Foot Pad Injury in Dogs
This is a common dog injury, and I saw many dogs in veterinary practice with injured pads.
In fact I remember one dog in particular (he was a Jack Russel named Benson), that was inadvertently dragged behind a vehicle, and worn ALL of his pads off - the keratin was all removed, and all that was left was red, exposed, vascular tissue.
He recovered 100%, but you will be surprised at the treatment.. (at the end of this newsletter)
What you should know about foot pads
Your dog's pads are the thick, rubbery part of the dog’s feet that cushion every step and provide traction to prevent slipping. Foot pads protect bones and joints from the shock incurred by running and walking. They also insulate the foot from extreme weather (hot and cold) and aid navigation of uneven or rough terrain.
If your dog hurts her foot pads
A torn foot pad doesn’t hold stitches well so cuts and punctures take longer to heal. Walking on the injured foot often opens up the wound and further delays healing. And if infection sets in, the dog may end up with more than just foot problems.
What do I do if my dog has a torn foot pad?
There are a few first aid basics
Clean the wound. Look for debris or foreign objects such as glass or metal shards that may be lodged in the pad. If the foreign object is located where you can easily grasp it with tweezers, gently remove it. Swishing the paw in cool water or spraying the paw with a hose may help dislodge tiny particles. If the debris is lodged deeply, leave it alone. Digging too deep will only worsen the injury and cause pain. Deep-seated foreign bodies need to be extracted by your veterinarian who can sedate your dog to make the procedure more comfortable. Use mild anti-bacterial soap or betadine to disinfect the wound.
To control bleeding, apply pressure to the wound with a clean towel. Minor tears will stop bleeding in a matter of minutes, but deeper wounds take longer to stabilize. Also, bleeding may reoccur when the dog walks on the leg. If you cannot stop the bleeding within 10-15 minutes, this is an emergency – take your dog to the emergency veterinary clinic.
Contain the wound by applying a bandage. Use gauze pads to cushion the bottom of the foot and absorb blood. The gauze padding will also decrease the pain of walking on the foot. To keep gauze in place, wrap the entire foot in a self-sticking product such as Vetwrap. It is important to cover the paw from the toes up to and including the ankle (tarsus) or wrist (carpus). Covering the toes will prevent them from swelling, and covering the ankle or wrist joint will prevent the bandage from slipping off. Make sure the bandage is not too tight. You should be able to insert 2 fingers between the bandage and the leg.
Change the bandage daily. If your dog chews at the bandage, spray it with an anti-lick product such as bitter apple. Keep the bandage dry by taping a plastic bag over it when she walks on wet grass. Pay close attention during bandage changes. If the toes become swollen or dusky or if you note a foul odor or moist discharge, consult your veterinarian. These signs may indicate compromised circulation or infection that can result in permanent damage to the foot. If the wound continues to bleed or gapes open after 3 days, it’s time for a follow-up visit to your veterinarian who can provide high-powered antibiotics and pain medication that will promote faster healing.
Topical Foot Pad Remedy (that worked for Benson) A referral veterinarian suggested Preparation H Hemorrhoidal Cream. It contains ingredients that provide pain relief (topical anesthetic), decreased bleeding, and then covers/protects the wound promoting wound healing.
It worked awesome, and little Benson's pads looked so good within 7 days. He required daily bandage changes, a soak in warm water, drying the pads, then re-applying the Preparation H.
I have since seen this work extremely well for other dogs with similar injuries.
Consider it if your dog has a related injury.
It also works well for dog that have anal gland disease, and can decrease inflammation.
Sources for some of the article: vca animal hospitals
