Please help. I have a 2 yr old GSD who has been in the show ring since puppy, and has had hard exercise / roadwork for the last year with no problems. Now, 2 weeks before Crufts he has developed a weakness in his rear leg which seems to be as a result of soft, tender pads. We have not changed the surface he is exercised on, and his kennel conditions are clean & dry. Any suggestions? Also what are the feelings on using surgical spirit to harden up the pads?

I use surgical spirit to harden my GSD's pads :)
Lara x

Thanks for that. I already use surgical spirit if we have soft pads, but was wondering if there was an underlying cause for this to develop all of a sudden. I have started adding vitamins to his daily diet incase he is lacking in something.

Hi Tiggywig
Do you think it might be anything to do with the roads being gritted. they may have changed the formula of whatever it is they put on the roads now. There seem to be chemicals in everything nowadays :-(

Hi, good thought.
However, we live in the country & aren't fortunate enough to have a gritter up here. We have to rely on a shovel or at the worst the farmer's tractor if we are snowed up!!
Our road work consists of six miles around the lanes, avoiding the main roads.
Any more thoughts?

You could try putting boots on her - available from country Mun. They look a bit daft but can save the day in cases of injured feet - just a thought :-)

Thanks, I've used boots before on injured pads, but in this case the pads are not cut but just very pink and soft near the toes. Not like the normal hard black pads. Oh, by the way, hubby just tells me he walked dog on gritted road some weeks back!! So much for comunication!!

Have you tried Whitch Hazel, it is supposed to toughen skin on human feet!!! It is a briliant anicoagulant for cuts, and a good clener and astringent for the face!