A dog’s feet are naturally adapted to withstand wear and tear, though there are instances when dog paw protection requires special attention. Whether indoors or outdoors, enjoying time with your canines, watching them sniff around bushes, lifting a leg to mark territory, running about in a mad frenzy chasing after Frisbees and tennis balls, it’s fascinating how responsible pet owners want the best for their dogs yet may lack consciousness about their four-legged friends’ need for dog paw protection, even though they’re constantly in direct contact with all sorts of environmental elements and conditions.
Tailored to be thick and rubbery, dog paws win the bid for providing utmost traction for a firm grip of the ground and to act as cushions for a dog’s bone structure. The footpads offer protection to the joints from substantial shock when walking, running or jumping. They’re essential for dogs living in extreme weather, since dog pads serve as insulators from heat or cold and help the dog smoothly navigate uneven ground.
The significance of dog paws and the need for their protection by those caring for active or sporty dogs should make the following guidelines helpful in showing you how to avoid their injury and ensure a proper and successful administration of tender care if at any time you must deal with damaged dog paws.
How to Protect Dog Paws from Harm
Yeast and Fungus Infection on Paws
Anatomically, a dog’s paw comprises of 5 components: claws, carpal pads, digital pads, dew claws and metacarpal pads. These are adapted for specific functions. The metacarpal and digital pads protect feet joints and bones from excessive shock while the carpal pads aid the dog in navigating steep and slippery terrains by acting as brakes. Dog paw pads are insulated with a subcutaneous layer of fat tissue that protects the feet from extreme temperature. Each of these five parts should be regularly checked to make sure that nothing is jammed in between to impair motion.
It’s easy to ignore the importance of dog paw care. Some time back, we knew someone who told us that she had noticed her beagle had developed a habit of chewing and gnawing her paws. This pet owner had quickly dismissed the habit assuming the dog was pampering herself much as cats do. But the paw worsened with time.
The owner sometimes would catch her pet with the entire paw inside its mouth. Later she found that yeast had been accumulating deep inside all paws and it was the perpetual itching that had been driving her dog nuts. Pet owners who frequently walk their dogs should keep a keen eye for this particular malady. Usually, dog paws get moist from sweat or direct contact with the wet ground. This creates a perfect breeding ground for yeast and fungus. What can you do to remedy this type of situation?
- Use anti-fungal organic shampoo to wash dog paws. Make sure to dry in between toes.
- Maintain a weekly anti-fungal shampoo bath for your dog.
- Limit carbohydrate content in the dog’s diet.
- Include digestive enzymes and probiotics in the diet to reduce the severity of skin allergies.
It may seem that walking on grass should be a safe bet requiring no dog paw protection but keep a lookout for grass seeds. They often lodge themselves on dog claws that may lead to an infection. Check in between toes and the claw cuticles, especially if the dog attempted to dig while outdoors. If you practice routine hygiene on a dog under your care, this will go a long way in the dog paws faring well at avoiding organic buildup on them.
Extreme Temperature Damage on Dog Paws
Walking your dog on a daily basis is recommendable but, depending on where you live, you ought to consider the time of day and specific areas where to walk the canine for the benefit of its paws. The most appropriate time to do a routine walk is in the morning or late after sundown when pathways are not too hot from direct sunlight. At 109o F (43o C), temperature is hot enough to soften asphalt. Dark pavement will absorb heat throughout the day enough to reach an asphalt-melting 122o F (50o C). No dog should be walked under such conditions. The wear on the paw pads will cause acute wounds. If you have to go out with your dog when the sun is up, stay on grassy paths and areas that are adequately shaded.
When the temperature outside falls below 32°F (0°C) walking the dog exposes its paws to frostbite. This is tissue damage as if burned around its feet due to extreme cold. You can tell signs of frostbite on the dog paws by noticing pale discoloration, swollen feet, darkening of the skin around the feet that would indicate dead skin, blisters and ulcers on the pads and also painful reaction from the dog when its brittle paws get touched. Different dogs adapt differently to extreme weather conditions. Despite still needing dog paw protection, the most active canines will have rougher paws with thicker layers of fat under the skin but for most domestic dogs, their paws are soft and lack much fat tissue. You should entirely avoid walking your dog when the weather is too nippy outside.
When cool, however, the pavement is an excellent surface where to exercise a dog unaccustomed to walking. The hard pavement toughens the paw pads. In the long run, your dog will love being more active on its feet, walking, jumping and dashing off on a sudden chase. Provided you conduct your due diligence in dog hygiene, it won’t be necessary to restrict your dog from digging as this also helps keep the pads hard and resistant.
Dog Paw Protection Using Dog Paw Wax
Being a non-toxic organic product from various food grades carefully blended, dog paw wax was designed to create a semi-permeable shield that readily gets absorbed by the footpads to let sweat escape while leaving a breathable medium that encourages tenacity in a dog to endure rugged terrains and unfavorable weather conditions.
When used on injured dog paws, the wax speeds up recovery by maintaining a treated paw free of dirt and particles that may worsen sores. There is a wide range of dog paw wax products to choose from in the stalls today. But if you cannot access any of this, then you can smear Vaseline as an alternative dog paw protection technique. Vaseline is not as effective as wax, yet it still serves as a layer of dog paw protection rather than walking your dog on unprotected feet.
Having sampled different paw wax products, our recommendation is for Musher’s Secret Paw Wax for frequent dog walkers (click link to check pricing on Amazon). Musher’s has proven to be effective for the most active dogs that engage in vigorous activities like beachcombing, skiing, mountain climbing, running by your side when you jog, bike ride and even mush on the snow. Paw wax is also an effective barrier for chemicals commonly found on paths, such as road salts, that can filter through the dog’s skin and enter the bloodstream. If you’re very active outdoors with your dog, then dog paw wax is invaluable as a more natural barrier of dog paw protection to apply to your pet. If you’re a professional dog walker, it’s almost criminal to walk your dogs without this dog paw protection, as it covers you and the dog from liability in case it’s injured by whatever junk it might step on while under your care.
Disposable Dog Booties and Dog Shoes for Dog Paw Protection
The best short-term solution when facing scorching summer heat when walking your dog is disposable dog booties. They are efficient in keeping the dog paws safe and comfortable from heat if your best pal doesn’t mind having them on. These are particularly adorable for small dogs but work no less effectively for big dogs. Another option is to use dog shoes but only if your dog is a good sport and is willing to keep them on.
The dog booties and shoes require some getting used. Remember that you must fit larger booties on the front paws than on the rear to avoid injuring the dog during long walks. But with persistent practice, your dog will be running around in them in no time. After all, it’s all about dog paw protection, right?
When in the market to get the best shoes for your dog, try those with rubber soles such as My Busy Dog Shoes. Being water-proof, they’re also lined within with soft, smooth fabric unlike similar booties. Even better, they come with Velcro closures that you must pull tightly to ensure the boots don’t go flying, as your dog gladly prances outside pain-free. They’re made best for mid-size to large dogs that don’t have to walk in very deep snow. Now, since the top of the shoe is made of nylon without any padding, you are best served by also using doggy socks or some cloth wrapping taped higher up the dog’s leg where the shoe straps tighten, to keep friction from bothering your dog once you tightly secure the dog boots on and let the animal move around.
Dog Paw Protection Using Peel-and-Stick Pads or Paw Socks
Another functional tool to try out may be the peel-and-stick dog pads. They’re an excellent alternative for maximum yet temporary protection in extreme weather conditions. These are very user-friendly as their name would suggest you only need to peel and stick them on the dog’s paws to reduce its chances for injuries and burns.
You also do not have to worry about the dog’s grip on the ground as the sticky pads adapt well to certain surfaces to offer maximum support against slipping, especially indoors if you have a dog that keeps suddenly sliding and this could injure its back, e.g. dachshunds, or if you’re handling an arthritic dog that can no longer afford to slip and fall. 
If they do not work for your canine, then you have another option. Call it the Cheap-Charlie Paw Wrapping method of protecting your dog’s paws for a walk. It involves using a Maxi pad on each paw. Yes, you read that right. Your dog will be wearing Kotex on its feet, plus old human socks and some duck tape. Yeah, this method is unique, and more reasonably used when hiking in the woods and your dog gets injured, rather than as an alternative to buying doggy boots, socks or sticky pad protectors. Still, it’s worth knowing about because, in a sense, it’s a technique that provides a more custom fit to your dog’s paw size. The video below will demonstrate quite well how to carry out this dog paw protection technique.
If you use the right type of impermeable plastic and tape, your paw wrap can withstand wet climates and safely stay on your dog for quite some time. Unlike doggy boots, the Cheap-Charlie Paw Wrap won’t be as durable, however, even if it’s quite flexible for even the most active of dogs out there. What’s important is that you can use it for a critical moment in a pinch.
How to Deal with Dog Paw Injuries in Case Dog Paw Protection Fails
In case of a dog paw injury, this is what you should do to maximize comfort and cut down on recovery time for your dog, especially if you’re dealing with very distressing dog anxiety symptoms. Dogs are often too excitable to stay still and let their limbs heal without exerting strain on them. They’re all sad and docile one moment, then jump into a frenzy the instant they spot you, thereby reopening their wounds. The good news is that with such predictable patterns of behavior, you can prepare to hasten the healing process even for injured dog paws.
Remember, however, that some of these injuries may require a complete dose of antibiotics just to stay safe. If the paw is cracked, then make sure it stays clean by routine cleansing with warm water and an antiseptic. Dry the footpads by patting them with a soft, dry cloth and apply petroleum jelly on them, gently rubbing until it’s all soaked in. Failure to do so may lead to the dog licking the ointment and upsetting its stomach.
You can also use topical creams to soothe the injured dog paws. During this period limit dog walks to avoid strain on the paws. For the most active dogs, you may use an Elizabethan collar to avoid gnawing and licking of the wound. Very hyper dogs may require confinement in their crate for a while to avoid too much movement as well as using a splint for the injured foot to restricts direct contact with the paw pads.
When To Rush to a Veterinary Doctor
Most of the complications involving failures in dog paw protection may be remedied from the comfort of your pet’s home except for the following instances:
- When you notice blood crusts at the tip of the toenails.
- When the injury forms a thick callus that dislodges toes from their natural position.
- In case of excessive blood seepage or pus buildup.
- When there is evidence of sores forming on the dog’s pads.
- When you notice deep cracks that put your dog under a great deal of pain.
Under such conditions, make sure to take your dog to a veterinarian, as the underlying cause of the injury will be more than you can handle at home unless you’re a vet yourself!
Procedure to Follow for a Simple Paw Injury
For a more detailed explanation on how to deal with a dog’s injury visit our article on How to Treat a Cut on a Dog. Now as it relates to treating an injured paw, do the following.
- When you notice some bleeding on your dog’s paw, thoroughly examine the paw to establish the course of bleeding. If you cannot trace a cut, then it may be a ripped nail.
- Clean out the wound using running warm water and check for particles and debris that may remain in the dog pads.
- Use tweezers carefully to remove particles stuck in the pads or elsewhere in the dog’s feet.
- Use an antiseptic recommended for dogs such as Betadine to disinfect the injury.
- Use gauze to wrap the injury. This will act as a cushion as well for paw protection.
- Reinforce the gauze with an impermeable pressure bandage, tying it up to the wrist joint but leaving the toes exposed. Do not make it too tight as this would restrict blood flow. The recommended tightness should leave enough space for you to insert two fingers under the bandage.
At this point, the challenge you may experience is having the dog constantly gnaw and chew at the bandage. To counter this, you may need to use an anti-lick strip to wrap over the bandage. Alternatively, you can spray the bandage with citrus oil or apple vinegar which is distasteful to dogs. It’s for their own good, so you can smile about it every time you catch your dog getting irritated at the bitter taste. In no time, you will have your dog fervently wagging its tail again, all thanks to your heartfelt nursing skills.
Conclusion
All canines are digitigrades which means that the weight and pressure generated from activities such as walking, running and jumping are actively supported by their strong digits, that is, by their toes. As a dog owner or caregiver, it is imperative that you be wary of situations that may limit the function of your dog’s paws, as we’ve described in this article. Some may say that the manner in which you tend to your pet defines your character as a person. Dog paw protection is one of those details that only too many dog owners ignore or dismiss from their minds. For most days, coming home to a wagging tail is all the therapy we need in our busy lives. Such love may only be sustained by proper care of your dog’s health especially their vulnerable paws.