Dog Paw Care
Your dog's paws are some of the most tender parts of their body.
Would you normally walk everywhere barefoot? Some dogs won't face any
problems in their everyday lives, but if you live in an urban area or
have an active lifestyle you will have to go the extra yard to protect
their precious feet. There are several steps to take when caring for
your dog's paws. These can be broken down into preventative measures and
healing measure.
Preventative measures start with you staying alert. Remember that
they aren't wearing shoes. Try to avoid walking on hot asphalt when
possible. Their feet are particularly sensitive to the summer heat. Also
try to watch for broken glass and debris on the streets in the summer.
Watch for rock salt and patches of ice in the winter. Remember that your
dog may not always avoid these by themselves. They do not want to
disappoint their faithful master, so some dogs will not immediately
alert you to their discomfort on a walk.
If you are really concerned, you can look into dog booties or paw
wax. The booties are just booties. Rescue dogs often use them due to the
debris around an emergency scene. They'll serve the same protection to
your dog. The wax just reduces the wear and tear from the environment.
It is also handy in icy weather as a means to give them better
protection against the snow.
Unfortunately, even the best protection won't save them. If they get
cuts on their paws, you need to be able to treat them. Treating cuts
isn't too difficult. First, analyze the injury. Check to see if there is
any debris inside the wound. Once the obvious bits are removed, you can
rest the paw in a warm bath of Epsom salts. Move the injured paw gently
back and forth to shake lose any more embedded debris. Dry the paw
gently with a towel.
Then double check with tweezers to make sure it's completely clear.
Finally, disinfect the cut with betadine. You can just pour some over
the paw or use a sterilized piece of gauze to dab it onto the cut.
Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide cause damage to their gentle feet
which only slows the healing. If you are very worried about an
infection, you can pick up a special antibiotic cream to apply over the
next few days. If the cut is very deep or large, you may want to take
them to the vet for a more in-depth cleaning.
Your dog's paws are very sensitive and need special care. Take these
steps to ensure that your pet has a long and health life with any undue
pain.
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