Our dog’s paws are extremely hard working all year round but never more so than during the colder months when paw maintenance is of particular importance.
As with everything prevention is better than cure so make a habit of checking your pooches paws on a regular basis for any foreign bodies such as thorns or burrs. Ensure that dew claws and nails are trimmed short to help prevent injury, although claws wear down naturally from walking many dogs still need to have them trimmed.
Make sure the fur between the pads is mat free, keeping the fur short around paws will help to prevent this, if your dog is regularly groomed your groomer will more than likely do this for you, otherwise a vet can advise you on this.
Injuries to paws and nails are very common and as they are full of blood vessels they can bleed a lot, however for minor injuries applying pressure with a gauze pad will help the wound to clot. If you cannot stop the bleed or have any concerns contact your vet. It’s also worth noting that any wound around the paws can become easily infected so must be kept clean and dry.
Wasp and Bee stings to paws are not uncommon in the warmer months but in autumn wasps that are still hanging around can be extremely grumpy. In the majority of wasp sting cases, the worst you dog will endure is a swollen paw and some pain that should go away after a short period of time. However, some dogs may be allergic to wasp stings and if you are at all concerned contact your vet as soon as possible for advice.
In winter potential hazards include the formation of ice balls between the pads when walking in the snow. This can be very uncomfortable for your dog and can potentially lead to ice burns. Again keeping the fur between your dog’s paws short can help to prevent this. If you do find compacted snow between the pads gently remove by melting away by bathing the foot in luke warm water (never hot). Never try and pull the ice ball off as this could lead to the painful loss of hair or even skin. As a rule of thumb it is advisable to wash your dog’s paws after winter walks, particularly if walking in a suburban area as warm water will also remove any salt or de-icer. De-icer is extremely toxic to dogs and if your dog’s feet have come in contact with some it may potentially be ingested if your dog subsequently grooms its feet. You may also want to consider using a paw wax or balm prior to a walk to help protect your dog’s feet by creating a barrier that repels ice and salt.
Please be assured, although your dog’s paws may need a little extra attention during the colder months there’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy a crisp, cold walk with your four legged friend.