Dog Paw Injury - Home Remedies For Your Pal's Paws
Dog Paw Injury - Home Remedies For Your Pal's Paws
When you think of the amount of wear and tear that a dog's paw takes, it really is amazing that there isn't a higher rate of dog paw injury. True the skin on a paw pad is the toughest on a dog's body but then think about all the running, leaping, stopping on a dime and scratching that a dog does. Nike could only dream about making a sneaker that was as durable.
But on occasion your canine friend will push the paw beyond its limits or cross some terrain he shouldn't and winds up with a dog paw injury. Fortunately most of these wounds can be treated by the dog owner and do not require an expensive trip to the vet.
That said, never hesitate to go to the veterinarian if your dog has a serious injury or you feel uncomfortable treating your pet yourself.
Another important point to keep in mind whenever you are treating your pet at home is your dog is in pain and he's not going to take kindly to you causing more. It's a smart precaution to place a muzzle on him before you attempt to help him out.
Common Dog Paw Injuries and Treatment
Cuts and Abrasions
A dog's paw has many blood vessels just below the pad so any cut, deep or shallow, will probably bleed quite a bit and your first job is to stop the bleeding. If you are away from home when the injury occurs you're going to have to find something to use as an improvised bandage to control the bleeding until you can get him home.
Once at home you want to clean the wound using an antiseptic wash like hydrogen peroxide diluted in water or failing that, just soapy water. If the wound is deep then know you are going to need to visit the vet for stitches. If however, it's a shallow cut then put a little antibiotic gel like Neosporin on the cut and then bandage.
The bandage should be a piece of gauze secured by loosely wrapping a self adhesive tape around it. Make sure the tape is not snug as you don't want to cut off circulation. The cut should heal in three to four days which means you will probably have to replace the bandage at least twice to prevent infection.
Objects Lodged Between Toes
This is probably the most common of paw problems. Burrs, glass, pebbles, thorns and even the dog's own hair can get stuck between his toes and cause a fair amount of pain. Removing these objects is fairly simple but you want to make sure your dog is muzzled for this one.
Removing these objects is best done with a steady hand and a pair of tweezers. Use a pair of sewing scissors to trim the hair if required. If the object has punctured or scrapped the pad, apply an antibiotic and bandage the dog for a day to prevent the gel from picking up more debris.
Using an Elizabethan Collar
These collars are usually associated with efforts to keep dogs from biting themselves but in this instance what we need to do is prevent the dog from chewing off the bandage. Yes he'll look a bit goofy but if you don't collar him you are going to be constantly reapplying bandages.
The best way to treat dog paw injury is to prevent it. Always be aware of the surface your dog is walking on. If you're out for a walk and the pavement is hot you're not doing your pal any favors.
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