How often should I inspect my dog's paw pads?

As you come in from a walk, a fast look at all four paws while removing the lead takes only a few seconds and is usually enough to catch anything obviously stuck, bleeding, or unusual, without turning into a full separate task each time.

Once a week, spend a couple of minutes actually spreading each toe and running a finger across the pads, feeling for early cracking, tenderness, or small cuts that a quick glance might miss. This is also a good moment to combine with a nail length check since you already have the paw in hand.

During a heatwave, an icy or heavily salted winter stretch, or after starting a new hiking or trail routine, checking daily rather than weekly for the first couple of weeks helps you catch problems that develop faster under these tougher conditions.

Pairing the weekly thorough check with something you already do regularly, a Sunday brushing session or a monthly nail trim, means you are far less likely to forget it than if it exists as its own separate reminder competing for attention with everything else in a busy week.

Doing the weekly check on the same day each week, a Sunday evening for instance, turns it into a predictable habit rather than something you have to consciously remember to schedule amid a busy week.

A quick check straight after grooming sessions, since the paw is already being handled, adds one more easy opportunity without extra scheduling effort.