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The dog's paw acts as a cushion, protecting its bones and joints while also providing insulation. Dogs are constantly on their paws, which are seldom shielded, making the pads vulnerable to tears or injury. However, dogs with torn paw pads don't know to rest and let the injury heal, continuing to act on their natural instincts – running, playing, and reopening the wound. Even the pressure from walking can cause the injury to reopen. This part of the dog’s body is prone to infections, so timely care is crucial to ensure your dog’s recovery.
Steps
Diagnosing and Evaluating the Injury
Look for signs like limping, licking, or bleeding. If your dog suddenly avoids walking on one paw or constantly licks its paw, it’s likely that the pad has been injured.
Examine your dog's paw as soon as you notice signs of discomfort. Inspect the entire paw: the spaces between the toes, the top of the paw, and the gaps between the pads. Look for signs of bleeding, cuts or scrapes, debris stuck between the paw pads or nails. Your dog may also have a torn nail with significant bleeding.
- Be cautious when approaching your dog as it may bite you if in pain.
- Be gentle and speak to your dog in a soothing voice.
Determine if you need to take your dog to the vet. You can care for a small cut or tear at home if the wound is less than 1.3 cm in diameter. However, if the cut is deep, you'll need to consult a vet. You should also seek a vet’s advice if your dog is bleeding heavily or oozing pus.
- Many vets don't stitch small cuts, but they may prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.
Act quickly if you notice any potential issues. Foot injuries in dogs can easily become infected, so immediate treatment is necessary.
Treating the wound
Wash the wound. Gently rinse your dog’s paw under warm water or pour lukewarm water into a clean bucket for your dog to soak its paw. Soaking helps remove any dirt or debris that may be lodged in the paw. If necessary, you can use tweezers to remove the fragments.
Stop the bleeding. If your dog's paw continues to bleed after removing debris and cleaning the wound, gently apply a clean gauze or cloth to the injury to help control the bleeding. If you are unable to stop the bleeding after applying pressure for 5 minutes, take your dog to the vet.
- Have your dog lie down and raise the injured paw to slow down the blood flow.
Dilute the antiseptic solution. You will need to use an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine (e.g., Betadine, Pyodine, or Wokadine) to kill bacteria around the wound. However, concentrated antiseptic solutions can burn your dog's paw. Dilute 1 part povidone-iodine with 10 parts warm water. The solution should have the appearance of diluted tea once mixed with water.
Apply the antiseptic solution. After cleaning the wound of blood and debris, pour some diluted povidone-iodine onto a cotton ball and apply it to the dog's injured paw. Allow it to dry for a moment.
Apply antibiotic ointment to the wound. You can use human antibiotic ointment like bacitracin (Neosporin) or ointments formulated for dogs (Vetericyn). The antibiotic ointment will help prevent infection and is safe if your dog licks the wound.
Cover the wound with an absorbent gauze pad. The layer of gauze that touches the wound should be sterile and non-stick. The gauze should also be large enough to completely cover the wound. Good brands include Telfa and Medtronic, which are available at most pharmacies and medical supply stores.
Wrap the dog's injured paw to protect it from further harm. Gently wrap the paw and gauze with self-adhesive medical bandages designed for animals (such as Vertrap, Pet-Flex, or Pet Wrap). Leave the dog's toes exposed and wrap the bandage up to the ankle joint. The toenails should nearly touch. If the nails spread apart or if the paw feels cold, you may have wrapped it too tightly and will need to loosen the bandage.
- This step not only prevents infection but also provides a cushion for the dog's paw.
- Be careful not to wrap it too tightly to avoid restricting blood flow. The bandage should be snug enough to stay in place but loose enough to fit two fingers underneath. A bandage that's too tight can cut off blood circulation, leading to potential tissue damage. Call your vet if you're concerned that the bandage is too tight.
Help your dog recover
Change the bandage daily. While the wound heals, you'll need to replace the bandage daily or more often if it's bleeding or discharging. Since dogs sweat through their paws, be sure to keep the bandage clean and dry at all times.
Prevent your dog from licking or chewing the bandage. Your dog may try to lick or chew off the bandage, which could delay healing and increase the risk of infection. You can use an anti-chew spray, like a bitter apple spray, to coat the bandage and discourage licking or chewing.
- If this doesn't work, you can use an Elizabethan collar, a cone-shaped collar, to limit your dog's movement and prevent it from licking the bandage for several days.
Put shoes on your dog when going outside. Even with an injury, your dog still needs to go outside for walks or bathroom breaks. To protect the injured paw and ensure better recovery, consider buying dog shoes to cover the injured paw whenever your dog goes outside to play.
Reassess the wound after a few days. If the wound continues to bleed or remains open after three days, take your dog to the vet for further treatment.
Treat infections promptly. If a dog's paw gets infected, it can lead to serious complications if not addressed in time. While the wound is healing, keep an eye out for swelling or redness on the paw, which could indicate an infection. You may also notice a foul odor or discharge when changing the bandage. Another sign of infection is if the dog suddenly experiences severe pain or becomes unable to walk. If any of these symptoms occur, immediately take your dog to the vet.
Prevent paw injuries.
Inspect your dog's paws after outdoor play. After your dog spends time outside, check their paws to ensure there are no foreign objects like gravel or plant debris trapped between their toes that could harm the paw pads. Remove any debris carefully with tweezers. It’s also helpful to keep a bucket of water nearby to wash your dog's paws before they re-enter the house.
Taking proactive care of your dog's paws can prevent problems from developing. The sooner issues are detected, the easier they are to treat.
Keep the yard clean. While it's not always possible to prevent injuries, there are simple steps you can take to ensure your pet's safety. One of these measures is to regularly check your yard for broken glass, small stones, or metal shards that could get embedded in your dog's paws. Prevention is always easier than treatment.
Pay attention to the weather. A dog's paws are quite sensitive to extreme temperatures. Hot pavement can burn their paws, while snow, ice, and salt can cause just as much damage. On extremely hot days, try taking your dog outside early in the morning before the sun rises or later in the evening after the sun has set to avoid blistering from the heat. Dog booties or paw wax can help protect your dog's paws in cold or snowy weather.
Apply paw moisturizer for your dog. You can keep your dog's paws healthy and strong by moisturizing them to prevent dryness and cracking. Be sure to use a product made specifically for dogs, as human products are not safe for them. A vet can recommend a suitable product. You can also use vitamin E to massage your dog's paws.
Avoid overexerting a dog with injured paws. Just like athletes, dogs need time to let their bodies adjust to a new exercise routine. If you're going on long walks or runs, make sure to gradually acclimate your dog and their paws to the new activity level to avoid cuts or cracks.
