A dog s paws are incredibly tough but they are not indestructible.
Dog split paw pad.
Your dog s cut paw pad will heal faster if it s protected until fully healed.
Additionally because the paw pad is made from a different type of skin and tissue it serves very specific and distinct functions for your dog.
Dog paw problems can quickly escalate into a bigger problem if not treated early.
A dog can injure their paw pad in numerous ways.
Injuries to a dog s paw pad range from blisters and abrasions to pressure callus formations to ulcers burns avulsions lacerations and more.
Paw pads can also be injured by extreme temperatures and it s not unknown for dogs to experience burned paw pads on very hot days.
A torn foot pad doesn t hold stitches well so cuts and punctures take longer to heal.
During a walk or carelessness at home your dog may step on a piece of glass or other sharp debris.
If your dog limps or licks at her pads take heed.
Zinc deficiency a poor quality diet will also cause a dog to have very thick paw pads leaving them more susceptible to drying and cracking.
Keep him quiet and prevent him from running or chewing at the bandage this may require the use of an elizabethan collar.
Hard pad disease a condition which manifests itself by affecting your dog s paw pads causing them to be sore and cracked may occur after your dog has battled canine distemper.
Apart from objects on the ground that might injure a paw there are other things that might be the cause of the problem.
Recovery of paw pad issues and injuries in dogs ensuring that you trim your dog s nails including the dew claw on a regular basis will prevent ingrown toenails as well as helping to maintain proper alignment of the feet and improving traction.
Check the pads for damage frequently.
Common paw pad injuries include lacerations punctures and abrasions.
In general paw pad wounds are borne from contact with foreign bodies or unfavorable soil conditions.
Even after your dog s pad has healed enough that it isn t painful to touch it will still be tender and vulnerable to reinjury.
There s dirt debris bacteria and all sorts of unmentionables left behind by other animals which can result in any kind of cut tear or cracked pad becoming infected.
You may notice loose skin like a blister on the bottom of your dog s paws or even a raw ulcer.
She may have a foot pad that is torn punctured or burned.
This includes dryness of the pads which then develops into a more serious problem namely painful cracks.
If a dog steps on glass or other sharp objects even the toughest paw pad can get cut.
In addition rocky terrains or simple sharp stones can also cause pad injuries.
Walking on the injured foot often opens up the wound and further delays healing.
