’s paw pads grow too thick and hard. It starts at a young age and usually affects all the pads. The thick pads can crack, get infected and hurt.
Cracked or bleeding pads need a vet. In severe cases, thick ridges of keratin and deep cracks form on the pads, and walking becomes painful [1]. A limping dog with sore pads should see a vet.
For other paw problems, see dog paw problems.
What footpad hyperkeratosis is
Keratin is the tough protein in the outer layer of the skin. In hereditary footpad hyperkeratosis, too much keratin builds up and sticks tightly to the paw pads [1]. Under the microscope, the outer layer of the pad skin is much thicker than normal [2].
A related skin condition, ichthyosis in dogs, causes thick scaling over the body. In the inherited footpad form, the change is normally limited to the pads and the nose is not involved [1], although one affected Kromfohrländer also had an unusual coat [1][2].
Which dogs get it
- Breeds reported: the inherited form has been described in Irish Terriers, Kromfohrländers, Dogues de Bordeaux and Rottweilers [1].
- How it is passed on: in Irish Terriers and Kromfohrländers it follows a recessive pattern, so a puppy needs a copy of the changed gene from both parents [1][2][3]. Single cases have been linked to other genes in a Rottweiler [4] and a Labrador Retriever [5].
Different gene changes have been found in different breeds [1]. Your vet can tell you whether a genetic test is useful for your dog.
Signs
- Pads, from a young age: the change usually shows up by about 12 months of age, and all the pads are usually involved [1].
- Hard pads with growths: in affected Irish Terriers, the pads first turned smooth and dry, then hardened and grew small cone-shaped bumps along their edges [3].
- Cracks and infection: cracks in the thick pads can let bacteria in [1][3].
- Pain and limping: pain when walking is common [1].
- Nails: in Irish Terriers and Kromfohrländers with this form, the nails can be very hard and seem to grow faster [1].
Other causes of thick paw pads
Thick pads are not always inherited. Pads can also thicken after repeated injury, infection, cancer or other inflammatory skin disease [5].
- Other conditions a vet will want to rule out include distemper, pemphigus, lupus, zinc-responsive skin disease and superficial necrolytic dermatitis (hepatocutaneous syndrome) [1]. See superficial necrolytic dermatitis (hepatocutaneous syndrome) and pemphigus foliaceus.
- Hard pads can also follow a viral infection: so-called hard pad disease is an uncommon sign of canine distemper [6].
Most of these other conditions also cause problems elsewhere on the body [1]. This is why a dog with thick pads needs a vet’s diagnosis, especially if it also seems unwell.
How vets diagnose it
Your vet will look at the pads, ask when the change started, and check the rest of the skin. The breed, a start in the first year of life and pads that are the only problem all point toward the inherited form [1]. A small skin sample (biopsy) looked at under a microscope can support the diagnosis or rule out other diseases [1], and your vet may also check the cracks for infection [1].
Treatment
There is no cure. Care is lifelong and aims to keep the pads comfortable [1]. Mild cases may need little or no treatment, while dogs with severe, painful pads need regular care [1]. Vets usually soften the thick keratin first, for example with water soaks or wet dressings, so the excess can be removed, and they treat any infection in the cracks [1].
At home, as directed by a vet:
- soak and soften the pads as your vet shows you;
- use only the products your vet chooses for your dog;
- check the pads often for cracks, bleeding or signs of infection.
Do not cut or file thick pads at home. In one severely affected Rottweiler, the pads had to be trimmed by a vet while the dog was under anesthesia [4].
Outlook
What is reported varies from dog to dog:
- The condition cannot be cured, so care continues for life [1].
- In mild cases it is mostly a change in how the pads look [1].
- In one severely affected Rottweiler, the pads caused a lot of discomfort and needed repeated trimming under anesthesia [4].
These are statements about particular dogs and reports. They cannot predict how one dog will do. Your vet can explain what this means for your dog.
When to see your vet
See your vet if your dog has:
- cracked or bleeding pads;
- pads that look red, swollen or infected;
- limping or pain when walking [1];
- thick or hard pads, especially in a young dog [1];
- thick pads and also seems unwell.
FAQ
Is footpad hyperkeratosis painful?
It can be. Thick, cracked pads often make walking painful [1].
Can it be cured?
No. Care focuses on keeping the pads soft and comfortable over the long term [1]. Ask your vet what care will keep your dog’s pads comfortable.
Is it contagious?
The familial form is inherited [1][3], not something dogs catch from each other. Some other causes of thick pads, such as distemper [6], are infections, so let your vet find the cause.
Can I trim the thick pads myself?
No. In one severely affected dog, the pads were trimmed by a vet under anesthesia [4]. Ask your vet how your dog’s pads should be managed.
Do only Irish Terriers get it?
No. It has also been reported in Kromfohrländers, Dogues de Bordeaux and Rottweilers [1], and in a single Labrador Retriever [5].
The bottom line
Familial footpad hyperkeratosis makes a dog’s paw pads grow thick and hard from a young age. The pads can crack, get infected and hurt. A vet should rule out other causes of thick pads, and care focuses on comfort: softening the pads, removing excess keratin and treating infections, as your vet directs.
This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your veterinarian. If your dog’s pads are cracked, bleeding or sore, contact your vet.
Sources
- Torres SMF. 3.4 Familial Nasal Parakeratosis and Footpad Hyperkeratosis: Dogs. Small and Large Animal Dermatology Handbook, Vol. 2. University of Minnesota, 2025. CC BY 4.0. https://open.lib.umn.edu/animaldermatology2/chapter/hereditary-keratinization-disorders-familial-nasal-parakeratosis-and-footpad-hyperkeratosis-dogs/
- Drögemüller M, Jagannathan V, Becker D, et al. A mutation in the FAM83G gene in dogs with hereditary footpad hyperkeratosis (HFH). PLoS Genet. 2014;10(5):e1004370. CC BY. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4022470/
- Binder H, Arnold S, Schelling C, Suter M, Wild P. Palmoplantar hyperkeratosis in Irish terriers: evidence of autosomal recessive inheritance. J Small Anim Pract. 2000;41(2):52-55. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10701186/
- Backel KA, Kiener S, Jagannathan V, Casal ML, Leeb T, Mauldin EA. A DSG1 Frameshift Variant in a Rottweiler Dog with Footpad Hyperkeratosis. Genes (Basel). 2020;11(4):469. CC BY. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7230267/
- Rietmann SJ, Malatos J, Jagannathan V, Leeb T. GJB6 missense variant in a Labrador Retriever with paw pad hyperkeratosis. Anim Genet. 2026;57(1):e70075. CC BY. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12848476/
- Koutinas AF, Baumgärtner W, Tontis D, et al. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry of canine distemper virus-induced footpad hyperkeratosis (hard pad disease) in dogs with natural canine distemper. Vet Pathol. 2004;41(1):2-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14715962/