Nanaimo does not get one wet day, it gets several wet months. Skin that never fully dries behaves differently from skin that dries between walks, and paws that are permanently damp are one of the most common reasons we see autumn itching. Most of it is preventable with a towel and two minutes at the door.
What constant damp actually does
Healthy skin is a barrier, and that barrier does not cope with staying wet. Keep it wet for weeks and three things happen. The outer layer softens and loses integrity. The yeast and bacteria that live on every normal dog multiply in the warm, damp spaces. And the pet starts licking, which keeps the area wetter still.
That is the cycle behind most rainy-season skin problems here. It is rarely one dramatic event. It is two weeks of muddy walks, a coat that never quite dries, and a dog who has started chewing his front feet in the evening.
Where it shows up
- Between the toes. The webbing stays wet longest, and it is where grit collects. Redness, a brown stain on white fur from licking, a yeasty smell, or a dog who will not let you touch a foot.
- Under the armpits and in the groin, where a wet coat sits against skin.
- Under the collar and harness, which stay damp for hours after everything else has dried.
- Ears, especially drop ears and any dog who swims. A head shake, a smell, or scratching at one side.
- Skin folds on wrinkled breeds, which need drying every single time.
- Hot spots, which can go from a damp patch to an angry, oozing sore in under a day, usually under a thick coat where nobody saw it starting.
The two-minute routine that prevents most of it
- Keep a towel at the door, and use it on the legs, belly, chest and tail as a matter of course.
- Dry between the toes, not just around the foot. Spread the toes gently and get the webbing.
- Take the harness and collar off when you come in, and let both the strap and the fur underneath dry.
- Rinse before you dry after beach or heavy mud. Plain lukewarm water is enough, and it removes the grit that does the abrading.
- Dry the ears with a cotton ball at the opening, never down the canal.
- Keep the fur between the pads short, which is a job for your groomer. Long foot fur holds mud and water like a sponge.
- Wash and dry the bedding weekly, and do not let a damp dog settle on a bed that never dries out.
Boots work for some dogs and are refused by others. If yours tolerates them, they solve mud and grit in one step. If not, do not fight it, the towel routine achieves most of the same thing.
Check the pads themselves
Wet pads are softer, and soft pads tear more easily on gravel, barnacles, shell and broken glass. Once a week, turn each paw over and look at the pads, the nails and the webbing. You are checking for cuts, cracks, embedded grit, a torn nail, or anything wedged between the toes.
Long nails matter more in this weather, because a dog slipping on wet decking or laminate braces differently and puts strain through the toes and the shoulders. If you can hear the nails on the floor, they are ready for a trim.
When it is not just the rain
This is the distinction worth making, because the wet season gets blamed for a lot of things it did not cause. Damp makes existing problems worse, and it produces a predictable, symmetrical, seasonal irritation that improves when the routine improves.
Book an appointment when you see:
- Licking or chewing that continues despite the drying routine, or wakes the pet at night
- An area that is red, thickened, bald, oozing or smells strongly
- A sore that appeared and grew within a day
- Head shaking, an ear that is painful, or discharge from one ear
- Itching in a pet who is also losing hair, or scratching year-round rather than seasonally
- A cat over-grooming her belly or legs, which is easy to miss until the fur is gone
Persistent itching is worth a proper look rather than another bath, and our dermatology and skin service is where that gets sorted out. Allergies, mites, a yeast overgrowth and a flea problem all look like a scratching dog from across the room, and they need different answers.
Anything acutely painful, an obviously infected paw, or a cut pad that keeps bleeding should go through our urgent care the same day.
Cats get wet too
Indoor-outdoor cats come home damp for months, and long-haired cats mat behind the ears, under the armpits and along the back end. A mat that is wet underneath is uncomfortable and hides skin problems.
Two things to watch in cats: an older cat who stops grooming, which is worth a senior pet wellness check rather than being put down to laziness, and a cat who suddenly grooms one area constantly, which is often the first sign of a flea problem or a sore spot underneath.
The other coastal detail is what cats and dogs pick up along the shoreline. Our guide to lake and beach safety in Nanaimo covers the water itself, and the rinse-and-dry habit it recommends is exactly the one that carries into autumn.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dog chew his feet every evening?
Usually irritation rather than habit: damp skin, an allergy or a yeast overgrowth, with the licking itself keeping the area wet and making it worse. Give a proper drying routine a few days. If the chewing continues, or the skin turns red, raw or smelly, book a look rather than waiting it out.
Should I bathe a muddy dog every time?
No. Frequent shampooing strips the skin and can make itching worse. A plain water rinse of the legs and belly, followed by proper drying, is better for a routine muddy walk. Save shampoo for when your dog is genuinely dirty or when we have recommended a specific product.
Do raincoats help or make skin problems worse?
They help, as long as the coat comes off when you get home and both the dog and the coat dry out. A damp coat left on for hours creates exactly the warm, wet conditions you are trying to avoid.
What is a hot spot and how fast do they appear?
It is a rapidly spreading area of inflamed, moist, painful skin, often under a thick coat where damp has been trapped. They can go from nothing to an angry, raw patch within a day, which is why they are worth phoning about the moment you find one rather than waiting to see if it settles.
My cat is matted. Can I cut the mats out?
Please do not use scissors. The skin lifts up into a tight mat, so cutting blind is how those wounds happen. Mats need clippers, and a badly matted cat is usually more comfortable being clipped professionally.
Is mud itself harmful?
Mud is mostly a nuisance rather than a hazard. The problems come from what is in it and from the wet it leaves behind: grit that abrades, standing water that carries bacteria, and skin that never dries. Rinse, dry, and most of the risk goes away.
Speak to the team at Coastal City Animal Hospital
If your pet is licking, scratching or shaking more than usual this autumn, phone us and let us have a look before it settles into a cycle.
Published by the team at Coastal City Animal Hospital.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for an in-person veterinary examination or advice about your individual pet. If you have an urgent concern about your pet, contact Coastal City Animal Hospital or your nearest emergency veterinary hospital right away.
Coastal City Animal Hospital
#105-1849 Dufferin Crescent, Nanaimo, BC V9S 0B1
Phone: (778) 441-3989
Email: info@coastalcityanimalhospital.ca
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM