Written By: Alex Kane @cliff_thebigbrowndog
I don’t know about you but summer is one of our favorite seasons and I know our dogs do too. Going hiking, splashing in the lakes, playing in the backyard or even running around with family. It is super important to keep our pups hydrated with water, providing shady spots for them to lay or even puppy pools, we have to remember to keep their paws protected as well. If it is hot enough to cook an egg outside, it will/can leave a nasty blister or even burn on our pups paws.
Why Should I Protect My Dog’s Paws?
Cracked dog paws are a nightmare for anyone who lives with dogs. One of the biggest risks with cracked dog paws is that they can become infected. Once there is an open wound on your dog’s foot, it becomes difficult to keep it clean and free from dirt and germs. Your dog’s paws are already home to a number of bacteria and fungus that are normal and completely safe, but an opening creates a problem. They can be so painful, and it's hard to imagine how dogs deal with them. Our dogs mainly sweat through their paws. They are one of the most sensitive areas to a dog. Their paws can be easily damaged on hot surfaces from the heat. If your dog's paw gets blistered or burned it could prevent them from walking, jumping or could even make them not want to eat because of how much pain it causes.
How Do I Protect My Dog's Paws?
There are many ways to keep our dogs paws protected, here are a few:
- Taking frequent walks on the pavement during cool times of day. Getting up early to walk your dog while it is cool outside can be one of the best ways to avoid the hot surfaces. Taking frequent walks on the pavement during cool times of day. This will help toughen a dog's paw pads by promoting the formation of callus. This makes the skin of the dog's foot pads thicker and less prone to injuries like burns and cuts.
- Using dog booties. Booties can be the best way to protect your dog’s feet from hot surfaces. They should fit snugly and be made from a breathable material to prevent overheating. Not only will it protect them from hot asphalt but also help protect their bare feet from rough terrain and stickers.
- Cleaning and Moisturizing the dog's paws on a daily basis. Keep a dog's paws well moisturized with Skout’s Honor Prebiotic Pet Balm. Prebiotic pet balm adds an extra hydration level to the paw along. It also allows for an extra level of itching or dryness protection. Moisturizing the dog's paw pads will prevent cracking, peeling and minor pad cuts. These injuries will cause the dog's pads to become more sensitive once healing is complete, so preventing injury is key.
- Keeping the hair around your paw pads clean. Keeping the hair trimmed lets their paw pads get better traction. It also keeps the paw pads and space between the toes visible, so you can clean them better.Keeping paw pads free of fur also prevents mats, which can get really uncomfortable for your dog. They may chew and rub at mats, causing hot spots or infections.
How Do I Know if My Dog's Paws are Burned?
Signs your dogs paw pads are damaged/hurt:
- Dry, rough, and/or flakey paws
- Cuts or abrasions
- Your dog is limping or resistant to walk
- Pads are darker in color than usual
- Blisters
- Redness
- Part of the pad is missing
- Your dog is constantly licking at and chewing paws
How to Repair Dry or Cracked Paw Pads?
If your dog's paw becomes dry and cracked, it is important to take care of it as soon as possible. Doing this will help prevent further damage and pain for your pet. Clean the area with warm water. Applying Skout’s Honor Paw Spray can help bring them back to moisture. If your dog tends to lick or become irritated you can wrap the paw in a bandage. Make sure not to wrap too tightly. You can also apply it to your dog's pads at night when they are sleeping so they won't want to lick it as much.
