Your pup’s paws are just as vulnerable as your own two feet. So, just like we pamper and keep up with our feet’ hygiene – we need to do the same for Fido. As a pet parent, here are some paw-related care tips that you should know.
Trimming Your Pup’s Nails
Trimming your pooch’s nails will never be their favorite activity. But it is necessary to avoid causing their paws to damage down the road. If not trimmer, your furry friend’s nails can curl up and end up poking and stabbing their own paw pads. It’s important that you know how to properly cut your pooch’s nails though because if you cut the quick in their nail, you can cause them a hefty amount of pain, and there will also be blood that comes along with it. If this process seems too much for you, that’s completely okay – most vets and groomers offer this service
What You Can Do Cracked Paw Pads
If your canine’s paws were to get too dry, they could ultimately crack and bleed. To tend to this issue, you always want to be sure you’re using products that are specifically made for dogs – and never your own. Some lotions that we use can soften your furry friend’s paws too much, creating more issues instead of solutions. When rubbing in the dog-friendly paw balm, give your canine a massage by gently rubbing between their pads and up in between each of their toes.
Summertime Specific Care
During the summer heat, it’s crucial to remember that the pavement can become unbearably hot for your canine’s paws. Always check the pavement with your hand before allowing your pooch to walk on it. If you can’t keep your hand on the pavement for longer than 5 seconds – then neither can Fido! If the pavement does happen to be too hot, avoid walking on the pavement and instead try finding a grassy route, or invest in some doggy booties to protect Fido’s paws. Another solution is to start walking your four-legged friend during the early morning and late evening when the pavement is less hot.
If your canine accidentally ends up walking on the hot pavement and develops blisters and burns, wash their paws with antibacterial soap and then loosely wrap it with a gauze.
Wintertime Specific Care
Just like the heat can cause your canine’s paws some damage, the brutal winter can do the same. If exposed to the cold weather for too long, your pooch’s paws could dry out, leading to chapped and then ultimately cracked paws. During the winter, de-icers are also something you need to worry about Fido coming in contact with. The toxic chemicals that are in de-icers can end up irritating and burning your furry friend’s paws. And that’s not to mention if they end up ingesting the toxins when grooming their paws after a walk.
To help prevent this, doggy booties are another great solution that can protect your pup’s paws. If you don’t end up using these, then use vaseline or paw balm before a walk and be sure to wash your canine’s paws off after a winter walk.
Tending to Cuts & Scrapes
Ever so often, your pooch may end up getting a cut or scrape on their paw pad. As a pet parent, it’s vital that you know how to handle this safely. You’ll want to start by cleaning the cut our with antibacterial soap, and then put some antibacterial cream on it, after that you’ll want to bandage the paw up to prevent it from coming in contact with possible contaminants that could infect it. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, the cut seems too substantial, your furry friend isn’t letting you tend to their wound, the cut gets worse, or your pooch gets sick afterward- seeking veterinary help is highly recommended.
A dog’s paws need to be cared for properly, and as pet parents, it’s our job to ensure that happens. As always, if you’re ever unsure about something related to your pooch, contact their veterinarian for help.
