Dogs who spend a lot of time on hard surfaces can have tougher, more thickly calloused paws, while other more pampered paws may be smoother. The pads are covered by heavily pigmented, and thick skin-the thickest kind of canine skin. On the front of the dog’s paw, it’s known as the metacarpal or palmar pad, and on the rear paw, it’s called the metatarsal or plantar pad.Īll paw pads are made up of adipose (fat) tissue and elastic fibers. Metacarpal/metatarsal pad : This heart-shaped pad supports more of the dog’s weight since it is located in the center of their foot. It’s found on the forelimb (or front leg) and is only found in animals that walk on their digits.

This is why you may have noticed your dog gripping a bone or dog toy with what looks like the side of their foot or leg.Ĭarpal Pad: The carpal pad is a small pad located above the dewclaw. For most dogs, dewclaws serve no apparent purpose they’re thought to be a sort of vestigial “thumb.” But some dogs use them for gripping things they’re holding in their paws. Most dogs just have them on their front legs a few, like Great Pyrenees and Briards, also have them on their rear legs. They contain nerves and blood vessels, which is why trimming them can be tricky.ĭewclaws: Dewclaws are the short, “extra” claw on the lower part of a dog’s leg. While we have nails, which grow from cuticles, and are essentially “dead” keratin, a dog has claws, which grow right from the bone in the foot.

But while you might use “claws” or “nails” interchangeably to describe this part, there is in fact a difference between the two. They’re made of keratin, just like our nails. Here’s a quick breakdown of each of the five basic parts:ĭigital pads : These are the four small pads located on each toe, used to support some of your dog’s weight as well as their joints.Ĭlaws : Claws are used for digging, provide traction, and (should a dog be in the position to do such a thing) help hold and tear at prey. Paws consist of five main structures: digital pads, claws, dewclaws, carpal pads, and metacarpal pads. “They are very complex structures that work in concert with each other to allow our pets to move around fluidly.” Stephanie Austin, BVMS, and medical director of Bond Vet in New York. “Paws are like our hands and feet they’re made up of many tiny bones, tendons, muscles, and ligaments, layers of fat for warmth and cushioning, and skin,” says Dr. Paws are made of muscles, keratin, collagen, adipose tissue, ligaments, tendons, and bone. Keep reading, dog-lovers, for everything you need to know about your dog’s paws-how they work, what they are made of, and how you (in conjunction with your veterinarian and your groomer) can best take care of them. If paws are smelly, nails are long, or the hair is overgrown between your dog’s paw pads, these could all be signs of foot ailments that may require veterinary attention. Paws also serve as an important indicator of your dog’s health.

But the intricate workings of a dog’s paws also help with temperature control, offer protection from various terrain, and provide enhanced stability for licking a bone or a toy.

Yes, they are made for walking, as well as running, playing fetch, stretching, and high-fiving. Paws serve many critical functions that we humans might take for granted. All of which makes you appreciate the wonder of paws even more. Unlike our feet, canine paws are inarguably, and universally adorable (human feet… well, they’re a bit more hit and miss, aren’t they?) The other difference: most dogs traverse the world, whether rocky road or grassy knoll, fresh snow or hot concrete, barefoot. Like our own feet, our pooches’ paws are as critical to the quality of day to day life as they are easy to overlook.

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