Canine Health: How to Treat Your Dog's Injured Foot Pads
The foot pads of a dog's paw provide cushioning, minimising the stress exerted on the canine feet when walking and running. These critical parts also reduce the amount of impact transmitted from the ground to the bones and joints. In addition, the pads provide traction on slippery surfaces, preventing accidental falls. Unfortunately, these thick and rubbery pads can sustain injury if they come into contact with harmful surfaces or objects. The paw might be torn, cut or punctured. If this happens to your canine companion, you should use these practical tips for first aid care
Clean Up the Injury
You should check the injured pad and look for debris, particles or shards which might be lodged into the paw. If the piece of material is fairly large, you can use tweezers to pry it out. For smaller particles, you will need to rinse the foot. You can shish the paw in a basin of cool water to dislodge the debris. Alternatively, you should get a hose and spray out the dirt. Then, you should use mild antibacterial agent to clean the wound. If you find that there are shards of bruising material deep in the pad, you should not dig. Excess handling could cause more damage and might distress the dog. You will need to visit an emergency vet for removal.
Minimise Bleeding
If the injured pad of the paw is bleeding, you should control the loss. You can simply apply pressure on the rubbery area using a clean towel. This process should stop minor tears and cuts from bleeding almost immediately. However, you will need to persist for a little longer if the wood is fairly deep. If you cannot control the blood flow through pressure application, you should consider the situation an emergency. You will need to see a veterinarian for immediate care.
Bandage the Paw
Finally, you should apply a bandage to the injured paw. This procedure should contain the cut and protect the pad from infection. When applying the bandage, you should use soft gauze at the bottom of the canine foot. This soft material will ensure that the pad remains cushioned when your dog is walking or running. It can also reduce the level of pain experienced. You should use an appropriate wrap or self-sticking products; these will keep the gauze in place. You should apply the bandage from the paws to the ankle area for optimal stability of the treatment. However, you must be careful not to wrap it too tight.