Do Pit Bulls Have Webbed Feet? Here’s How They Affect Your Dog

Do you have a pitbull that struggles with swimming while you see other people’s dogs swimming leisurely and having fun? Well, it all depends on whether your dog has webbed feet or not.

So, do Pit Bulls have webbed feet? Purebred Pitbulls don’t have webbed feet as they were primarily bred for fighting and hunting. Meanwhile, the dogs that were bred for swimming will typically have webbed feet. Only mixed-breed Pit bulls might have webbed feet, and they would have little connective tissue between their paws.

Keep reading to know more about your Pit Bull’s feet and how webbed feet can affect a dog’s life.

Do Pit Bulls Have Webbed Feet?

First, you have to understand that the name “Pit Bull” is the general term to describe certain dog breeds with a very strong and buff physique. The breeds that are considered purebred Pit Bulls include American Pit Bull Terriers, American Bullies, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

These purebred Pit Bulls don’t have webbed feet as they were not bred to swim or live in a muddy environment. They usually have a thin connective skin tissue between their toes just like any dog, but this skin tissue doesn’t classify them being described as webbed-feet dogs.

Even humans have a little bit of connective tissue between their fingers, but we don’t go around calling it webbing.

Webbed feet are usually described as thick skin tissue between the dogs’ toes that help them swim easily, walk over mud, and live in a tough environment that requires it. This tissue gives it the look of a duck’s feet or a snorkeling swim fin.

They are a characteristic of water-type dogs that live in a coastal area and have the ability to swim easily and lightly. If your Pit Bull happens to have webbed feet, then it most likely has a water-type dog in its ancestry.

These types of dogs are considered excellent swimmers and they could be used to perform small tasks such as hunting fish, or they could be a very entertaining company if you’re into water sports. Check out this article to learn more about whether Pit Bulls can swim.

Mixed dogs with this characteristic can be easily found because breeding Pitbulls with other breeds is pretty common. Pit Bull mixes that may have this characteristic are:

• Labrabull: It’s a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Pitbull.
• Beagle Pit: It’s a cross between a Pitbull and a Beagle.
• Dox Bull: It’s a mixed breed between a Dachshund and a Pitbull.
• Pitsky: It’s a mixed breed between a Husky and a Pitbull.
• Bullboxer: It’s a mix of a Boxer and a Pitbull.
• Pit Heeler: It’s a mix of a Blue Heeler and a Pitbull.

What Are the Types of Feet That Dogs Have?

You might be wondering if there are other types of dogs’ feet, and why they are relevant. Well, people usually are more concerned with the overall shape and characteristics of their dogs than the shape of their feet, however, that doesn’t negate the fact that dogs have different foot shapes, and each shape has its characteristic.

Here are more types of dogs’ feet in addition to the webbed feet:

Cat’s Feet

They are cat-like paws in the sense that they are round and tidy. This shape is usually found in breeds with high endurance as the shape of their feet helps them move around with little effort.

Dogs like Akitas, Dobermans, and Giant Schnauzer are characterized by this type.

Hare Feet

They are characterized by two long middle toes and short outer toes. They have a smaller than usual arch, so they appear longer than other types.

Even though this type of paws requires more energy to lift and is heavier than the other types, dogs with hare feet are very fast. Dogs of this type include Greyhounds and Borzois.

Is Having Webbed Feet Dangerous for Pit Bulls?

Even though having a dog with webbed feet poses very intriguing ideas such as having a fascinating swimming partner, you’re probably wondering if it also poses health dangers as it inherently should not have it.

Unfortunately, webbed feet do have some risks. Let’s break them down in more detail:

Cleft Palate

Genetic abnormalities are found in dogs with this condition. Dogs normally don’t have a blank area in their mouth since their mouths’ roofs should be stuck together to not allow any passage of harmful bacteria.

When a dog with a Cleft palate condition is still an embryo, its feet get webbed instead of its mouth’s roof getting glued.

Short Tibia-Fibula

The back part of a dog’s leg consists of 2 bones called the Tibia and Fibula. These bones may fuse due to the same gene that causes webbed paws.

If that’s the case with your dog, then you’re facing a health hazard that needs serious intervention, as a dog’s fused tibia and fibula provide a serious risk of fractures and difficulties with moving.

If your dog happens to have this abnormality, it can undergo surgery to fix it, but we all know that surgeries could be painful and traumatic for the dog.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is the bending of a dog’s spine to the side. If you want to check if your dog has this condition, you should feel its body and notice how it carries itself.

This condition causes noticeable limping, and it should be treated immediately as it can paralyze your dog. This condition has a connection to webbed feet as they both cause bone abnormalities in dogs.

Other Dangers

A dog with webbed feet may also be harmed by simple tasks such as walking and running because they get dirt stuck between their toes that could harbor many bacteria or get pierced with sharp objects on the ground. Moreover, they are more prone to ticks than normal dogs.

How to Care for Dogs with Webbed Feet?

Generally, dogs’ paws are critical for them to have a good life quality. They depend on their paws to walk, run, control their temperature, and protect themselves from rocky or slippery roads. It also acts as a guide to their health.

As with anything else in the world, if you have a dog, you must have good care of it and more definitely if your dog has webbed paws. So, here are some ways to have your dog’s paws in a pristine state:

Inspect them for ticks

Ticks carry bacteria and could infect you or your pet with serious diseases. They mostly stick on your pet’s ear, armpits, or any area where they could reach the skin.

Webbed feet are the perfect place for them to live, so you should do regular tick check-ups on your dog, especially after going out.

Clean them Thoroughly

Don’t just pour some water on them and call it a day. You should get dog soap and a cloth and clean between the paws while checking for injuries between them.

This is also in addition to trimming their nails, and cutting the hair between their toes regularly, as the overall health of the paw is essential.

The Pros and Cons of Webbed Feet

Pros	Cons
As the connective tissue provides them with a wider surface area on their feet, they are able to swim through the water easily and freely.  On the other hand, dogs without that webbing usually get fatigued easily in water and are more bound to drown.	If you live in a snowy country and have a dog with webbed feet, you have to be extremely careful, as the snow may get stuck on the webbing and harm the dog.  Dogs with normal feet rarely go through this as they don’t have a large area on their feet for snow to stick to.
Land Stability: They can roam on any surface as the webbing increases the hold of the dog’s feet on the ground to help them keep their stability. This is mostly useful in muddy areas. In contrast, a non-webbed-foot dog will most likely sink in muddy terrains.	Health issues such as Cleft Palate, Short Tibia-Fibula, Scoliosis, and Ticks.
All dog lovers know that dogs have a thing for digging in the dirt.  Webbed feet act as a shovel to scoop more dirt and move it around, while normal feet will require more time to move the same amount of dirt.	If you intend to participate in a show ring, webbed feet are not a great characteristic for your dog to have, unless your dog is a water-type and is expected to have webbed feet.

Related Questions 

What Are the Dog Breeds That Have Webbed Legs?

The dog breeds that have webbed legs are:

• Labrador Retriever
• Dachshund
• Otterhounds
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Newfoundland
• Redbone Coonhounds
• Portuguese Water Dog
• German Short-Haired Pointer
• Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever

What Kind of Paws do Pit Bulls have?

Pit Bulls have strong paws with thin connective tissue between their toes because they were bred for heavy duties like fighting and hunting. They can jump extremely high, handle carrying huge weights, and have exceptional agility thanks to their powerful paws.

Helpful Resources

Proper Paw Care: How to Treat and Prevent Cracked Dog Paws

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