You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

In a recent report hyperkeratosis of the footpads was described in Irish Terriers and there are previous reports of the disorder affecting other families of dogs in other breeds . 

A paper (Journal of Small Animal Practice (2000) 41, 52-55) reported the occurrence of  hyperkeratosis of the footpads (similar to the picture above) in a family of Irish Terriers. Previous reports have described similar findings in Kerry Blue Terriers and Dogue de Bordeaux.  

The condition is recognised in affected individuals after 4 months of age and because the pads develop fissures and cracks secondary infection and discomfort is a life-long problem. 

There are anecdotal reports that foot pad problems are seen widely in Irish Terriers and other breeds across Europe. Provet is conducting a survey into this problem so if you see a series of cases of hyperkeratosis in related dogs please send the clinical details to feedback@provet.co.uk . A similar request is being made of breeders. 

Thank You

Updated October 2013