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My dog's paw pad is peeling after dog park. What can I do for now?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 1 year and 5 months old | 55 lbs

I took Scooby to a dog park where he was running on gravel and going in and out of the pool. I noticed on one of his paws it looks like part of the pad is peeling. He is not limping and doesn’t seem to care if I touch it (I’m guessing he’s not in pain?) but if I pull it back enough you can see the pink tender skin. What can I do for now until I can get him into the vet?

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3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on July 3rd, 2019

Try gently washing his paw in warm water and antiseptic soap. I would rest Scoopy for the next couple of days to see if his paw pad heals. If you see any sign of infection, please have him seen by a vet. Best of luck.

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on May 27th, 2018

    Hi there. From what I can see in the photo, this doesn't look to severe at all. Washing it with soap and water was a good idea. Beyond that, I would just leave it alone to heal - do not try to rip off the loose pad, as this may cause more damage.

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    Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 13th, 2017

    This is usually due to some type of injury your dog has sustained. The good news is that the pad affected is not a weight-bearing pad. If this type of injury occurred on one of the pads of the bottom of the foot it would take a long time to heal. All you need to do is keep the area clean and dry. You can try to apply some antibiotic ointment to the area if Dolly won’t lick it off. It should heal nicely on its own in a couple of weeks. If you notice any redness, oozing, or swelling it may be infected and you would need to take Dolly to see the vet. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

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