Interdigital dermatitis is an inflammatory disease of the skin between the toes (interdigital space). The disease can be acute or chronic and can also affect areas on the pads and around the claws. Affected dogs usually present with itching, swelling, redness, and pain in the paws (Duclos 2013).
Predisposing factors
Several factors increase the risk of developing interdigital dermatitis:
- Anatomical factors: narrow spaces between the toes, hairy paws, malformations
- Breed predisposition: commonly West Highland Terriers, Scottish Terriers, Pekingese, and English Bulldogs, as well as Labrador Retrievers and Boxers
- Obesity: mechanical stress and reduced ventilation
- Moisture and maceration: wet environment
- Underlying allergic conditions: food, atopy
- Endocrinopathies: hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s syndrome)
- Immunosuppression
Etiology
Interdigital dermatitis in dogs is usually multifactorial. There is often a primary cause followed by secondary infections. Primarily, the skin may be comprimised by allergic dermatitis, foreign bodies, or parasites (demodicosis), while secondarily, bacteria (especially Staphylococcus intermedius) or yeast fungi (Malassezia spp.) invade the skin (Diaz et al., 2023).
Symptoms
Typical clinical symptoms of interdigital dermatitis are:
- Redness and swelling of the interdigital skin
- Painfulness to lameness
- Excessive licking or chewing of the paws
- Weeping to pus formation, foul odor
- Papules, pustules, or nodules, even fistula channels
- Hyperpigmentation, lichenification, or fibrosis in chronic cases
Therapy
Local treatment
- Antiseptic washing solutions
- Paw baths or rinses
- Topical antibiotics or antifungal agents
- Anti-inflammatory ointments
- Protection against licking (e.g., neck collar)
Systemic treatment
- Antibiotics (for deep bacterial infections, based on culture results)
- Antifungals (for yeast infections)
- Glucocorticoids or other antipruritics
- Treatment of the underlying disease
Additional measures
It is important to keep the paws dry and clean, especially during the wet season. Regular grooming, especially between the toes, and possible weight reduction may be advisable
Role of Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in therapy
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a modern antiseptic agent that is increasingly being used in dermatology.
- Broad antimicrobial spectrum against bacteria, fungi, and viruses
- Effective against biofilms (possibly relevant in chronic interdigital dermatitis)
- Low tissue toxicity compared to conventional antiseptics
- Supports wound healing by reducing microbial load and inflammatory mediators
- Painless to use
HOCL is suitable for the therapy of interdigital dermatitis, especially in cases of secondary bacterial infections, chronic or recurrent cases, and biofilm-associated cases.
A clinical study by Peters et al. shows a direct dermatological relevance in the use of HOCl in wound management in dogs. Here, hypochlorous acid was compared with polyhexamidine in terms of its antiseptic efficacy in bite wounds in dogs. HOCl-based antiseptics show an effective antimicrobial effect. Due to their rapid action, HOCl-based antiseptics appear to be advantageous for clinical use (Peters et al., 2026).
Sources
Díaz, L., Castellá, G., Bragulat, M.R. et al. Study of the variation of the Malassezia load in the interdigital fold of dogs with pododermatitis. Vet Res Commun 47, 385–396 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-022-09951-2
Duclos, D. Canine Pododermatitis, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, Volume 43, Issue 1, 2013, Pages 57-87, ISSN 0195-5616, ISBN 9781455773503, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.09.012
Horvath-Ungerboeck, C., & van den Broek, A. (2011). Pedal dermatitis in dogs and cats: Part 1. Companion Animal, 16(1), 39–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-3862.2010.00009.x
Peters, M., Eberle, D., Reese, S., Wolf, G., Meyer- Lindenberg. A., Dog- to- dog bite wound management – Comparison of the antiseptic efficacy of polyhexanide and hypochlorous acid with regard to reducing the use of antibiotics: A randomized clinical trial, The Veterinary Journal, Volume 315, 2026, 106505, ISSN 1090-0233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106505