Veterinarian reveals warning signs “urgent” through the legs of dogs

As dog legs are much more than a means of locomotion, besides serving as shock absorbers that protect the joints however, it is not possible to make the most of the help in regulating body temperature the big ones.

Still, these hidden cushions tend to be devalued by animal tutors. Veterinarians warn Huff Post of the need for pay more attention to any changes in the legs of animals, especially in dogs.

First, it is important to immediately analyze the paws of your paw and, if necessary, until you take photos, otherwise you will not be able to signal any changes.

According to veterinary doctor Tom Vega, founder and medical director of the mobile veterinary service Concierge Companions Vet Med and ambassador of Roo, a digital platform for veterinarians, dogs' paws can be a excellent indicator of the health of the big boys, and reveal warning signs “urgent”.

What does it matter about dogs' paws?

“ Healthy cushions should be resilient, smooth and free from significant damage. The color should also align with the natural pigmentation of the dog, whether black, pink, brownish or a mixture”, the expert describes.

Alongside this, Tom Vega clarifies that the paws should be thick enough “to provide damping and protection”, but not to the extent that they appear overly swollen.

The nails of the big boys

At the same source, Kathryn Dench, chief scientific advisor at Paw Origins, a pet product company, explains that the nails should follow the same molds and, therefore, for bigeyes to have healthy nails, these should look smooth, firm and uniform shape, without breaks, or any irregularities.

The specialist also says that the color of the nails also matters, but it is important to take into account the natural pigmentation of the dog, and it may vary depending on this, from light or white to brown or black.

“ The growth pattern should be relatively uniform on the paws, although dew claws usually grow faster because they do not touch the ground,” he explains.

According to these veterinarians it is important never to let the nails of the dogs get extremely long. “ Long nails can change the way a dog supports the weight of his paw, a bit like walking with shoes that lift your toes all day ", compares.

According to Dench, the irregular nail wear it's a clue that can't go unnoticed: “If a paw has much shorter nails or more scratched, this may suggest that the dog is dragging his foot or changing his type of gait because of pain, weakness, arthritis or some neurological problem”, relates.

How to analyze the legs of animals?

Hair and skin around the paws can be equally revealing clues to health problems. When analyzing the sponges of the paws, make sure to analyze the surrounding surfaces. Between your fingers, look for redness, moisture levels, hair loss, swelling, oily skin or crusts.

“ Reddish or brownish spots, especially in lighter fur dogs, often indicate licked or frequent bites”, says Dench. 

“ These licks may be associated with allergies, irritation, pain, fungal infection, bacterial infection or a foreign body like a seed”.

The smell of the paws can also give clues: “A strong smell of mold or fermentation between fingers is a common clue that the skin barrier is inflamed and some microorganisms are growing too much,” Dench adds.

In addition to being aware of these signs, veterinarians ask you to seek medical help if the problems cannot be reversed quickly.