Torn pad on front paw

[harley]

Hi all,

Yesterday I took Jarvis for a walk over Devils Dyke - it was the first time I've let him off the lead there. He had a really big run but when we got back to the car, I noticed that there was some blood on the floor from where he'd been standing. When I had a look at his front left paw, I noticed that one of his pads was spilt/cracked and bleeding.

When I got home I bathed his torn pad with HIBISCRUB (a disinfectant solution I'd been given by the vet previously) and then put cotton wool on the pad and taped it up.

Jarvis walks on his foot ok, no limping, and doesn't appear to be in any pain but when I changed the homemade bandage today, I noticed that it's still oozing blood. So I'm a little concerned.

I don't think I will take him out for a walk tonight.

Just wanted some advice if any of you have experienced problems with your dog's pads. Do you think I should take Jarvis to the vets? Unfortunately it's Sunday tomorrow so won't be able to take him till Monday.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Harley

[benjiemum]

Hi there,

Benjie sliced his pad quite badly today.

I think the important thing is just to check that there is nothing stuck in it.

i don't bother then to consult a vet as i feel that there's probably nothing they can advise other than keep the wound clean until it heals. (Same as I wouldn't go to the doctor if I cut myself badly). However, it's a challenge not to have a home that ends up looking like an abbatoir! Hibiscrub will keep it clean, but if Jarvis is like Benjie and insists on bouncing around and opening it up before it can heal then you will need to use something to absorb the blood and then cover whatever you use with sticky bandage for example.You can buy this at pets are us or similar. I'm not keen on using cotton wool or anything linty as a pad because it gets stuck. I make a pad of bounty kitchen roll or strips of an old pillow case.

As soon as poss i leave everything off indoors so the air can get to it, but like I say, if they bounce about it opens up again so it's a balance. What colour are your carpets?!

I've used a dog boot over Benjie's pad tonight - they are great as the other problem is licking which opens up the wound.

Hope that's been helpful .I reckon you are on the right track though - no limping and oozy rather than dripping blood sounds fine.

I imagine other folk will have suggestions and I hope it gets better soon.

all best

kathy

[harley]

Thanks for the advice Kathy - it's really helpful. Glad to know I'm on the right track.

Luckily I have mostly laminate flooring - so no carpet stains - but I know what you mean about the place looking like an abbatoir!

I've just got back from the supermarket and have bought some sticky bandage. I agree with you about the cotton wool - wish I hadn't used it as it's stuck to Jarvis' pad. Will wash his pad with Hibiscrub again tomorrow and rebandage. Jarvis keeps trying to lick it so I probably will have to leave it bandaged up for awhile.

As this is the first time I've ever experienced a torn pad, I was wondering how long it normally takes to heal up? I guess the problem, like you say Kathy, is that as soon as they bounce around it'll open up again.

Where did you get your dog boot? I think I may get one for any future accidents.

Jarvis has been so sweet though, letting me bandage him up

[benjiemum]

hi fellow "poorly foot" boy!

I got a pair of brilliant dog boots from a local pet shop in Eastbourne. Have a look at previous posts under health and medical because I think Stitch put a link on for a recommended on -line order company + there is plenty of discussion about foot injuries.

Very happy to post you a pair 1st class tommorrow if you prefer, - just pm me your address and bung me a cheque in the post when convenient. From memory they are no more than £6/£7 or so a pair and I've found them invaluable. Benjie's are a large size and unless Jarvis is particularly small with little feet - I'd go for large.

I'm airing Benjie's foot tonight but without the padding and boot, he's a tad sensitive when putting his poorly foot down so they are clearly a great help.

all best

kathy
x

[Chicken]

Hope all these poorly hound feet get better soon xxx

[louiseogle]

Hi folks,
how are jarvis and benjie`s pads now?
It`s so hard to only let them walk when you know they really want a run , but in my experience it opens up again so easily if not fully healed before more vigorous exercise is resumed.

Sending healing thoughts

Lou and lotts

[benjiemum]

Benjie's is healing nicely thanks Louise.

Forgot to mention that chris and jayne lent me a fabulous "dermagel spray" to use on the wound to aid healing and protect against infection. V good - it's made in america, can't find a local supplier but another item that I now want to add to my doggie first aid box.

all best

kathy and benjie boy

[stairsarescary]

Poor Jarvis and Benjie It has always amazed me that for a dog who is built to run and made a living from running, Alex doesn't half injure himself a lot by running! And it seems that Jarvis is just the same (maybe they have more in common than just looks!) If he's not too bouncy and happy to snooze, but will lick his foot if it's left, maybe a plastic collar's a good idea. We tend to put one on Alex whenever he's done something he's likely to lick, so the air can get to it but he can't! And I've got one of those dog boots you're talking about, I think it's by Jolly??? He doesn't much like it when it's first on but soon forgets about it and it's handy to protect an injured pad on a walk. The vet always says to cut the walks right down when it's a cut pad, but they heal amazingly quickly so hopefully both doggies will be running about again happily soon

[louiseogle]

Glad to hear this Kathy
hope Jarvis is healing equally well?
Thought I`d take this opportunity to mention a good product i came across via an equastrian article. I ordered a tub of Botanica Natural Herbal Skin Cream from http://www.botanica.ie after Lottie`s first AWOL saw her return with quite a few cuts and tears on her legs and sides. It proved very effective,also a minor bite healed cleanly and quickly when applied 2x daily.
More recently I noticed together with her baldy thigh syndrome were some spots yuck! 5 days on after applying the product, gone...I`m still applying a small amount over the skin and perhaps I`m imagining it, but could the hair be growing back again ? I`ll keep you posted on this, as I know this is a common greyhound thing.
ps ingredients are: moisturising base cream, aloe vera,tea tree oil, oil of lavender, comfrey oil.

Lou and Lotts

[Chicken]

If you are needing to use a buster collar there is an alternative. Its called a comfy collars and doesnt restrict the dog as much as the usually plastic cone collars, plus you dont suffer with bruised legs
It does look abit silly but dont they all. Heres a link to them in case anyone would prefer to use them.
http://www.comfycollars.co.uk/?gclid=CM ... 4wodWBRPpA

Hope the quick healing continues