Nova Moon is a gorgeous retired greyhound who was adopted in August 2025. At this time, while Nova Moon was ready to start a new chapter as a companion dog, she was experiencing discomfort caused by two corns on her right front toes. Corns are hard, circular growths of thickened paw pad tissue (a little like calluses in humans) that are thought to develop as a result of repeated mechanical trauma. They can cause significant pain and lameness in greyhounds – something akin to a permanent rock in your shoe!
Some modifications at home can sometimes help manage corns – using booties, keeping the paw pads moist and trying to walk on soft surfaces. Corns can also be surgically removed but they often come back because removal does not address the underlying cause.
Another and often curative treatment option involves surgery for a procedure called a “superficial digital flexor tendonectomy” which aims to alleviate the pressure on the corn, allowing it to grow out and disappear. This procedure involves a small incision on the back of the foot. The flexor tendon of the affected digit which curls the joints in the toe is cut and part of it is removed to ensure that it does not heal and grow back together. Removing this bit of tendon essentially puts the digits into permanent extension. This changes the way that the toe pad contacts the ground and alleviates the mechanical trauma that can contribute to corn development. The procedure may sound dramatic but it is minimally invasive and dogs are able to resume normal activity as tolerated once the stitches are removed. It can take several weeks longer for the corn to grow out fully.
Nova Moon was a superstar for her procedure! She had a tendenectomy performed via the same skin incision for the two adjacent affected digits. Dr Victoria saw her at the two week mark to remove the skin sutures. Nova Moon was walking comfortably and the corn was starting to grow out as expected. We are looking forward to seeing Nova Moon back soon and hearing about her adventures in her new life as a pet!
