My Yankee has a slight injury to one of his pads following a longish walk with my OH - possibly he stepped on glass or something. Part of the black bottom of the pad appears to be sort of missing! There doesn't appear to be any infection or any bleeding, it's more like a graze than anything else. He isn't limping, and it only seems to be slightly sore if we fiddle with it (he hates us touching his feet anyway!). But he is constantly licking it, and I'm not sure if it's best to let him keep on, as that's the natural instinct, or if we should cover it with a sock so it can dry out and close over. Obviously if the vet is where we should go, then I will, but I must admit I'm not keen to spend £30 if bathing in weak salt water and keeping it covered is sufficient. Thoughts anyone? :-)

Hi,

If he is licking it, then it is obviously bothering him, dogs are extremely good at keeping pain etc under control without our knowledge, it is hard to imagine what you are describing, a piece is missing, no bleeding or soreness and it looks like a graze. From what you have described to be honest I don't think there is anything a vet can do, if it should become swollen, infected, start bleeding, or cause a limp take him to the vet and have it bandaged up, he will no doubt pull off a sock or anything else you put on yourself, personally at the moment with no obvious signs of infection I would leave it to heal in the open air and bathe with salt water and let your dog lick it.

hi,
this sounds similiar to wot my bitch had, in the end i took her to the vet and found out it was a tumor, it was removed and problem was solved!! 
u could always try a baby sock on the foot taped around the top, we did this to!!

Thanks - it's definitely not a tumour, the 'graze' description was the closest I could come, it's hard to describe. One of my own socks fits remarkably well, the heel goes right over his hock, so a bit of masking tape to loosely hold the top up is keeping it on beautifully, much to his disgust! I'll see what it looks like tomorrow and probably let him keep licking at it then. My OH is worried about leaving it uncovered because even walking around the house it might get dirty, but presumably between the salt water and the licking it should stay clean?

I guess he shouldn't be walked, or at the least just short walks with the sock on to protect it from the dirt?

How long ago did this happen ?? If it was only recently, then I would leave it - just bath it in salt water maybe. Tara has a cut on her paw at present, but she only licked it for a day or so. It looks clean and isn't bothering her now. Going to the vets with cuts on paws is pretty well not worth the money - I'd only go if the cut was flapping and needed stitching :)

Daisy

Hi Daisy, it was on Sunday that they had the long walk. There's no loose flaps, it just sort of looks like that top layer of black on the pad has had a bit scraped off by something.

Mine often cut their paws because they charge about and go into long grass that may contain sharp things :( I just make sure that the paw is clean and after a day or so it usually doesn't cause a problem. Bandages on paws are often useless and come off and (because of major problems when Tara's paw was bandaged a couple of years ago when she broke a toe), I am very anti them unless absolutely essential :(

Daisy

Hmm, licking it made it sorer and he was limping quite a bit yesterday. We took him to the vet and now have 2 socks on him and some gel to sooth it. Have had a brainwave and have filled the Kongs with stuffing paste etc to distract him from trying to chew it. I bought that paste ages ago for the youngster but she wasn't interested, but they all seem keen now!! :-)