The Approach to Pododermatitis in Dogs

Pododermatitis is a common and frequently debilitating inflammatory disease of the pedal skin. It can be part of more extensive skin disease but many patients have disease restricted to the feet. Clinical signs of pododermatitis in dogs include erythema, alopecia, oedema, hyperpigmentation, nodules, ulcers, haemorrhagic bullae and sinus tracts.

There are many causes of pododermatitis, and they can be categorised into the groups of infectious/parasitic, allergic, endocrine, autoimmune/immune-mediated, acquired/traumatic, psychogenic/neurological, metabolic, genetic/inherited and neoplastic disease. The condition is complex and often multi-factorial, so it can be frustrating and difficult to manage; a methodical approach is therefore required.