Dog Paw Pad Injury

A dog’s paws do an important job — they’re not just there to be squeezed, stroked or sniffed (oh – is that just us?). The paws, the pads of a dog’s feet, have a lot of work to do. They’re tough and durable, standing up to hot sidewalks in the summer and rain-sodden or frosty fields in the winter.

They can cope with snow, and sand, just as easily. Hot or cold temperatures are no issue for a dog’s paws, which are thick and cushioned, providing protection and traction on all kinds of different terrain and surfaces. Paw pads act almost like shock absorbers for dogs as they run — after all, canines don’t wear sneakers to give them that type of support, like humans do.

So — a dog’s paws are important, which means they need looking after. If you identify a dog paw pad injury, don’t ignore it. Cuts, scrapes, and broken nails may require specialized treatment and veterinary care; the pads of dog feet have specialized skin that does not heal in the same way as normal skin.

That may require veterinary evaluation and treatment for moderate to severe injuries and conditions.

Inspecting your pup’s paws regularly is the best way of spotting a dog foot pad injury. Read on to learn more about common symptoms of a dog paw pad injury, potential causes, and treatment options.

It’s not always easy to know your dog has a paw pad injury. Some symptoms are clear and obvious, such as extensive bleeding in and around the pad. Other symptoms are much more subtle; it’s possible for your dog to have a torn paw pad with no bleeding.

Typical symptoms of a dog foot pad injury can include:

• Inflamed, raw, or blistered paws
• Limping
• Loose flaps of skin on paw pads — a dog paw pad injury flap
• Refusal to walk
• Sudden obsessive licking or chewing at paws
• Bleeding (that cannot be controlled within five minutes)
• Blistering
• Cracked nails
• Damage to webbing between toes 
• Damaged nail bed
• Foreign objects in the pad
• Lacerations or punctures
• Limping that lasts longer than a day
• Pus discharge
• Refusal to bear weight on the paw or paws, a sign of a front leg or paw pad injury

Chewing and licking of the feet also need to be addressed if it’s causing injury to the paw or continues for longer than a day or two. This behavior may be indicative of other serious health problems including food allergies, arthritis, or even hormone imbalances.

Types of dog paw pad injury

There are a few different types of a dog paw pad injury, so be aware of the various issues your pet might suffer from. Potential kinds of dog foot pad injury include:

Laceration – A cut or tear in the skin is called a laceration; lacerations and punctures of the paw pad may be deeper than they appear or may harbor foreign objects. If your dog has a ripped paw pad, it’s likely to be because of a laceration.

Abrasion – An abrasion is an area of the skin where it is scraped or worn away; paw pads often suffer abrasions from running and playing on rough surfaces.

Burns – Burns to the paw pads can be caused by heat or by chemical reactions.

Frostbite – The toes are particularly at risk from damage due to frostbite.

Allergic reaction –Allergic reactions can cause the skin on the feet to be swollen and itchy, and some dogs will chew and lick their feet to excess.

Infection or infestation – Infection or parasite infestation can cause damage to the feet and may require medication to cure.

What causes a dog foot pad injury? All sorts of things. While we might instantly imagine a dog’s paw pad injury is the result of some sort of trauma — slicing the pad open on a shard of glass on the sidewalk, or a dog suffering a ripped paw pad after snagging it on thorny branch while running — it can be down to something less obvious.

Your dog may have a torn paw pad with no bleeding due to an infection, for example, triggered by excessively chewing an irritated pad. You might quickly realise what’s caused your dog to have a ripped paw pad, or it could take a few weeks before you notice something troubling your dog. Much depends on the cause.

Some common causes of a dog paw pad injury are:

Physical trauma

• Cuts, tears, and abrasions can occur at any time, often during routine activities.

• It’s important to keep an eye out for sharp objects on the ground when walking your dogs and to make sure that you provide the proper protection when running on rough or uneven ground or on pavement.

• It’s not uncommon to find foreign objects and debris in cuts and tears.

Infections

• Fungal and bacterial infections can cause itching, swelling and redness that can cause your dog to chew and lick their feet.

• Excessive chewing and licking can lead to wounds, lick granulomas, and cracking of the feet. Infestation by mites, fleas, or ticks can cause similar reactions.

Winter dangers

• There are some serious risks to your dog's paws that are unique to colder weather.

• Frostbite generally occurs at freezing or subfreezing temperatures and can affect not only the paws but commonly affects the tail, ears, and genitals of dogs.

• When ice is on the ground, there’s also the possibility of ice melt being present; ice melt that is left on the paws can cause burning and cracking and can be toxic to dogs that attempt to lick it off.

Nail trouble

• Damage to the nails or nail beds can be a serious issue for dogs.

• Ingrown nails often become infected and require cleaning and draining to prevent the infection from becoming systemic.

• The toenails of dogs also have a blood vessel running through them, so breaks that extend higher than this vessel are best attended to by a veterinarian to prevent extensive bleeding or infections.

Many things can be deduced about the status of your pet’s paws with a thorough inspection of the paw and pad on affected feet. Be cautious when inspecting your dog’s paws as he may react unpredictably to the pain.

Areas to check on your dog's feet include:

Paw pads

Peeling away of the paw pad is often the most visible injury, in which the thick outer covering is peeled away due running or skidding on hard or rough areas, and the tender inner part becomes exposed. This is often known as a dog paw pad injury flap and can happen due to it being worn away or due to burning or blistering that causes the pads to peel.

Dogs can also get cuts and punctures on their paw pads that may sometimes be harder to see. If debris is present in the cut, it should be removed, and pressure applied to stop bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t stop within five minutes, contact your veterinarian right away. 

Nails and nailbed

Dogs that have nails or nail beds with pus in them or are bleeding profusely should be transported to the veterinarian immediately. Don’t forget to check the dew claw as well for damage.

Broken or split nails that extend past the quick can also be a hazard if left untreated as it can cause bleeding from the blood vessels that are located in the nails as well as allowing an entry point to potential bacteria, viruses, or parasites. These injuries can also be quite painful. 

In between the toes and pads

Check here for cuts, polyps, or foreign objects. This is also a good place to spot yeast infections, rashes, and pests such as mites, ticks, and fleas.

The veterinary treatment for damage to the foot pads and surrounding areas will depend on the type of injury or disorder affecting the paw.

Burns, cuts, and abrasions will first be cleaned and evaluated. Debris and foreign objects will be removed, and if there are any tags or flaps of skin, these are likely to be removed. If the damage is more than superficial, the area around it may also be debrided to help encourage regrowth of healthy tissues.

The paws affected by moderate to severe loss of the foot pad or more profound lacerations will be treated and bandaged. Treatments that are placed on the foot prior to bandaging could include Acemannan-containing hydrogel, a neomycin-bacitracin-polymixin (Neosporin), or silver sulfadiazine cream. 

In many cases, a splint may also be placed on the limb to prevent undue pressure on the foot pad. This is particularly important in regard to deep lacerations as pressure on the pad of the food can lead to the reopening of the wound and potentially to infections.

If the damage to the foot has an underlying cause, such as pests, infections, foreign objects, or allergies, the root cause will need to be addressed as well. Ingrown nails will also need to be removed from the area they have grown into, which is most often the side of the paw or the paw pad itself.

This is a more common occurrence with the dew claw than with the other nails.

Ensuring that you trim your dog's nails, including the dew claw, on a regular basis will prevent ingrown toenails, as well as helping to maintain proper alignment of the feet and improving traction. Regular grooming of your dog’s paws can help to reduce the risk of potential injuries later on.

Check the pads for damage frequently. If you’re going to be walking on very hot or freezing surfaces, protect the feet with boots designed specifically for dogs or a paw wax for those dogs who will not wear the boots.

Applying moisturizer formulated for canines to the pad of your dog's feet — yes, you can condition a dog’s paws — when the weather is dry can help protect and heal from cracked pads, cuts, and hotspots.

Avoid letting your dog walk in areas with sharp rocks, broken glass, or run on pavement. Check the temperature of the surface the dog will be walking on to ensure it is neither too hot nor too cold. Continually monitor your dog’s behavior and gait to address any abnormal behavior for your pet.

Paying to treat a dog paw pad injury or issue out of pocket can be a major financial burden for many, if not most, pet parents. Pet insurance can help meet some of those costs, making treatment more affordable.

In the market for pet insurance? Compare leading pet insurance companies to find the right plan for your pet.

Paying for your pet’s routine vaccinations, bloodwork and tests can be also difficult to budget for. Fortunately, Wag! Wellness plans cover costs for routine care for your pet, getting your money straight back into your bank account within 24 hours.

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