Torn Paw Pads

[carolynnl4]

Hi, I was hoping someone would have some tips on torn paw pads.
Athena has gotten hers torn off twice now... Once both front paws, today, one paw.
I took her to the vet last time, and they basically said there wasn't anything they could do.
Any ideas on:
1. Prevention? (With only 2 incidents, we haven't established a pattern, except the fact that she's on pavement.) Any suggestions on how to toughen feet?

2. Helping them heal faster? (And when it's hanging on there, let it stay, or clip off?)

3. Pain alleviation?

[Silvermarten]

Originally Posted by carolynnl4

Hi, I was hoping someone would have some tips on torn paw pads.
Athena has gotten hers torn off twice now... Once both front paws, today, one paw.
I took her to the vet last time, and they basically said there wasn't anything they could do.
Any ideas on:
1. Prevention? (With only 2 incidents, we haven't established a pattern, except the fact that she's on pavement.) Any suggestions on how to toughen feet?

2. Helping them heal faster? (And when it's hanging on there, let it stay, or clip off?)

3. Pain alleviation?

Henry is a wild player and his hyperness is killer on pawpads on pavement . He thinks skidding is fun
So in answer to your questions :
1 . Keep off the pavement as much as possable . There are a couple of pad toughening creams for dogs . I haven't used them so cann't comment on effectiveness . The other option is doggie booties .
2. If hanging there I clip it off for Henry . Wrapping feet has proven to equal faster healing in my experience . Dog is not continueing to traumatise the wounds , they are kept clean and no doggie tongues on wounds
3. Henry shows less pain when they are wrapped . I've not given any oral meds . A little neosporin and a light wrap has done wonders for him . If really deep wounds I change the wrap(s) daily . If minor I change them every 3 days . Obviously change right away if they become wet .

I'm a LVT so use to bandage techniques . It's very important not to get them too tight . The best thing would be to have your vet show you how to wrap feet correctly before attempting it yourself .

[Vivianne]

After her pad heals you can try keeping them moist by applying Bag Balm ointment. It's approved for use in animals and it works similar to vaseline. If the pads are kept moist and supple the tearing can be kept to a minimum.

[Bastianboy]

There's this stuff called Tuff Foot. I used it on Bastian as he used to tear his paws all the time even on our Carpet. I used it continually for a week and then just every once in a while since and he hasn't torn one again.

Healing, I was told New Skin, super glue, but nothing really kept it closed for us. If you can keep it wrapped, I would do that. Unfotunately I couldn't trust that the bandage would stay on when I wasn't there so he didn't get that luxury. I did purchase little booties so that we could continue walking although some days he didn't want to walk on it at all.

[rottiluver]

When I first started walking Diesel on pavement this always happened to him, but I'd never noticed until we got back and saw the track of blood all over the floor. I always kept it wrapped up with Polysporin on it frequently to help the healing process. After wrapping it I'd put medical tape all around it so he couldn't pick at it and remove it to easily. If that doesn't keep it on long enough you can also put a sock on over the bandage, which I did have to do. It helped alot, after the second time of this occuring I started putting moisturizer on his paws at night time b4 we went to bed and it never happened since! Thankfully!

[Disturbed_Angel]

When Roxie tore her paw pad, the vet put a bandage on it because it was deep, but she was constantly trying to nibble it so i put a normal sock then a thick slipper sock over it so if she did lick the bandage didnt get wet. Also when she went out to pee, i put a plastic bag then another slipper sock over it....(Remember, im in Scotland..its always wet here!) Apart from that i didnt put anything over the actual wound, just let it heal up itself.