With the weather being so unpredictable, you need to be prepared for everything!
One thing that faces risk no matter how cold or hot it is outside is your dog’s paws.
The toughest part of your dog’s skin are the foot pads and for good reason they take on a lot of wear and tear. Their main function is to absorb the shock and pressure on the joints be it standing, walking or running.
Most of us have a regular regime to care and maintain our pets so adding an extra few minutes for paw inspection is easy and can avoid a whole host of problems. This is especially important for all you urban dwellers with all the unexpected changes and potential hazards all over the city. It’s as simple as making sure nothing is stuck between their toes, their pads are clean and there are no visible wounds or abrasions. In addition, be aware of the nail length. Fortunately for most city dogs the pavement will keep them at a comfortable healthy length with regular exercise but it’s essential you inspect them frequently to ensure there is no overgrowth. Nails that are too long can cause a lot of discomfort and leave the door open for injury. We do not suggest clipping overgrown nails on your own if you’re not accustomed to doing so. There are veins inside that you can sever and along with the discomfort the bleeding can be excessive. The best way to prevent nail overgrowth is to be observant. If you find that regular exercise is not enough, use a large thick emery board and go over the nails once a week. If you find your dog is resistant as some are, just try and work on one or two nails in a sitting this way it’s not too overwhelming. Just a few strokes will make a difference and prevent the nails from getting too long. If you have any concern that the nails may be overgrown and are causing pain contact your vet.
Some obvious symptoms of a paw injury can include limping, holding the paw off the ground, pad discoloration, excessive licking or chewing of the paw and raw spots and bleeding. If your dog is showing any of these signs, then you need to find the cause. Before you even begin to tackle any discomfort on an injured dog, take proper precautions because even mild mannered dogs can bite if he or she’s in pain and you start poking around. Having another person your dog is comfortable with to assist is a good way to take the focus off you but if that’s not an option a muzzle is a good way to protect yourself from getting bit.
The footpads contain blood vessels, so even a superficial cut can result in what seems like a lot of bleeding. The bleeding should stop soon after the wound is treated, if it doesn’t then contact your vet.
For treating abrasions and small cuts, clean the wound with an anti-bacterial wash and wrap the paw with a light bandage. A simple way to stop your dog from licking and chewing at the bandage is to put a “funnel” or “Elizabethan” collar around their neck for a few days.
Dogs sweat through their footpads, so bandages will moisten within a couple of days. Moist bandages slow down healing and can cause infection, so it is important to check it often and change to a clean bandage every two to three days. Most cuts should heal within a few days, depending on the size. If it
doesn’t and /or you are concerned for any reason contact your vet. For deep paw lacerations, there’s a good chance stitches will be needed so we suggest you take your dog to your vet for the proper treatment. A splint is also routine, because without it when your dog puts the paw on the floor, the pad will spread from their body weight which will likely reopen the cut. This will obviously disrupt the healing process and leaves the wound open for infection.
A dog’s pads can burn and blister from walking on hot pavement or sand. If you look at your dog’s pad there will either be loose skin off the pad itself, or it will have detached leaving a red, ulcerated patch. To treat this simply applies anti-bacterial wash and cover the paw with a bandage until the pad has healed. If your dog has a loose flap of skin on the
pad you need to wait for this to come off, it will on its own or you can go have your vet trim it off. Dog’s pads are naturally rough, this allows them traction to turn, sprint off and stop quickly. If the pads become cracked there is the potential to collect debris, which can cause further injury to the pad. Pads can be moisturized using a special foot pad cream made especially for paws. Common household moisturizers and lotions can soften the pads too much and can put them at risk so it’s best to avoid them.
The most common problem is foreign objects stuck in between the toes. Burrs, pebbles, pieces of glass, dried mud and your dog’s matted fur are the most typical. Most of these can easily be removed with a pair of tweezers or your fingers and a clean cloth. Matted fur can be easily trimmed with shears.
Always contact your vet if you are unsure of the cause of the injury, if you are not comfortable treating the injury on your own, if the wound doesn’t seem to be healing, or if your dog’s paw becomes swollen.
Keep your yard clear of sharp objects. Be mindful when you are out to avoid hazards such as broken glass and other debris, walking on graveled areas for long periods of time, hot pavements in the summer and salts in the winter. Simply put, if it don’t look like a place you would like to walk with your feet chances are they won’t either!
