Moreover, do you even have to? The short answer is yes.
Just like the health of your own feet, keeping your dog’s paws healthy is crucial for their overall well-being.
Healthy, protected paws allow your dogs to detect what kind of surface they’re walking on (if it’s too hot, cold, prickly, etc.), regulate their body temperature, bear their own weight, and move around with ease.
Their paws are made up of elastic fibers and fats, which protect the connective tissues and blood vessels inside as well as cushion your canine’s bones and joints from the impact of daily activities. With these facts in mind, there are a number of things you can do for a dog’s paw protection. Here are some of our best tips.
Let’s get into each of them!
For Overall Health
Caring for your dog’s paws means checking them regularly for overgrown nails, foreign objects, dirt, allergens, and other types of issues.
Right after being outdoors, check your dog’s paws for potentially harmful weeds, pebbles, glass, and thorns. If you happen to see anything lodged in between them, use clean tweezers to remove the foreign object.
It’s also crucial to wash your dog’s paws after they’ve had their daily walks. This is because some dogs can be allergic to certain types of grass, pollen, and tree debris. Taking a warm washcloth and massaging the paws gently should do the trick.
In the case of nail care, it’s important to keep your dog’s nails trimmed and short to avoid injuries. A good rule to follow is to make sure their nails don’t touch the ground while walking.
If you see your dog licking their paws beyond the usual grooming, that could be a sign of underlying health issues, including pain, injuries, allergies, dermatitis, lice, or fleas.
In some cases, excessive licking can be a sign of OCD or anxiety. Once you’ve ruled out all other possibilities, it’s important to see the vet. While not exactly an emergency, you can’t put a vet visit off for too long, as frequent licking can cause certain types of bacterial or yeast infections.
To be on the safe side, keeping your dog’s paws moisturized can help keep the integrity of their skin intact and avoid possible complications in the future, such as cracked and bleeding toe pads.
To avoid this, there are targeted dog paw balms and moisturizers on the market that can help soothe dry paws.
For injuries, assess the area for wound severity. In cases of minor cuts, use an antibacterial solution to wash out possible infectious agents, apply an antibacterial cream, and lightly wrap them with a thin bandage to stop your dog from licking them.
Deeper cuts, on the other hand, shouldn’t be taken lightly. The wound might be deep enough to cause a possible tear in their tendons. In this case, make sure to seek vet assistance right away.
For summer
Summer walks can be fun and exhilarating for your canine companions. However, the scorching heat of the sun can cause sidewalks and asphalt to become too hot for your dog’s paws to handle.
As much as possible, limit your dog’s walks to early mornings or early evenings. And, whenever possible, only walk your dog on the grass during the day.
For cases of burns, always see your veterinarian. If you can’t get to a vet right away, keep your dog comfortable by running their paws under cool water and wrapping them with bandages afterward.
For Winter
The cold winter air can be too drying for your dog’s paws. It’s important not to let your dog out in the snow without proper protection to avoid possible frostbite.
One way to avoid this is to make your dog wear snow boots. While it may take them some time to adjust, you can feel safe knowing that your dog’s paws are protected from snow, ice, salt, and de-icing chemicals that can cause sores, blisters, and possible poisoning.
Dog paw balms also act as a great barrier to salt in the snow. If your dog doesn’t like wearing booties, then keep their walks within areas that are free from snow, and make sure to wash their paws thoroughly after each walk.
For Prevention
It’s always wise to check where your dog is going at all times.
If they have an outdoor playpen, check for debris that might cause injuries. For daily walks, make sure to avoid any areas with random metal pieces, broken glass, and other health hazards.
While you can’t watch your fur babies 24/7, you can rest well with the knowledge that everything within their surroundings is vetted by their mommy and/or daddy.
It can be worrying to see your dog run into accidents. But the good news is that you can prevent most of them by following the simple tips above.
We hope we’re able to give you the tips you need to keep your dog’s paws in top shape at all times. If not, there are tons of other reliable resources for you to check out to ensure your canine companion is living the best life possible!
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