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Topic Dog Boards / Health / Corns and Whippets
- By MamaBas [gb] Date 24.06.19 12:37 UTC
I have mentioned before that my Whippet was suffering with a corn on one of the middle toes, front left side.   After several 'hulling' treatment, using a scalpel my vet clearly did something good as she's not been suffering for quite some months now.  Disappointingly she's started limping - strangely not when out (on hard pavement), but indoors on carpets!!   Ok, not very thick pile carpet.    I took her in to be treated again last week, but she's not much improved this time.   Further what I thought I saw was another one, same pad, front right side, was.   This has been treated, and she's not lifting that side (never did, I just found it when I looked).

So searching about this, mainly Greys, I find "Expulsion (forcing the corn out) by soaking the foot or manual pressure".   I'm wondering whether this is worth trying (anybody done this successfully) and what temperature should the water be?

I wonder whether her nail length isn't helping - she's never worn the front nails down but with them longer than I like (and her foot shape is nothing like my Bassets were!) I wonder if this is making her prone to corns because her foot isn't touching the ground as it should, ideally.

Thoughts - especially about the soaking the foot suggestion.
- By chaumsong Date 25.06.19 12:42 UTC
I don't know anything about corns I'm afraid but wanted to reply to the nail length question, I read a great article about how long nails can affect feet, legs, shoulders and even the dogs back and lead to joint problems. I'd definitely work away with a dremel at reducing the nail length, it won't do any harm.
- By Lynne666 [gb] Date 27.06.19 06:22 UTC
Our 10 year old whippet has suffered with corns which we have had removed at the vets only for them to grow back. I then have started to use a product called ‘non stinky stuff’ on his pads at night time (only the tiniest bit) and the corns have gone. Wouldn’t normally recommend anything but I swear it worked. Wished i’d Have used it months ago to save the trauma of going the vets. Our whippet wouldn’t put his foot on the floor and now walks on it normally. Hope this helps. Can send photo of the product I bought if needed just let me know.
- By MamaBas [gb] Date 27.06.19 06:35 UTC Edited 27.06.19 06:44 UTC
Thanks Lynne.   I'll look it up and give it a try!   She is good with the vet re hulling but it would be good not to have to do this - I thought he'd managed to remove enough last time and she's gone for several months before it started again recently. :cry:
- By MamaBas [gb] Date 27.06.19 10:21 UTC

> I read a great article about how long nails can affect feet, legs, shoulders and even the dogs back and lead to joint problems.


Very true - I've always been very keen on keeping my Bassets' nails short.  Quite apart from the risk of damage to other parts of the front especially, keeping them short always makes for a much nicer looking neat foot.    My Whippet's nails are quite another matter.  However often I do them she always seems to look as if they could be taken back more - I'm not sure whether she'd tolerate the noise of a dremel.  I did go down that road a while ago, but didn't proceed with that idea.  Now she has these corns!
- By CaroleC [gb] Date 27.06.19 13:01 UTC
One of my previous hounds was a Whippet/Lurcher, which came to me as a starvation case. From middle-age she would pull to walk on grass, and although she was never actually lame - she would walk slower than usual on hard ground. The vet I had at that time was useless, and diagnosed it as an old foot ligament problem.
I had never had a dog with a corn before, but managed to locate it by using a high magnification jewellers loupe. she had black pads, and the corn was only tiny, but it was deep and felt almost as hard as a piece of grit. I used to soak her foot in warm, soapy water, and scrape round the edge of the corn with a sharp edge to make the boundary easier to see, (Noel Fitz's toothpaste method might have been better). I used a pair of narrow ended plier-type nail clippers to nibble away as much of the hard centre as I felt safe doing.
I'm sure she was grateful as she had instant relief, and she never resisted having it done. From memory I think it needed to be repeated about twice a year. I did try using a moisturiser and coconut oil on her pads, but can't say that they made very much difference.
- By MamaBas [gb] Date 28.06.19 07:10 UTC
Thanks CaroleC.  I have contacted Dorwest Herbs to see if they have any products that might be of use.   Unfortunately the 'lady who knows' is out of the office until Tuesday but before I buy the 'non stinky stuff', I may wait for what she has to suggest.   I may well try the soaking in water idea meanwhile.
- By Cava14Una Date 28.06.19 10:01 UTC
Can you post a link to it please chaumsong
- By chaumsong Date 28.06.19 10:14 UTC
Watch the video at the the bottom, it was this lady who wrote the article, and this is pretty much it but in video form :cool:
- By Cava14Una Date 29.06.19 10:38 UTC
Thank you:smile:
- By MamaBas [gb] Date 06.07.19 10:06 UTC
I heard back from Dorwest -

"We do not have any products specifically for corns.  However you may find the Paw and Nose Balm useful.  This helps to soften the hard areas around the corn and can make it easier for the corn to be hulled if necessary.  Reducing hard areas on the pad can also help to make it more comfortable for the dog to walk on.  Whilst this will not help to prevent the corns or get rid of the corn, it may help to make it a bit easier to remove and more comfortable for your dog.  Other customers that have dogs with corns find that this product is useful for helping to soften the corns. "

I took her back to my vet yesterday and he took off quite a lot more from both corns.   He said if necessary, which it probably will be, they may have her in and sedate her so he can go in deeper (remove it?).   I'm wondering if I dare use the foot balm I have for myself for hard skin on my feet?
Topic Dog Boards / Health / Corns and Whippets

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