Page 1115 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

53. The cat with paw or pad problems

Isobel Phebe Johnstone

KEY SIGNS

● Erythema, scaling, crusting, and/or pruritic lesions.
● Nodules, draining tracts, ulcers and/or abscesses.
● Distortion of the nails or deformity of the foot.

MECHANISM?
● A wide variety of diseases can have paw or pad problems as part of more generalized signs, or
the lesions can be confined solely to the foot.
WHERE?
● Disease of the feet includes the paw, pads, digits and nails. Interdigital spaces are seldom affected
in cats.
● It is rare for the disease to be confined solely to the feet. Usually the feet are affected in
conjunction with other areas of the skin.

WHAT?
The most common problems seen in the paw are:
● Bacterial paronychia from a variety of causes.
● Immune-mediated diseases.
● Nodules or ulceration due to infections or neoplasia.

QUICK REFERENCE SUMMARY
Diseases causing paw or pad problems
ANOMALY

● Variation in number of the digits* (p 1118)
Hereditary variations in the number of digits, generally six toes, occur most commonly on the
front feet.
● Hypomelanosis (vitiligo) (p 1122)
Loss of epidermal melanin is evidenced by non-pigmented patches in otherwise pigmented areas
such as the nose, lips, mouth and paw pads.

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