This report describes the treatment of simple syndactyly in a Golden R
etriever, The left forepaw lacked cutaneous separation between the dig
its and had confluent metacarpal and digital pads. After vigorous exer
cise, the dog had intermittent non-weight-bearing lameness involving t
he affected forepaw The lameness may have resulted from stretching of
the thin skin on the dorsum of the paw as the digits attempted to spre
ad during weight bearing. Surgical separation of digits 3 and 4 was pe
rformed by creating an interdigital web space with dorsal and palmar s
kin flaps and by covering the exposed axial surfaces with full-thickne
ss skin grafts. At 11 weeks after surgery, the lameness had improved a
nd the dog's level of activity had increased.