dogs pads

Question
My dogs pad on both paws the upper pad its skin is frayed and is cracking what is wrong and what can i do to help her?

Answer
Pads are the toughest area of your pets body...they have to absorb the shock from walking, and support your dogs' full weight... they also have to endure snow, gravel, rocks, ice, sharp weeds\twigs, and other random debris that are commonly found in a yard or walking trail..
Over time, this can cause (what you are seeing) cracking and weakening of your dogs' pads.
It can also be the result of exposure to lawn chemicals, splitting\cracking ice, etc(if you salt your driveway\sidewalks, you should avoid letting your dog walk on them)

Sensitivity in the paw area is certainly not uncommon in older dogs, and can be present in younger as well. While generally it's nothing serious, just caused from so much stress on the paw area, it can sometimes be caused by zinc deficiency.
You should get your dogs zinc levels tested by the vet..you may need to add fish oils to your pets' diet, if this is the case.

As for treatment, a good way to help the pads heal faster is to apply a thin layer of Vaseline several times a day. Then you should wrap the paws in gauze, and cover them with a infants sock, to keep your pup from biting at her feet or licking the Vaseline treatment off.

After daily walks or romps outside, it's a good idea to check between the pads and make sure there's no mud or dirt stuck between. It's also a good way to get your pet used to regular handling, and with daily observation you will be able to spot a problem before it gets too bad.