Hyperkeratosis in Dogs | Crusty Paw & Nose Remedies

Hyperkeratosis causes dogs to have flaky, crusty patches or growths on their paws and noses. These patches can discolored, sensitive, and clearly uncomfortable for your dog. 

Hyperkeratosis is essential to treat in dogs as it interferes with their ability to smell and walk, both things that can contribute to a declining quality of life when they're interfered with. Not to mention, these growths can be painful.

In dogs, hyperkeratosis causes an overproduction of keratin (protein responsible for skin, hair, and nail production) primarily on their paws and noses. Let's look at how this condition develops, how it's treated, and how you can relieve your dog's symptoms.

Note that while we primarily discuss paws and noses in this article, hyperkeratosis can also develop on a dog's hocks, elbows, and ears.

View related product

How Do Dogs Develop Hyperkeratosis?

There are a variety of ways that hyperkeratosis develops in dogs, ranging from parasite infections, age, pressure to the skin, and more.

There are two primary ways in which this issue develops, despite there being a variety of causes. First, dogs can be genetically predisposed to hyperkeratosis.

Second, dry noses and paws are vulnerable to damage, which prompts the dog's body to produce extra keratin. Essentially, your dog's body produces excess keratin to protect the irritated skin, and this can evolve into a more serious issue.

1. Genetics are The Most Common Cause of Hyperkeratosis in Dogs

The most common cause of hyperkeratosis is genetics, primarily passed on in brachycephalic dogs (pugs, boxers, bulldogs). Brachycephalic dogs tend to have poor skin turnover (normal skin release and production) as well as difficulty licking and moisturizing their noses, which lead to chronic dryness.

Other breeds like retrievers, terriers, and spaniels are also prone to hyperkeratosis due to genetic factors.

2. Dry Nose & Paws Can Trigger Hyperkeratosis as a Protective Response

Exposure to dry air, hot air, and other harsh surfaces lead to lack of moisture retention in paw pads and noses. Dogs require moisture in these areas to protect and maintain the quality of skin.

Dryness makes skin vulnerable to small cracks and splits, however small. These areas are liabilities to the skin, and the body response by producing extra keratin to strengthen the skin.

This protective layer of skin works for a while, but it doesn't stop growing in many cases, especially if the issue of dryness isn't addressed by the dog's owner. 

As the protective keratin layer develops, it makes the skin tighter and less flexible, which creates more cracks. This vicious cycle is the cause of extreme hyperkeratosis that you see in many dogs with large, crusty growths on their noses and paws.

3. Canine Autoimmune and Hormonal Issues Contribute to Hyperkeratosis

Common issues such as Cushing's disease, canine distemper, and canine lupus are all hormonal and autoimmune issues that can lead to hyperkeratosis, although these don't directly cause hyperkeratosis.

Hormonal and autoimmune issues trigger hyperkeratosis indirectly by affecting the way the your dog's body produces, reacts, or interprets the skin. This often dries the nose or paws, and increases the production of keratin.

For example, these conditions might cause chronic inflammation in your dog's nose and paws, which creates irritation, dryness, and even a direct immune system attack on your dog's nose and paws. 

4. Repeated Pressure or Rubbing of Paws on Hard Surfaces

Near-constant pressure or friction on paws, hocks, and elbows can prompt your dog's body to produce more keratin to reinforce and protect the skin. 

Surfaces like concrete, asphalt, gravel, especially when they're hot, can trigger this protective keratin to start forming. This is similar to a callus on human feet.

This keratin buildup dries out the paws, hocks, or elbows, and makes them vulnerable to cracking, which triggers more keratin production.

• Paw pads: Develop hyperkeratosis from walking on hard, abrasive surfaces.
• Hocks (ankles): Develop hyperkeratosis from repeatedly lying on hard flooring.
• Elbows: Develop hyperkeratosis, primarily in large dogs, from the pressure of laying down on hard surfaces, much like the hocks.

5. Parasites, Allergies, and Skin-Irritating Issues

Any issue, infection, or allergy that causes skin discomfort in your dog could contribute to hyperkeratosis over time. 

Inflammation in the skin causes redness and itching that can causes your dog to scratch and lick the area, furthering inflammation and damage. Additionally, the immune response to these issues may cause your dog's body to increase keratin production on its own. 

Scratching and licking the area can lead to open sores, which then create a risk for secondary infection. This, too, is a vicious cycle. 

Common parasites, allergies, & conditions that trigger hyperkeratosis:

• Scabies (sarcoptic mange)
• Demodectic mange
• Hookworms
• Fleas
• Any allergy that affects your dog's skin

3 Home Remedies for Hyperkeratosis in Dogs

Hyperkeratosis is always manageable with the proper care, and in some cases, it is reversible. Your dog's predisposition to keratin production in the face of triggers, though, is not curable. 

We have 3 home remedies that can significantly benefit your dog's hyperkeratosis without significant intervention. 

Here are situations where veterinary intervention is necessary:

• Large cracks in the skin
• The skin bleeds (open cracks welcome infection)
• Serious overgrowth, splitting (the keratin growth is clearly altering the shape of the paw, nose, or area. This is different from spots of crust, or even small extensions. Serious growth will have taken months, even years to develop.
• The keratin production spreads beyond the initial area
• If you suspect an underlying autoimmune, hormonal, or allergy is the cause, veterinarian care is essential.

If your dog's hyperkeratosis has just begun, is relatively mild, and isn't caused by an underlying condition, the following remedies should help you to resolve the issue.

1. Topical Paw, Nose, & Skin Balm (Potential Relief in 1-4 Weeks)

Dog-safe topical balms with ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, coconut oil, beeswax, and CBD hemp extract can soothe, soften, and relieve the discomfort of your dog's hyperkeratosis.

Specifically, these ingredients protect and moisturize the skin, allowing it to settle and slow down the production of keratin. The addition of CBD can reduce redness and itchiness, which allows your dog to stop itching and licking.

These benefits can slow keratin growths, and soften the growths themselves which may reduce cracking. Many, many dogs see significant benefits with the use of a topical paw balm.

Mild to moderate growths have the ability to soften and reduce in size. If your dog's mild growths don't get smaller, but they soften and don't interfere with your dog's life, they can be left alone.

2. Soften Resting Spots, Use Dog Paw Booties

This remedy helps dogs with hyperkeratosis of the paws, hocks, or elbows. 

Purchase or make booties for your dog to wear on walks, particularly if you're on abrasive, rough, hot, or cold surfaces while walking. This protects your paws from getting cuts and reduces the strain put on the fragile skin of your dog's paw.

If this is the cause of your dog's hyperkeratosis, using booties could reduce the progression of the issue within a few days and provide visible improvements within a few weeks. 

Next, ensure that your dog has a soft, cushiony place to sleep. This reduces the pressure that laying down puts on your dog's joints.

During this time, if you see that your dog continues to rest on hard surfaces, gently encourage them to move to softer locations. You can even place soft cushions where your dog tends to lay down. 

3. Supplement with Omega 3s to Support Skin Health

Omega 3s can help regulate keratin, improve skin health, and even mitigate inflammation across the board. Popular options include fish oil, flaxseed oil, or even omega 3s supplement chews.

This may help to reduce dryness and inflammation, even showing benefits after a few weeks of regular use. This might not be the most effective option, however, especially if your dog's hyperkeratosis is caused by a different issue such as dry air or walking on abrasive surfaces. 

Still, supplementing with omega 3s can support your dog's skin health enough to help prevent future instances of hyperkeratosis to from forming. 

Conclusion

Hyperkeratosis is a difficult, often preventable or manageable condition in dogs that causes excess growth of skin, primarily on the nose and paws. 

This can be painful for dogs and make them vulnerable to secondary infections. Talk with your veterinarian to see if there's an underlying issue contributing to your dog's hyperkeratosis, but also take steps at home to relieve and reverse your dog's symptoms.

The use of topical balms for dogs, home environment adjustments, and intentional management of the moisture in your home's air can all help to mitigate your dog's symptoms.