Corns

Corns are hard areas on the pads, they only occur in Greyhounds and whippets. Its not known why corns form in these breeds, there are many theories, one being a lack of fatty tissue in the pads, another that they are the result of a virus. It is known that the development of corns runs in families

and as such is not to be taken lightly.

Corns are excruciatingly painful for the dog and can seriously impact on  quality of life. They can develop in dogs under a year old and plague them all their life or a whippet may develop one later as it ages.

Signs and symptoms:

Lameness

Lame on hard surfaces but fine on soft grass or carpet

Dog pulling over to soft ground when walking

Appearance of tiny  black dot usually round or raised round skin on pad

Corns are not easy to diagnose as some vets may never have seen one, if the toe is gently squeezed on either side of the suspect area if a corn is present the dog will react to this pressure Even the smallest corn will be very painful

Treatment is a must, they will become bigger, more painful and harder to treat if left

There are various methods employed to treat corns but no cure so discussion with your vet on which method will keep your dog pain free is the only course to follow:

Treatments could include “hulling”  this is removal of the corn by leverage, it must only be done by your vet. The corn may return in time but can be removed again

Surgery ,this will mean total removal of the corn and its root under anaesthetic, a vet experienced in corn removal would be preferable. The corn still may return in time

Various human corn softening treatments have been tried without much success

In extreme cases amputation will be the only option but this can increase the pressure on the remaining toes causing a corn on a different toe

If your whippet suffers with corns it is very unkind to make him walk on hard  surfaces. You could carpet hard floors at home and keeps exercise to soft grassy places. But  if he does have to endure hard surfaces then there are padded boots available that will help to reduce the pain a little. There is a link below.