You are viewing the article How to Care for a Dog’s Injured Feet at Tnhelearning.edu.vn you can quickly access the necessary information in the table of contents of the article below.
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This article was co-written by Lauren Baker, DVM, PhD. Dr. Baker is a veterinarian and Comparative Biomedical Science PhD student. Dr. Baker received his veterinarian degree from the University of Wisconsin in 2016 and went on to pursue his doctorate with work in the Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory.
There are 11 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 5,652 times.
A dog’s paws act as a cushion to protect bones and joints, and also provide insulation. [1] X Source of Study Dogs are constantly on their feet and often have little protection, so their paw pads are prone to tearing or injury. However, dogs with torn paw pads do not know how to rest and let the wound heal, but continue to act according to the dog’s instincts – run, jump, play and make the wound turn pale again and again. Even the pressure placed on the paws when walking can cause the wound in the dog’s paw pad to tear again. [2] X Source of Research This part of dogs is susceptible to infection, so prompt care for your dog is important.
Steps
Diagnosis and assessment of wounds
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Watch for signs of limping, squirming, or bleeding. If your dog suddenly avoids walking on a certain paw or keeps licking his paws, chances are his paw pad has been injured. [3] X Research Sources
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Check your dog’s paws as soon as you notice signs of discomfort. Observe the entire foot: between the toes, on the top of the foot, and the slits between the pads of the foot. [4] X Source of Study Check for signs of bleeding, cuts or abrasions, debris stuck between the feet or toenails. Your dog may also have a broken nail and bleed profusely. [5] X Research Sources
- Be careful when approaching the dog, as it can bite you in pain.
- Be gentle and talk to it in a soothing voice.
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Determine if the dog needs to be taken to the vet. You can take care of a cut or tear in your dog’s paw at home if the wound is less than 1.3 cm in diameter. [6] X Research Source However, if the cut is too deep, you will need to consult your doctor. You should also consult a doctor if your dog is bleeding heavily or oozing pus.
- Many vets don’t stitch small cuts, but they can give your dog antibiotics to fight infection. [7] X Research Sources
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Act quickly when you notice a potential problem. Wounds on a dog’s paws are susceptible to infection, so they need to be treated immediately. [8] X Research Sources
Wound treatment
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Sponge. Gently wash your dog’s paws under warm running water or pour lukewarm water into a clean bucket to soak the dog’s paws in. This soak is to remove dirt that can get stuck in the dog’s paws. If needed, you can use tweezers to pick up the crumbs. [9] X Research Source
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Stop bleeding. If the dog’s paw continues to bleed after removing debris and cleaning the wound, gently press the wound with gauze or a clean cloth to stop the bleeding. [10] X Research Source If you can’t stop the bleeding after 5 minutes of continuous pressure, take your dog to the vet.
- Have the dog lie down and elevate the injured paw to help slow the bleeding.
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Dilute the disinfectant solution. You will need to use an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine (eg, Betadine, Pyodine, and Wokadine) to kill germs around the wound. However, concentrated antiseptic solutions can burn your dog’s paws. You need to dilute 1 part povidone-iodine solution with 10 parts warm water. The solution will have the color of diluted tea after mixing with water. [11] X Research Source
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Apply disinfectant solution. After you’ve rinsed off the blood and debris and the wound is clean, pour some diluted povidone-iodine solution onto a cotton ball and apply it to your dog’s injured paw. Wait a while to dry.
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Apply antibiotic ointment to the wound. You can use a human antibiotic ointment such as bacitracin (Neosporin) or a formulation made for dogs (Vetericyn). Antibiotic ointments will help prevent infection and are still safe if your dog licks the wound. [12] X Research Source
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Cover the wound with absorbent gauze. The bottom layer in contact with the wound should be sterile and non-adhesive. The gauze should also be large enough to cover the wound. Some good brands are Telfa and Medtronic. You can buy this product at most pharmacies and medical supply stores.
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Wrap your dog’s injured paw and protect it from further injury. Gently wrap the dog’s paws and gauze with a self-adhesive bandage designed for animals (such as Vertrap, Pet-Flex, or Pet Wrap). Leave the dog’s toes outside and wrap the dog’s paw up to the ankle joint. The toenails will almost touch each other. If the toenails are split or if the dog’s paws seem cold, the bandage is probably too tight and will have to be removed. [13] X Research Source
- This step not only prevents the wound from infection, but also creates a soft cushion for the dog’s paws.
- Remember not to squeeze so tightly that it impedes blood flow. The bandage should be tight enough that it won’t slip off, but loose enough that you can slip two fingers under it. Bandages that are too tight will cut off blood flow to the dog’s paws, and can even cause limb necrosis. Call your veterinarian if you are concerned that the bandage is too tight.
Help your dog recover
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Change the dog’s bandages daily. While the wound heals, you’ll need to change your dog’s bandages daily or more often if the wound is bleeding or oozing. Dogs sweat through their paws, so you need to take care to make sure the bandages stay clean and dry. [14] X Research Source
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Do not let your dog lick or bite the bandage. Your dog may lick or tear off the bandage, making it harder for the wound to heal, and increasing the risk of infection. You can use an anti-chewing product like bitter apple spray on the outside of the bandage to prevent your dog from licking or chewing.
- If this doesn’t work, you can use an anti-lick collar, a type of collar shaped like a lampshade to limit movement, and wear it around the dog’s neck for a few days. [15] X Research Source
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Let your dog wear shoes when outside. Even if it’s injured, your dog still needs to be outside for a walk or need to go to the bathroom every now and then. To protect your dog’s paws better and recover well, you should buy dog shoes to cover the injured paw every time you let your dog out to play.
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Reassess the wound after a few days. If after three days the wound is still bleeding and the mouth is open, take your dog to the vet for further treatment. [16] X Research Source
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Quickly treat infections. An infection in a dog’s paw can cause many problems if left untreated. While the wound is healing, you should watch for swelling or redness in your dog’s paws, a sign that the dog may have an infection. When changing the dressing, you can also tell if the wound is infected by the smell or discharge. Another sign of an infection is the dog’s sudden onset of severe pain or inability to walk. If any of these occur, you need to take your dog to the vet immediately. [17] X Research Source
Prevention of foot injuries
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Check your dog’s paws after going outside. After letting your dog out to play, you need to make sure there are no debris trapped in the dog’s paws that could damage the paw pad. Removes gravel, tree nuts and other debris between the toes that can irritate and cut your dog’s paws. You can use tweezers to remove these. [18] X Research Source You should also keep a bucket of water nearby to wash your dog’s paws before entering the house. [19] X Research Source
- Actively taking care of the dog’s paws is also a useful measure. The earlier the problem is detected, the easier it is to treat.
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Keep the garden clean. Injuries can’t always be prevented, but there are some simple things you can do to keep your pet safe. One of these measures is to check the yard to make sure there are no broken glass, small pebbles, or metal shards that could lodge in the dog’s paws. Prevention is always easier than cure. [20] X Research Source
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Pay attention to the weather. Dog paws are quite sensitive to extreme weather. The heat on the sidewalk can burn a dog’s paws, and snow, ice, and salt are equally vulnerable. When it’s extremely hot outside, you should try to get your dog outside early in the morning before sunrise or late in the afternoon after the sun has set to make sure the dog’s paws don’t blister from the heat. [21] X Research Source Dog shoes or paw wax can help protect a dog’s paws in cold or snowy weather.
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Apply moisturizer to your dog’s paws. You can keep your dog’s paws healthy and strong by applying moisturizer and preventing dryness. Remember to use a moisturizer made for dogs, as human products are not good for them. Your veterinarian can recommend a suitable product for you. [22] X Research Source You can also use vitamin E to massage your dog’s paws. [23] X Research Sources
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Avoid overdoing your dog’s injured paw. Like athletes, dogs need time to get used to a new exercise routine. If you go hiking or jogging, you need to gradually acclimate your dog and paws to the new activity to prevent scratching or chafing. [24] X Research Sources
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This article was co-written by Lauren Baker, DVM, PhD. Dr. Baker is a veterinarian and Comparative Biomedical Science PhD student. Dr. Baker received his veterinarian degree from the University of Wisconsin in 2016 and went on to pursue his doctorate with work in the Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory.
There are 11 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 5,652 times.
A dog’s paws act as a cushion to protect bones and joints, and also provide insulation. [1] X Source of Study Dogs are constantly on their feet and often have little protection, so their paw pads are prone to tearing or injury. However, dogs with torn paw pads do not know how to rest and let the wound heal, but continue to act according to the dog’s instincts – run, jump, play and make the wound turn pale again and again. Even the pressure placed on the paws when walking can cause the wound in the dog’s paw pad to tear again. [2] X Source of Research This part of dogs is susceptible to infection, so prompt care for your dog is important.
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