We all know that feeling of coming home from a long day out from work, school or simply grocery shopping and taking off those shoes. That wonderful feeling of relief from not having any restriction on your feet, the air on your toes and over all comfort is one of the first steps you take to relax. Your dog can’t do that. His paw pads are his biological equivalent to shoes and they’re on for good. They take the wear and tear of walking, hiking, running, chasing balls or squirrels and any other doggy things your pooch may do on a daily basis. Just like the soles of your shoes, his pads can crack, rip, dry up and become painful to deal with. A few steps can help to make your pup’s paws healthier and more comfortable.
- Keep them clean! Dirty paws are gross for all involved, from your floor to your dog’s comfort. Those doggy feet go through grass, mud, concrete and stepping in all kinds of safe and nonsafe substance, including household cleaners, pesticides and more. If you don’t keep his feet clean after a trip outdoors, he just may take it upon himself to try and lick them clean. Imagine all the things he is eating off his feet that he walked in. You know that can’t be healthy! Instead, take a damp cloth or puppy bath wipe and clean his paws for him. Everyone will be happier for it!
- Prepare for your activity, and don’t forget those doggy feet! Imagine walking barefoot at your destination, be it on a hot sidewalk or muddy hiking trail. Sounds uncomfortable, right? Your dog might think the same if you don’t prepare his feet for the trip. You can find a correctly sized set of dog boots to keep your dog’s feet safe from abrasions, cuts, rips and hot sidewalks or shop around for a decent paw protector wax. These waxes are made from all natural ingredients, making it safe if your dog licks it, but forms a thick layer of wax on his paw pads to protect them from all elements.
- Trim his toe hair! You read that right, your dog’s hair that grows on the bottom of his foot needs trimmed just as his nails do. Not all breeds will have long hair growing between their paw pads and toes, but most do and this will need careful monitoring and trimming on a monthly basis at the least. This hair, when left to grow on it own, will help to trap bacteria and fungus that can cause infections and painful conditions on your dog’s paw. Furthermore, they can also become matted and even tangle around the paw pads, leading to rips, tears and a lot of pain for your pooch.
- Lotion those paws! Don’t run out and buy the first bottle of lotion you find, as lotion made for humans should not be used on your canine companion. Instead, use fresh organic coconut oil, vegetable glycerin or a type of balm made specifically for maintaining the health of doggy feet. Keeping your pet’s paws moisturized and smooth will prevent problems such as cricking, peeling and pain when combined with keeping them clean. Additionally, it also allows you the opportunity to check over your dog’s feet every night so that you can catch any problems, such as sores before they become a major issue.
- Keep his nails at a healthy length at all times, even that pesky dew claw! Nails that are left to grow and grow will grow straight into those paw pads! This makes it difficult, painful and nearly impossible to walk! With training and conditioning, you can teach your dog to relax during nail clipping sessions and do them once a week to make sure those nails never get any longer than they should be. Just watch out for the quick, and enjoy this relaxing doggy pedicure with your furry best friend!
Paw care really is not that difficult nor is it an expensive aspect of caring for your dog. Just a few preventative measures can keep his paws healthy and comfortable while you happily avoid unnecessary vet trips for problems that arise after neglecting a dog’s paw health. Keep them clean, keep them moisturized and most importantly keep them monitored under your watchful eye!
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