French Bulldog Paws problems - 7 tricks to spot and stop!

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French Bulldog Paws Care – Why?

Did you know that dogs don’t sweat like humans? In fact, the main place they sweat from is through the bottom of their paws!

Are you worrying enough about your French Bulldog’s paws? Learn at a glance the best (and simple) techniques for healing them, find out common issues of French Bulldog paws, and keep your pup’s paws in good shape always!

Why should you take care of your pup’s paws?

French Bulldog paws are an essential part of your French Bulldog’s movement. If they are sore, your French Bulldog will suffer whenever he walks!
They are not as tough as you may think; that’s why they’re overlooked most times. Heat, cold, road salt, and moist, and rough surfaces are common enemies.

Treat your French Bulldog’s paws safely at home, learn to identify their issues, and turn them into strong resistant paws that are ready to hit the road. Let’s get started!

French Bulldog Paws Problems (HOW to avoid or treat them)

Many issues can affect a French Bulldog puppy or adult French Bulldog, and most of them are related to dryness, burning, inflammation, or itchiness. Some can be treated at home, whereas others can only be treated by a vet.

Dry French Bulldog Paws.

Dry paws can happen for several reasons, including walking outside on rough surfaces, poor hydration, allergies, climate, and age. Because of this, they can advance to have other symptoms such as itchiness, discomfort, and in severe cases, peeling and cracking skin.

Treatment: You should start by checking out your French Bulldog’s hydration. Do this by checking that his gums are not sticky. If they are, encourage him to drink more, or add water to his food to increase his water intake. Better hydration can improve dry French Bulldog paws. If hydration is not the issue, use a paw-moistening formula for French Bulldogs to moisturize them directly.

“Brachycephalic (short-nosed) and overweight dogs seem to have a tougher time in hot weather and may require more frequent rests, shorter walks, or a change in walk schedule to avoid the hottest hours of the day.”
AVMA – American Veterinary Medical Association

Itchiness

This is a symptom of other French Bulldog paw problems listed here. The most common reason for itchy paws is an underlying allergy, but it is also possible that he walked over something mildly corrosive or irritating, such as floor cleaner.

Treatment: First, you need to know what caused it. Fix the underlying problem and this will fix itchiness. Your vet will be able to diagnose whether an allergy is to blame. Also, there are products to soothe itching, like sprays and ointments for French Bulldogs.

Burning French Bulldog Paws

This is caused because of your French Bulldog stepping over hot (over 45°C) surfaces, or chemicals. Walking on hot pavement, sidewalks, and other surfaces at high temperatures is a common cause.

Treatment: Avoid walking your dog on hot surfaces! Always assume the tarmac is too hot on a warm day. A solution is to take your dog on walks over the grass. To provide a bit of protection, use paw wax for French Bulldogs. If he has already got burned and you need a solution, using aloe vera-based ointments or creams will aid in soothing the paws. If the injury looks serious, take him to a vet immediately for proper treatment.

Minor Cuts/Injuries

Things like pebbles, splinters, or glass can penetrate the paw pads. This can be very dangerous if it gets infected. Unfortunately, paw pads take a long time to heal, and even minor cuts will require veterinary attention.

Treatment: You must check your French Bulldog’s paws regularly to detect injuries. If there are any of these objects, you can normally remove them with tweezers, apply a cleaning solution, dry the wound, and apply a healing ointment. Your French Bulldog may need a bandage, applied by your vet, to prevent the injury from constantly being irritated by coming into contact with the ground. This will speed up healing, and prevent your French Bulldog from wanting to lick at it.

Allergies

Allergies are one of the main reasons why your French Bulldog might be chewing or licking at his paws. When he comes into contact with something that he is allergic to (such as food, pollens, or grass) his immune system will flare up. This releases histamine, which causes itching. The areas where the most histamine is released include the paws, the armpits, and the groin area.

Treatment: It is difficult to avoid some allergens, and as a result, your vet may need to dispense medications to decrease the immune reaction to them. But if you know that a specific type of food or grass sets off your dog’s allergies, then avoidance will minimize the symptoms.

✅ Did you try our proper (and PROVEN) technique to dramatically reduce your French Bulldog’s shedding? Learn more! ✅

Yeast Infections (musty Paws)

Yeast is commonly found on the skin of all dogs, but when your French Bulldog has an underlying issue, such as an allergy, parasite infection, continuous moisture, or injury, the yeast may proliferate and cause a secondary problem. Yeast overgrowth causes a musty smell to your French Bulldog.

Treatment: Keeping your French Bulldog’s paws dry, and addressing any underlying issues, will minimize yeast infections. If they become very bad, your vet will dispense a medicated shampoo to treat it.

Acral Lick Dermatitis

Acral lick dermatitis is a skin infection caused by the bacteria in the saliva. It is a result of excessive licking, which may be from boredom, stress, or underlying discomforts, such as osteoarthritis or skin allergies.

Treatment: This is one of the hardest French Bulldog paw problems to solve. It is a result of an itch-lick cycle, where the paws are uncomfortable because of the infection, but the infection is there because of the licking. You must take your French Bulldog to the vet to get this solved, as your vet will be able to determine the root cause. Treatments provided may include Separation Anxiety Toys for French Bulldogs, Interactive Toys for French Bulldogs, anxiety pills, antibiotics for infections or wounds, anti-fungal products, anti-inflammatories, allergy medications, and most importantly of all, a Buster-collar to stop him from being able to reach the paws to lick.

“Being barefoot isn’t that tough when a dog is running on grass or other natural ground surfaces, but running on concrete, asphalt, gravel or other hard surfaces can put a lot of stress on your dog’s body and can put them at risk of injury to their legs, paws or paw pads.”
AVMA – American Veterinary Medical Association

Cracked French Bulldog Paws

Cracked skin can be because of contact with abrasive surfaces, dry paws, old age, or injuries. It also happens if your French Bulldog has been walking on salted grit, put out when there is ice or snow. This is very corrosive to his sensitive paws. If this happens, the cracked paw may become infected quickly, so it must be detected ASAP.

Treatment: You must avoid at all costs that the underlying cause reaches this level. This is avoidable by proper care, and by using protective products. If the skin is cracked, you should always take your French Bulldog to the vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

How Often Should I Treat My French Bulldog’s Paws?

French Bulldog’s paws should be checked every 2 weeks to see if they have issues. If your French Bulldog suffers from dry or cracked paws, you should put on paw balm or wax daily.

How To Heal French Bulldogs’ Paws: Practical (And Easy) STEPS!

Get what you need! To clean up those muddy paws you’ll need some grooming wipes for French Bulldogs (or washcloths and warm water if you don’t have special wipes), dry tissue or towel, and paw wax for an extra layer of protection.
Pick the place: Put your French Bulldog on a table where you can have access to his paws and you can work comfortably.
Wash out those paws: Use the wipes to bring the dirt out of the paws by gently swiping all around them. If they are too dirty, you can use washcloths moistened with warm water and a few drops of his shampoo first and then wipes to finish the job.
Dry his paws carefully: Take your time to really dry out between the fingers.
Apply some Paw Wax: Put on a small amount of paw wax or cream for French Bulldogs. Make sure to hit every spot.
Hug the French Bulldog! This is not a joke; really take some time to hug your French Bulldog and keep him a little bit quiet in your lap or on top of the table for like 5 min. Why? Apart from giving love? You let the paw wax be absorbed.
Reward your French Bulldog for being patient. A good girl/boy always deserves a nice treat for French Bulldogs or two!

✅ Have you read our powerful technique to properly bathe your French Bulldog? Learn more! ✅

Useful Products To Keep My French Bulldog’s Paws HEALTHY

Check out Our Detailed Reviews for French Bulldogs to pick the best product for your French Bulldog. We have invested time and effort to ease your buying decision! These are some of the products you can have to protect your French Bulldog’s paws.

Paw Waxes for French Bulldogs: Great for keeping problems under control and for protecting them. It’s also excellent for treating dryness and helping them to tolerate heat, cold, and lack of traction.
Seamus Medicated Anti Itch Spray (Amazon): Veterinarian Formula Itch – Perfect plant-derived antiseptic cleaning relief for sensitive skin issues that can occur from bacterial and fungal infections such as ringworm, tinea capitis, and mange.
Treats for French Bulldogs: they are always a good resource for training!

Note for our members: We make plenty of reviews from different brands in the Dog Supplies Market. We DO NOT get free products from product companies and have NO relationship whatsoever with them.

Frequently Asked Questions – French Bulldog Paws Infections

How much does it take French Bulldog’s paws to heal?

This highly depends on the type of wound and the location. Problems with the skin on the top of the paw will only take a few days to heal if your French Bulldog doesn’t lick it and you have the correct treatment for it from your vet. Wounds and problems with the underside pads, on the other hand, can take weeks to heal because of the constant contact with the ground. As a result, bandaging may help speed up recovery.

My French Bulldog’s paws are smelly. Why is that?

If you perceive a smell of corn chips coming from your French Bulldog’s paws, relax; this is completely normal. Paws are one of the few parts of a dog’s body that actually sweat! If the smell is musty, go to the vet for a more accurate diagnosis as this might be a yeast overgrowth.

Which is the best way of protecting a dog’s paws?

Many ways can be used together. Boots, creams, waxes, and ointments are among the most recommended! Ultimately, don’t walk your French Bulldog on the hot or gritted ground, surfaces that have had chemicals added to them, or abrasive surfaces. There are many ways that should actually be used together. Boots, creams, waxes, and ointments are among the most recommended!

I’ve got a specific question about my French Bulldog paws that is not covered in the article. How can you help me?

Ask a Licensed VET for more information 24/7 via a video call by clicking here.

Conclusion

Paws are the base of a French Bulldog’s mighty stance. As a result, not only his nature would be damaged, but also his whole body, such as his legs and back. To avoid this, proper cleaning, caring, and maintenance measures are the best thing you can do. Your French Bulldog may even learn to love the extra attention!

After reading all of our steps, can you tell if you’ve been paying enough attention to your French Bulldog’s paws? Please share your thoughts…