paw pads

[T Eaton]

This may not be a grooming issue - but I think our dog's pads are sore from lots of running in the spring fields and chasing balls. It's the pad that is on his leg - it seems cracked and sore...does any one have any suggestion for balm to soothe this cracked/dry area? thanks!

[Jennifer and Jack]

Yes, Mushers... Mushers??? oh what the heck hang on let me go check Mushers Secret, It works great to help with the cracks, it protects them from the snow and hot pavement too!

[Nancy Pyzynski]

Musher's Secret...great stuff and doesn't stain your furniture!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

That happened to one of my dogs who is a ball nut. Someone played with her until that part of her was bleeding. I had to put Thoraderm on it, a burn pad and vet wrap to keep her from licking. It took a long time to heal. Thoraderm has anti inflamitory properties as well as anti bacterial.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I dont know what you mean by the pad on his leg.  Do you mean the dew claw?  I would suggest cleaning it and then putting on some neosporin.  That is what I use on my dogs for any abrasions.  Be sure to check his pads frequently for any rocks or dirt that can get caked in there and clip the hair out from between the pads.

[T Eaton]

I don't know what the "dew claw" is...sorry... but I am going to try your suggestion. We run in the open fields alot and afer a near-death cheat grass experience last year, I feel like a monkey. I am constantly picking on him and examining him!! I think he just had too much ball chasing this week and his pad is cracked and dry so I called the vet today and he said use either neosporin or bag balm on it. Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I don't think you mean the dew claw.  Some breeders remove them when the pups are born.  I sure wish they all would remove them because they get in the way all the time.  They are the claw that would be on the inside of the leg where a thumb would be but maybe a bit further up the leg.  I know what you are referring to.  I call it their heel pad.  But sorry, no answer other than Musher's Secret.  I ordered some from Amazon and have it but have never had to use it.  I like to have everything on hand just in case.  So what is Cheat Grass?  Silly question but then really not so silly.  Gracie Doodle had fox tails in between her toes that worked their way up into her foot and she had to have two surgeries ($1000) to have them removed.  When I posted that here I had so many people ask what fox tails are.  You need to live in the western states to have them.  And all they are is a grassy weed!!!

[T Eaton]

Cheat grass and fox grass are probably the same thing! who knows! I describe it as a grass that sorta looks like a stalk of wheat only much smaller. The heads falls off to seed and they pick them up in their coats. It's sticky! The spiky ends work like a corkscrew working their way into their skin. My experience was similar to yours, however, I caught mine early and they were able to cut splice it open and remove it without full surgery! The vet told me this is something that dog owners (in this part of the country) really need to examine for after every run in the fields. If it isn't caught, it can actually work it's way into their blood stream and cause all sorts of internal problems. Scared the heck out of me! I am now super cautious to examine him.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Ah ha...I know that stuff.  We visited some friends who have a ranch out in the country and took Gracie Doodle.  They have two Sproodles and keep them shaved really close.  I found those cork screw things on Gracie when we got home.  Fox tails also look like a stalk of wheat.  The heads have a very sharp point like a needle.  When they fall off they also burrow into the skin, ear, nose or where ever they happen to be.  In Gracie's case there were 5 holes in between her toes on one paw.  They don't show up in x-ray so the vet has to put her out and probe up the hole with hemostats just blindly pinching/pulling all the way hoping to grab one.  Also, the hole an be empty.  They can and will continue to travel.  The vet found on on the first surgery but when there was not instant improvement an the swelling or pain didn't go down she was back in surgery 7 days later.  He found another one.  These things are nasty, nasty!!  We now have to do a paw, ear, face check every time I take her anywhere that these weeds are!

[T Eaton]

yes...very important to educate people about this nasty buggers!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Okay, we have fox tails here and have to watch for them.  I pretty much give the guys a brush and check everytime we come back from a run.  There is also lots of poison oak out right now and we have to make sure to wash well after brushing the dogs so we don't get the poison oak.  Also, since we don't take the Frontline Plus, we sometimes get the ticks that do not like the dog blood.  So it is always something to keep your life interesting and your wallet empty.

[T Eaton]

what do you use for ticks? I am not a big fan of those products either.

[Pat and Traveler]

OMG!  This info is scary!  Everytime I think I've hit my worry quota, I find something new.  I know what fox tails are, but didn't realize they were dangerous.  (Much quiet sobbing...)