10/07/2026
Spooky season calls for spooky cases... Or in this not-so-spooky case, hyperkeratosis! 🙀
Hyperkeratosis looks pretty crazy, but thankfully it's just an overgrowth of keratin (the same protein that's found in our hair and nails). Both dogs and cats can grow them. Paw pads are a very common spot, but we've even seen pets grow ones on their head like a unicorn horn. While this condition can be secondary to other diseases, it usually occurs spontaneously and is almost always benign. We recommend getting your pet checked out if they have growths to determine what type of growth they are and if they are benign or malignant.
📸: All four of Lady's paws have hyperkeratosis!
