PAW & CLAW INTEGRITY
The health of our pets’ feet is also very important. Every day they are not just used for traction and grip, but also for sensing their surroundings, providing impact resistance, and for maintenance of body temperature. A significant amount of effective protection can be provided with appropriate nutrition.
Nutritional deficiencies are often manifested by changes in the skin and paw pad.
Like the skin, paw pads require the supply of a variety of nutrients, including biotin, vitamins A, E, and C, nutritional lipids and minerals.
PAW PAD STRUCTURE
The skin on the paw pads of our dogs and cats is very different to most of the skin covering the rest of the body. Apart from being absent of hairs and follicles, it is also very strong and thick, whilst still being flexible and soft.
As the pads wear, cracks can begin to appear, allowing access to harmful bacteria and yeasts, and the feet can become inflamed and heated, leading to pain and a resistence to place weight upon them.
This reduced activity can then lead to excessive weight gain which, in turn can compound the stress and weight on the pads.