Your little bundle of furry joy is cute enough already, but perhaps nothing is cuter than their paws.
However, because those paws are walked on their entire life, there’s bound to be a bit of trouble with them on a few occasions.
Remember not to panic! Every dog undergoes paw injuries of some sort. Just make sure to do your part to help the dilemma heal as quickly as possible.
One way to help is knowing a fair amount about the different symptoms. Here are the different types of potential dog paw injuries and how you can help your best friend if they’re suffering from it.
1. Allergies
Many dog owners begin to panic when they take their furry friend to an unfamiliar place and notice that their paws are having a reaction.
Dogs are not different from animals in the fact that they can have several different allergies. Some dogs have more than others. The allergic reaction will look dry and red to you and will be really itchy to your pup.
Even if you can’t see redness in their paws quite yet, you might notice a few other signs that something isn’t right.
If you notice that your dog is suddenly licking or chewing on their paws excessively, it means they’re dealing with itchiness.
As soon as you notice that, stop them. The biting and licking can worsen the injury and lead to cuts and even drier skin.
The excessive licking could also be a sign of dog paw sores between toes, so be sure to schedule a veterinarian appointment right away.
2. Broken Nails
Be sure to take the time each week to trim your dog’s nails. Not doing so can lead to an injury for the pup, if the toe were to catch on something.
Longer dog nails tend to catch on things in the ground or on tough fabric. When they get caught, either a portion of the nail or the entire nail will rip off.
If that happens, then you should schedule an appointment with the vet, or call their office to see if they recommend you come in as soon as possible.
Many dog owners also panic when they trim the dog’s nail too low and it starts to bleed. Don’t stress about it! Odds are that your pup isn’t experiencing a high amount of pain from in. In fact, they might not react to it at all.
If you ever trim their nail too low, then be sure to dip that nail in baking powder to stop the bleeding immediately!
3. Bacterial Infection
Unlike you, your dog doesn’t have a pair of throwaway sneakers that they use to walk outside in the yard.
So it should come as no surprise that your pup’s paws have a natural amount of bacteria on them most times. In fact, it’s bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Proteus that makes their paws smell like Fritos.
However, sometimes that bacteria grows a bit too quickly for comfort and starts to cause an infection in your furry pal’s feet.
The main indication that you’re dealing with an infection is if their paw looks red and swollen. There will also be a liquid discharge with most paw infections.
4. Burns on Their Pads
Even though the dog’s feet have an extra layer of protection from their pads doesn’t mean that their paws can’t be burned.
Don’t use their absent reaction as an indication of whether to walk them on the hot surface or not. They don’t know any better.
Instead, try placing your hand on the surface you’ll be walking on. If the ground is too hot for you to keep your hand there for 8 to 10 seconds, then it’s too hot to walk your dog on.
If a dog’s paw does become burned, then you’ll notice a red and swollen area on the bottom of their paws, generally on the pad area.
Be sure to take them into their vet right away. If not promptly treated, it can lead to cracks and blisters that can get infected.
5. Growths or Cysts
One of the most alarming things for dog owners is when they notice that their puppy has a growth that they’ve never noticed before.
These growths are actually more common than you might imagine, and are likely to occur to your dog more than once in his or her lifetime.
The growth can be treated as long as you take them to the vet as soon as possible and follow every step they give you to a “T”. If you do, then you’ll notice the growth will disappear relatively quickly.
In most cases, these growths aren’t a source of pain for the dog. However, they are still a skin defect and need to be treated so that they don’t worsen.
Keep a Keen Eye for Dog Paw Injuries
Unfortunately, your pooch isn’t able to tell you when they’re dealing with a dog paw injury.
That means that it’s up to you to keep a sharp eye out for any symptoms and check on their paws often.
Be sure to browse our website for many other puppy-related articles, as well as many other helpful topics!
Good to know some of these happen to cats as well. Any pets with paws, really.