ClawsA hard, curved claw grows from the end of each toe. A dog's claws are always out.
Digital padsThe small oval pad under each toe. Four of them carry the dog's weight.
Metacarpal padThe largest pad of a front paw. Shaped a little like a heart. It sits behind the toe pads.
DewclawA fifth toe on the inner side of the front leg. It is set higher than the other four and does not touch the ground when the dog stands.
Carpal padA small pad higher up, on the back of the wrist. It gives extra grip when the dog stops or goes down a slope.
Dog hind paw 2
Digital padsThe four toe pads of a hind paw. A hind paw has no carpal pad, and most dogs have no dewclaw on it.
Metatarsal padThe largest pad of a hind paw. It does the same job as the metacarpal pad of a front paw.
Cat front paw 5
ClawsCat claws rest pulled back into the fur round the toe pads. Only the tips show. That keeps them sharp.
Digital padsThe small pad under each toe. A cat has five toes on a front paw, counting the dewclaw.
Metacarpal padThe large pad behind the toe pads. On a cat its rear edge has three lobes.
DewclawThe first toe of a cat's front paw, on the inner side. It is set higher than the other four.
Carpal padA small pad on the back of the wrist. It is under a wrist bone that sticks out.
How this list was compiled: Every name and detail line was checked on 2026-09-30, for facts only and with nothing copied, in at least two of these: (1) S. Sisson, The Anatomy of the Domestic Animals, 2nd edition, 1914, the skin of the dog (pads of the right fore paw and hind paw), https://archive.org/details/anatomyofdomesti00siss; (2) Wikipedia, Paw; (3) Wikipedia, Dewclaw and Cat anatomy; (4) American Kennel Club, What Are Dewclaws on Dogs; (5) St. George Mivart, The Cat, 1881, the under surface of the fore-paw and hind-paw, https://archive.org/details/catintroductiont00miva; (6) J. Reighard and H. S. Jennings, Anatomy of the Cat, 1901. The sources list says which source gave what. Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site on 2026-09-30 from plain shapes. Own original schematic drawing; nothing traced or copied. Licence: own work
How it works
These are the parts of a dog paw, seen from underneath with the toes pointing up. A hind paw and a cat's front paw follow, so you can see what changes.
Read the full guide
Three paws, one at a time
The dog's front paw comes first, with five parts named: claws, digital pads, metacarpal pad, dewclaw and carpal pad. The hind paw has a metatarsal pad in place of the metacarpal pad. The cat's front paw has the same parts as the dog's. Tap a name to read about it, then press Quiz me.
Front paw, hind paw, cat paw
The parts of a dog's paw differ from front to back: the carpal pad is on the front leg only, and most dogs have dewclaws only in front. The parts of a cat's paw match the dog's, but a cat's claws rest pulled back into the fur.
Digital means of a toe: the digital pads are the toe pads.
Meta-carpal is on a front paw and meta-tarsal on a hind paw, like the wrist and ankle bones they are named for.
Questions and answers
What are the pads on a dog's paw called?
The small pad under each toe is a digital pad. The large pad behind them is the metacarpal pad on a front paw and the metatarsal pad on a hind paw. The small pad higher up the front leg is the carpal pad.
What is the pad on the back of a dog's front leg?
The carpal pad. It sits on the back of the wrist, above the paw, and gives the dog extra grip when it stops or goes down a slope. Hind legs do not have one.
Do dogs have dewclaws on their back legs?
Most do not. Almost every dog has a dewclaw on each front leg, on the inner side above the paw. Only some dogs have them on the hind legs as well.
How many pads does a cat have on each paw?
Seven on a front paw: five toe pads, counting the dewclaw's, one large pad behind them and the carpal pad on the wrist. A hind paw has five: four toe pads and one large pad.