What if your dog gets their paw pads injured?
The best way to tell whether your dog’s paw pads have suffered an injury is to inspect them after every walk or at least once a day. This is absolutely necessary because not all dogs might have the same degree of sensitivity in their feet. Therefore, some might not show pain until the problem has progressed and gotten more severe.
Also, small cuts can easily become a problem and cause an infection when they aren’t discovered early.
When you take your pooch to the veterinary clinic in the first months of owning them, you should ask your vet what you can do in case your dog develops a paw pad problem.
Most wounds can be cleaned with boiled water followed by betadine or a very mild (yet completely effective) disinfectant such as ethacridine lactate (commercially known in some countries such as Rivanol). The latter doesn’t even cause pain.
Once you are done cleaning the wound, you might have to apply a general ointment such as Neosporin (which can be used in pets), but this might not even have to be necessary depending on how the injury looks.
The biggest issue when it comes to foot or pad injuries is that dogs tend to lick them, and as such, they contaminate that area with the germs that they have in their mouths or that they’ve recently come in contact with and might still be present in their oral cavities.
There’s so much that you can do at home, which means that when your dog’s paw pads start looking weird and even start smelling funny, you simply have to take your pet to the animal hospital.
Infections can easily spread to other body areas, and some of these germs can be very dangerous – your dog will step on the ground throughout their life, and some bacteria can be so risky to the point that in the appropriate conditions, they might even be able to cause gangrene.
If the paw pad is actually coming off or seems to be getting there, consult your veterinarian immediately.
In some cases, it may have to be removed depending on how damaged it is; in others, it may have to be kept in place using specific medical solutions, complete with a bandage that needs to be changed on a regular basis.
How to Care for Your Dog’s Paw Pads
It is important to check your dog’s pads frequently (as well as between their nails) to make sure nothing has made its home there.
Pebbles, burrs, and even ticks can lodge themselves into those places. Especially fluffier dogs, whose paws tend to have fur in between their pads, need to be inspected regularly to make sure nothing harmful is getting stuck there.
Step number 1: Cleaning the wound
It is advisable to start by inspecting the wound – check for foreign objects like metal shards, wooden spikes, or glass. If a foreign object is lodged superficially, you can try removing it with tweezers. If there are more foreign bodies, you can use the hose to pressure them out of the wound.
However, if the foreign body is lodged deeply, you should not attempt to remove it on your own. Digging into the wound will only make things worse and is extremely painful. Deep-seated foreign objects must be released under sedation at the vet’s office.
If there is no foreign body or you managed to remove it, you can use a dog-friendly antibacterial soap or Betadine solution to disinfect the wound.
Do dogs paw pads grow back?
The black pads on a dog’s feet grow back if they are injured or removed, although veterinary assistance is recommended if the pad is hanging. These protective layers can become injured if the dog makes a sudden turn while running at high speed or from moving on rough surfaces.
Daily care is highly beneficial in these cases, as the soft, sensitive tissue underneath the pad can become more irritated or infected if not tended to. The wound should be washed three times a day for best results, and an antiseptic, such as chlorhexidine, is safe to use when lightly mixed with water. A thick sock or specialized boot can protect the wound from becoming further agitated. It takes approximately 10 days for the pad to heal entirely. ADVERTISEMENT