Understanding Corns in Sighthounds: What Owners Need to Know

If you own a whippet, greyhound, or another sighthound, you might have heard about corns—those small, tough growths that can appear on their paw pads. Corns can cause discomfort, making walks less enjoyable and even leading to limping. While they are more common in sighthounds than in other breeds, many owners are unsure what to do about them.

Why Do Sighthounds Get Corns?

Sighthounds have a unique paw structure—narrow feet with less padding compared to other breeds. This makes their paw pads more vulnerable to pressure-related issues. Unlike other dogs, sighthounds often put more weight on certain areas of their feet, which can lead to the formation of corns over time. Some theories suggest corns develop due to repeated pressure, foreign objects, or even viral infections, but their exact cause is still debated. What is clear is that they can make walking uncomfortable for affected dogs.

Signs Your Sighthound Might Have a Corn

● Limping or favouring one paw

● Licking or biting at their pads

● A small, circular growth on the pad that feels hard to the touch

● Sensitivity when the pad is pressed

Caring for Your Sighthound’s Paws

Ways to support paw health include:

• Keeping nails trim, don’t forget about those funny little dewclaws!

• Walking on softer surfaces like grass or woodland areas instead of pavement only walks

• Regularly checking paw pads for signs of corns or other issues

• Using protective boots if walking in areas where sharp objects could be an issue, e.g. glass in town or city centres

• Rinsing paws after walking on salted roads

• Checking pavement temperature in the summer months

When to Seek Help

If you suspect your sighthound has a corn or is struggling to walk or seems in pain, it’s best to speak to a vet who has experience with sighthounds. They can discuss options and help find the right approach for your dog.

Treatment options vary for corns. Many sighthound owners focus on managing their dog’s comfort in the following ways:

• Softening the corn with a moisturising and protective paw balm such as Pointy Faces Nose and Paw Balm.

• Using protective boots with padded insoles to alleviate discomfort whilst walking and further protect from grit, glass, salts, etc. Sighthound paw shape differs from other breeds, having a slim shape. Therefore, we recommend selecting boots which are designed specifically for sighthounds such as Hunnyboots, Pointy Faces is a UK stockist.

Surgical treatment options may be recommended by your vet and can include:

• Surgical removal of the corn. However, corn recurrence is unfortunately common.

• Superficial Digital Flexor Tendonectomy (SDFT). This is a surgical procedure which involves cutting the tendons.

Corns are more common in sighthounds than in other breeds. Corn awareness, including performing regular paw checks as well as everyday care techniques, can help keep your dog's paws healthy and allow for issues to be spotted early on.

There are no two ways about it, corns are a real pain for owners and dogs alike. However, there are treatment options available from managing comfort to surgical treatment. Sighthounds can continue to enjoy their walks in comfort despite living with corns.