How to Recognize and Treat Foot Pad Injuries in Dogs
A dog’s paws serve a number of critical functions during everyday life. Besides providing a foundation for standing, walking, and running, your dog’s feet act as shock absorbers, protect against cold and hot temperatures, and indicate health issues that may be otherwise unnoticeable.
Because paws are essential to your dog’s health, it’s important to recognize when your dog’s feet are injured. One such injury to be aware of is a foot pad injury, a type of wound that affects your dog’s foot pads.
If you’re wondering whether your dog has a foot pad injury, you have come to the right place. Here, we’ll explain the symptoms of foot pad injuries in dogs and treatment options to consider.
Foot Pad Injuries
Foot pad injuries in dogs come in a range of forms, including abrasions, blisters, burns, ulcers, tears, punctures, and lacerations. These paw pad injuries are most commonly caused by the surface your dog walks on. Sharp objects such as glass can puncture your dog’s soft foot pad, while hot surfaces such as concrete can burn through your dog’s feet. Additionally, your dog’s paws can be affected by rock, gravel, sand, as well as chemicals.
Although a dog’s paws are tough, they are not indestructible. Dogs can quickly injure their foot pads if they step on a sharp object or walk on a hot surface. If you notice a paw pad injury in your dog, contact your vet immediately to begin treatment.
What are Foot Pads?
Foot pads, located at the bottom of your dog’s feet, are crucial for a dog’s everyday life. Not only do they provide balance and traction, but they regulate the body temperature through sweating and provide shock absorption during walking, running, and jumping.
A dog’s foot is equipped with three types of paw pads: the digital pad, the carpal pad, and the metatarsal pad. Digital pads are the four small pads located on each toe. Their main purpose is to support your dog’s weight and protect the joints. Carpal pads, located on the forelimb, are similar to digital pads and help support your dog’s weight. Metatarsal pads, located in the center of the foot, are heart-shaped pads that support the dog’s body during activities. This pad is known as the metacarpal pad or palmar pad in the front feet, and metatarsal or plantar pad in the back feet.
Each type of paw pad on your dog’s foot is made of fat, connective tissue, and thick skin. Paw pads on dogs are soft yet tough, allowing them to act as a cushion for your dog’s feet.
Symptoms of Foot Pad Injuries in Dogs
Because every dog is different, not all foot pad injuries are easy to diagnose. Though the common clinical signs of foot pad injuries are limping, licking at the foot, and bleeding, some paw pad injury symptoms are a bit harder to identify. Listed below are the most common symptoms of paw pad injuries to look for in dogs.
- Whining.
- Excessive licking at the foot.
- Limping.
- Lethargy.
- Bleeding at the foot.
- Lack of interest in daily activities.
- Excessive panting.
If your dog shows signs of any one of these symptoms, contact your vet immediately. The sooner an injured foot pad is treated, the sooner your dog can begin to recover.
Home Care Suggestions
While visiting a vet is recommended for most foot pad injuries, you may treat mild foot abrasions at home. To treat a foot pad injury, first rinse the affected foot under cool water to remove debris. Next, apply an antibacterial ointment or solution, like Neosporin, on the wound. Finally, place a non-stick telfa pad over the foot pad(s) and lightly wrap with vet wrap or an ace bandage. The bandage should be kept clean and changed daily until the pads have healed.
After treating a paw pad injury at home, owners should keep a close eye on their dog’s paw pad. If the toes become swollen or have a strange odor, contact your vet immediately. Because infection can cause significant damage to the foot as well as your dog’s overall health, it’s important to consult your vet if you notice any issues occurring in your dog’s paw pads.
How to Avoid Foot Pad Injuries in Dogs
Because prevention is the best possible cure for foot pad injuries, there are a number of precautions to take when walking your dog. Although some foot pad injuries cannot be prevented, most paw issues can be eliminated by avoiding rough or hot surfaces and providing your dog with protective footwear.
Avoid Rough or Hot Surfaces
One way to prevent paw injuries in dogs is to avoid walking your dog on rough or hot surfaces. Because a dog’s paws are sensitive, they can easily be damaged by jagged or blistering surfaces. Before taking your dog for a walk, ensure the surface is not too hot and doesn’t contain any sharp objects such as glass. Avoid walking on concrete during scorching temperatures and be extra careful when walking your dog on gravel or sand.
In addition to avoiding hot sidewalks during the summer, you’ll want to avoid walking your dog on cold surfaces during the winter. A dog’s paws are just as sensitive to cold temperatures as they are to hot conditions.
Protective Footwear
Another preventative of paw injuries is protecting your dog’s feet with footwear. Dog boots are ideal for protecting dog paw pads during the winter, while wax and balm can be used to protect a dog’s feet during the summer.
Protective footwear should be worn anytime your dog is walking on sharp objects, hot or cold surfaces, or in locations where salt has been spread to melt the winter ice. In addition to protecting your dog’s paw pads, dog footwear will provide additional support and cushioning for your pup.
When Foot Pad Injuries Require the Vet
Because foot pads do not heal like regular skin, anything more serious than a superficial abrasion should be treated by your veterinarian. Even after treating an abrasion at home, you may still want to visit a vet to ensure there is no infection.
We hope this article answered all your questions on foot pad injuries in dogs. Remember, by keeping your dog’s feet healthy, you can improve your pup’s overall health and quality of life.
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an really long comment but after I
clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well
I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say wonderful
blog!
Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it,
you may be a great author.I will be sure to
bookmark your blog and definitely will come back later in life.
I want to encourage yourself to continue your great posts, have a
nice weekend!
Admiring the hard work you put into your website and in depth information you provide.
It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that
isn’t the same old rehashed information. Fantastic read! I’ve saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my
Google account.
Can I just say what a comfort to discover somebody that
really understands what they are discussing online. You definitely realize how to
bring an issue to light and make it important. More people ought
to look at this and understand this side of your story. I was surprised that you are not more popular since
you certainly possess the gift.
Do you have a spam problem on this website; I also am a blogger,
and I was curious about your situation; many of us have created
some nice procedures and we are looking to exchange techniques with others, be sure to shoot me an e-mail
if interested.
It’s nearly impossible to find well-informed people on this subject, but
you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Hello outstanding website! Does running a blog similar to this require a lot of work?
I’ve very little expertise in computer programming but I
was hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyway, if you have any
suggestions or tips for new blog owners please share.
I understand this is off subject nevertheless I just had to ask.
Thanks a lot!
I think the admin of this web site is genuinely working hard for his web page, for the reason that here
every information is quality based stuff.
I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog.
Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one today.
Greetings! This is my first visit to your blog!
We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative
in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on.
You have done a extraordinary job!
This is my first time visit at here and i am really impressed to read all at single
place.
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I
think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and
extremely broad for me. I’m looking forward for your
next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our
community. Your web site offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done an impressive
job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively useful and it has helped me out loads.
I’m hoping to contribute & assist different customers like its helped me.
Great job.
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good.
I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
Hello, I read your blogs like every week. Your story-telling style
is awesome, keep doing what you’re doing!
Wow! Finally I got a weblog from where I be capable of really obtain valuable information concerning my study and knowledge.
Awesome blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine.
Please let me know where you got your theme.
Thanks a lot
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I truly appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your further post thank you once again.
tor market url tor market links how to access dark web
Great write-up, I’m normal visitor of one’s blog, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
I will immediately grab your rss feed as I can’t find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
What Is Puravive? Puravive is a natural weight loss supplement that is known to boost the metabolic processes of the body.
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such magnificent info being shared freely out there.