Everything You Need To Know About Corns

They may be small in size, but boy do these little nightmares cause our hounds some grief! Like a rock stuck in your shoe, the dreaded corn is a condition many greyhounds experience. Here we delve into what they are, how you can help your hound if they are suffering with one, and the options to chat to your vet about. 

So, what exactly is a corn? 

A corn is a hard and circular growth that appears in your greyhound’s pad. They may start as a small dot in appearance, but will often grow larger and more painful. Often, the first sign of a corn will be your greyhound walking with a slight limp – particularly on hard surfaces. They might lick the paw frequently, and might be reluctant to go for a walk or to play. 

Here is a great explanation of how a corn forms according to Lynbrook Vet: 

“The corn has a deep root that impinges on the underlying flexor tendon and the bone. The flexor tendon causes the toes to curl so that the pads are in contact with the ground and bear the weight of the dog.”

“The corns can protrude from the surrounding surface and when the greyhound puts weight on the leg, the force is transmitted through the corn to the underlying flexor tendon and the bone, causing pain and lameness.”

Left unchecked, the corns will get more and more painful. 

Why do greyhounds get corns? 

While there is no clear reason why greyhounds get corns, it is believed that repeated mechanical trauma (think pressure, friction, stress), paired with a greyhound’s physical attributes are to blame. 

Macquarie Veterinary Hospital states that “corns in greyhounds are caused by repeated pressure and friction from walking, especially on hard surfaces. Due to the breed’s unique build and posture, with their long legs and slim feet, greyhounds are especially prone to developing corns”.

How can you help your greyhound if they are suffering with a corn? 

Firstly, it’s best to get your greyhound checked out by a vet to determine whether the cause of your greyhound’s symptoms is indeed a corn. If you’ve done this, or your greyhound has a history of corns, there are a few things you can do. 

• An immediate action you can take to help relieve your greyhounds pain is to invest in some cushioned booties for them to wear on the affected foot. It may take a bit of time for your greyhound to get used to wearing them, but they will help with taking the pressure off your noodle’s paws. HunnyBoots are a great option.
• Try and walk on grass where possible rather than hard pavement. The harder the surface the more painful the corn will be.  
• Keep your hound’s troublesome paw moisturised, or if they will tolerate it you can give their paw a soak in some warm water with Epsom salts. This will help to soften the corn and relieve some of that pressure. 
• Surgical removal by your vet.
• A flexor tendonectomy, which cuts the tendon connected to the affected paw pad, reducing pressure on the paw.

Also remember to keep your greyhounds nails trimmed and tidied. This won’t remove an existing corn but it will ensure they are not putting undue pressure on their joints.

We hope this article has helped to understand what a corn is, and why these pesky little things cause our greyhounds so much grief.

As always we recommend speaking to a greyhound savvy vet if you suspect your greyhound has a corn. They will be able to recommend preventative measures and management options.