Disease Description: A condition of Irish terrier puppies that causes marked thickening of the foot pads. Affected feet crack, become infected and painful.

Inherit Mode: -

Disease Symptom: When a dog makes or retains too much keratinized tissue, he has hyperkeratosis. The disease presents in the footpad or on top of the nose, showing as thickened, hardened skin. The skin will be dry and rough, perhaps even cracking.

Disease Cause: Familial footpad hyperkeratosis is an inherited disease, seen primarily in Kerry blue terriers, Irish terriers and dogues de Bordeaux. Tear duct blockage may contribute to the idiopathic nasodigital hyperkeratosis on the nose, but there are no other illnesses that give rise to this type of hyperkeratosis.

Disease Diagnose: -

Treat Method: For Familial Footpad Hyperkeratosis,treatment focuses on regular foot soaks as directed by the vet, as well as filing the footpads to whittle away excess keratin -- similar to how you file your own nails. If the footpads are torn or infected, the dog may require a moisturizing cream as well as antibiotics.For Idiopathic Nasodigital Hyperkeratosis,treatment may include soaking and moisturizing his footpads.

Breeder Advice: -

Disease Description Source: Link