Hyperkeratosis is defined as an abnormal growth in the dog’s skin. This is self-explanatory and also called as hairy dog feet. The hyperkeratosis in the dog may be an extremely painful one, and it is mandatory to take your dog to the veterinarian. There may be a few underlying reasons behind hyperkeratosis, and you need to do the best for more click here. It is the skin condition where there is an extreme production of keratin, a fibrous protein. Keratin is responsible for the formation of hair, nail, hoofs, and horns. When the dog produces excessive keratin then it may result in hard, dry, crust layers of the skin on the nose and paws, most of the time it looks like small and rough hairy appearance.

Is it dangerous or not?

Fortunately, the appearance of hyperkeratosis is not a life-threatening one. However, nasal hyperkeratosis which occurs in the nose can be extremely uncomfortable, and footpad hyperkeratosis occurs in the paws which could be painful while walking. It is advised to check the dog’s paws regularly to check whether there is a sign of this condition. If it is untreated, it may develop the cracks and eventually gets infected. Your pet might be unable to walk, and there are possibilities of limping.

Treatment for hyperkeratosis

Unfortunately, hyperkeratosis is not curable, but it can be kept under control with regular treatment and paying good attention. When you get an initial appointment with the veterinarian, he or she might recommend you to trim back the tiny hairs. This might be helpful for the dog to take a comfortable walk. This process can be done at the vet’s office or else by yourself after enough practice at home itself.

You can also treat your dog’s paws by gently applying ointment to smooth its skin, and regular usage may bring back regular shape. Hyperkeratosis dog treatment can also be done by using natural balms like shea butter and oil that prevents the cracks and also soothes the rough skin. There are other treatments like wrapping your pet’s feet with wet wraps which moisturises it. It can also be treated by soaking their feet in polypropylene glycol and other tropical solutions for a few minutes. You can smoothen the callous by applying Aloe Vera, petroleum jelly and some essential oil. You can also use mineral oils, sweet almond oil and vitamin E.  You can also shave the extra layers. You can also use topical antibiotics to stop further infection.

You can also protect the dog’s feet by covering it with socks and booties while taking them out for a walk. If there is another disease that has affected your pet that eventually ended up showing the hyperkeratosis as a symptom, then take the foremost step to treat the disease.

It is bad to inform that the hyperkeratosis is a lifelong condition. This condition requires regular maintenance and keeping always checked. These conditions can be prevented by treating your dog’s feet regularly by yourself. Regular treatment by yourself could save money than spending it for hospital bills and regular appointments with the vet.