Digital Pseudopad Correction in a Dog Using a CO ₂ Laser

In dogs, particularly obese dogs with chronic pododermatitis, there is an increased likelihood of footpad inflammation, leading to weight-bearing on the hairy part of the feet adjacent to the footpads, which triggers hair follicle inflammation.Over time, this inflammation damages hair follicles, leading to chronic foot inflammation.An 8-year-old intact male dog weighing 17 kg presented with recurrent interdigital pododermatitis and pseudopads on all four paws.The dog had previously undergone steroid therapy, cyclosporin, and oclacitinib treatment, along with a homemade diet.Although the therapeutic regimen provided temporary relief, the pseudopads remained unchanged in size.A large pseudopad formed on both front paws, and two smaller ones on the hind ones.CO 2 laser surgery was performed on both front paws under general anaesthesia at 6-10 watts in continuous wave mode.Hind paw CO 2 laser surgery was performed 4 weeks later.Histopathological examination revealed chronic pododermatitis with epithelial papillary proliferation, as well as chronic reactive changes in the adnexa, hair follicles, and glands.After CO 2 laser surgery, the surgical site was covered with bandages soaked in Betadine solution, which were changed every 2 days.Complete healing was achieved within 4 weeks.