Hello,

My poor little-big-Melvin has hurt his paw! He was limping terribly on his front paw yesterday, so of course I went into full panic mode.  However on closer inspection he seems to have a sort of graze on the larger pad.  It's about the size of a 5p, and it is pink and fleshy.  I'm not sure that this warrants a vet trip (one of my new year's resolutions was to cut down on unnecessary vet trips :-D).  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make it more comfortable for him or anything I can put on it to help it heal?  Should I be cleaning it?  He's having trouble walking on concrete so I've not walked him since yesterday morning... not sure if this is for the best either?  I am obviously happy to take him to the vet if it is actually necessary!

Thanks,

Clare

If it looks clean and the foot is not hot to touch then I would bath in warm saline (Salty water 1 tsp to a pint) dry well and keep it covered with a light dressing. A boot that lets air in but keeps dirt out would be fine. Check it at least twice a day and wash every day in the saline then re-dress. If it at any time looks pussey or is hot red or swollen then off to the vet. However if it has a flap of skin that could be sutured back in place a vet trip is a must, but if the skin is missing it is just a case of slow healing.
Keep him on reduced excersise for a few days and make sure the pad is covered when you take him out and keep it dry. These things can take a long time to heal as you have to wait for skin to re-grow.
Aileen

Thank you Aileen!

It looks clean and is not hot, there is no flap of skin.  I'll have a look for a doggy boot for him, not sure how well he'll take to it though!!

Thanks again,

Clare

My lot get this when they've been in kennels (think it's the running around on the concrete). My canine first aid kit is better than my human one! Wash with dilute hibiscrub, dry thoroughly, put a low adherance dressing (pad) on, and then secure with a self adhesive crepe bandage (tesco's do one that's bright blue). Works a treat with ours.

Just to add that if you bandage the whole paw, enclosing the toes as well, to make sure you put cotton wool between all the toes so that they don't get damp or squashed by the bandage.

Image.

And don't bandage it too tightly!

Providing it is clean now and is not getting worse I would treat it myself. Wash in a solution of either scrub and water or salt and water, dry and massage Sudocrem into the pad, wipe of excess and repeat after next trip outside.

Salt water as Aileen says, I have used my own sock in the past on my dog, his leg is just the right size to get the heel of my sock on his hock so it fits well, then just some masking tape snug but not too tight so it doesn't come off.

Just to say any bandage must be kept dry and changed regularly. I prefer to allow the air to get to it unless the wound is very deep.

I am in agreement about letting air into a wound but as this is on the bottom of his foot I think it needs something to keep the dirt out or every little bit of rubish will get into it. I have often used a sock and just secured round the top.That way it stays clean but has plenty of air around.
Aileen

Thank you everyone.  I've bought a ridiculous dog boot so I can put that on him when he's going outside and have given it a wash with saline solution.  This may be a silly question, but where do you buy hibiscrub from?  People are always mentioning it, but I can only find it to buy online (not ideal when I could do with it now!).

i got mine from an equestrian store so something like that or feed merchant ought to have it. Not sure if vets (obviously cost a fortune from there) or pets at home stock it?

Got mine from a chemist.

Got mine from a chemist as well

As said the chemist also from the vet. I buy mine on line. It is so useful in a case like this, make a fresh batch in a small bowl every morning and then use a cotton wool ball dip it in bath the area and throw the ball away but leave the bowl of wash for the next time the dog goes out. Think a boot whilst out is the best of both worlds, if the wound is deep then you may need to cover but if it is a graze then best no to as the dog will help you keep it clean and things heal best without being covered.

As it happens we are running a Canine First Aid seminar soon it will be interesting to see what the lecturer suggests for such matters providing I am not shut in the kitchen washing up which is likely.

> to make sure you put cotton wool between all the toes

Really good advice. One of ours had a leg op, leg & foot dressed and bandaged. The smell after a couple of days not good, investigated and between the toes the damp was causing the skin to break down.