In response to the hand cream idea....it sounds really good, I'll try it, however, Graham's pads are rough but not nearly as rough as my labs' paws were. My lab had like tree bark on his feet, they were so rough. I wondered if that's really what it could be since his pads are not too rough. I'll try it and see how it goes. I have some really good, super rich hand cream...he won't have popcorn paws anymore tho, he'll have vitamin E feet!