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Simple Paw Care to Keep Your Active Dog Healthy

Lauren Pescarus • Sep 24, 2020
Believe it or not, dogs often need quite a bit of care for their feet, especially when living an active life. Consistent nail care, trimming fur around the feet, monitoring the health of the pads of the feet – dogs have evolved far past their self-sufficient wolf ancestors and into a companion that needs our help. If you have an active dog (or even just an enthusiastic leaper) give these prime paw care tips a read to keep in mind during the Summer athletic season.



Routine Pet Care Can Prevent Many Injuries:

Maybe you know these basic paw care tips or maybe you are clueless when it comes to this area of pet care. Either way, paw care does not need to be complicated or time-consuming. Preventative care for your dog’s paws will be the difference between possible injury and just a tired-out pup.

Nail maintenance is the first step when ensuring your dogs do not become injured when running around. The correct length for a dog’s nails are just barely not touching the ground when the dog is standing. If your dog makes a clicking sound when walking, their nails are too long. In overgrown nails, there is a risk of cracking or catching the nail on rough ground during exercise. There is also constant pressure when walking, which can also be painful. Too short and the nerve ending in the nail may be exposed, leading to painful exercise.

Dogs will naturally wear down their nails when exercising, especially on concrete, but they will still need a general clipping session about every week to two weeks. If you are unsure of best clipping practices, be sure to stop by your vet for a tutorial or use any of the professional pet grooming services available in your neighborhood.

Have you ever wondered why your dog’s feet sometimes smell like corn chips? When not dried out properly, the folds between your dog’s toes become the perfect growing grounds for fungus and bacteria. Often, yeast growth causes your dog to have a special smell and a love of licking their paws. Frequent exercise without washing and thoroughly drying the paws can lead to this pungent problem, so be sure to wash your dog’s paws and dry out between their toes. If your dog already smells like Frito’s, try giving a wash with an anti-fungal shampoo and dry thoroughly.

Double Check to be Sure:

We can’t account for every broken piece of glass in our favorite park or scrap of metal on the sidewalk. At some point, your dog will step on something that cuts them and causes an injury. Not all dogs will start limping as soon as they are injured and many will hide any signs of a cut until it picks up an infection. This is why a thorough examination after every walk or run is important, as well as carrying basic first aid when away from the house.

When checking your dog’s paws, give each a gentle squeeze, and inspect between each toe and nail bed. If your dog shows unusual sensitivity or does not want you to handle their paws, this may mean they have an injury.

If your dog does show symptoms of an injury, immediately disinfect the paw. Minor scrapes or small cuts that have stopped bleeding and are not too deep should be disinfected thoroughly. Your dog should be allowed to rest until the paw is healed and then slowly allowed to start exercising again. If their paw is cut deeply, you cannot find a source of the pain, or you are unsure of how to proceed, bring them to your vet as soon as possible. It is always better to be safe with an opinion from the vet than sorry you left the injury too long.

Other factors to keep in mind during your inspection is to look for debris that becomes lodged in the paw or folds between toes. Gravel, seeds or small pieces of wood seem innocent at first, but can become lodged in the skin and cause future problems. Trim the fur around the paw, if needed, to prevent attracting small items to the paw and give a thorough examination to check for these invaders.

If you would like to put in a few extra hours training to avoid the majority of paw injuries, you can pick up a pair of dog booties. These protective shoes strap securely to your dog’s paws and protect them from most environmental hazards. Available in waterproof, winter, hiking, and breathable materials, you can find a dog boot to suit your needs. Just remember to work with your dog so that they are comfortable using this equipment instead of miserable.



All Things in Moderation: 

Just like dog biscuits, baths, and chasing squirrels, all things should be had in moderation for your pooch. Weekend warriors, or those who are sedentary all week and train for marathons on weekends, should work yourselves and your dog’s up to a highly active lifestyle. Paws need to develop calluses to deal with the extra friction a highly active lifestyle brings, which takes time and consistent training. Without these calluses, your dog is likely to be sore and prone to paw injury.

Extreme environments should also be taken in moderation. The Summer sun can bring scorching sidewalk and sand temperatures, which are likely to blister dog paws. While far away, winter ice can cause cuts to the paws as well as frostbite. Winter also has the added danger of rock salt, which is used to melt ice buildup on pavement but can also cause chemical burns for unsuspecting paws. A healthy practice would be to limit your dog’s exposure to these inhospitable times, but also be extra cautious by checking their paws for injuries.

While all of these extra steps to your pup’s exercise routine might seem exhausting, they are what will make a difference between your extra visits to the vet and a happy pooch. With some mindful hygiene and extra awareness when exercising, your pup can be healthy, body and soul, while heading out for their usual run.

Don’t have the time to offer all this exercise for your pooch? Check out the services offered by Denver Dog Joggers, your friendly neighborhood athletic dog walkers. They keep all these precautions in mind as well as providing excellent exercise for your dog.



By Lauren Pescarus

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