Hi there. Our boy has cut his pad pretty bad and is currently feeling sorry for himself with stitches in it and wrapped in a bandage. He has to get the stitches out next week and im wondering if there is anything which can: Help his pad recover. Anything which can be applied to the pad. any prevention method so the pad isn't damaged again. walking on grass or sand or in salt water (sea) Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Re: Pad injury and recovery. Hi, I have a fair bit of experience with pad damage from my dogs! This is what I have learnt - They seem to heal better with air to it but don't let dog lick it. When in same room I try to leave uncovered but stick a baby sock on them if they try to lick it. Medical grade Manuka honey helps healing (you can get tubes of it on Amazon) Keep it clean - plastic bag over the top with elastic band around to go outside, or cover with cling film or ask vets for empty saline drip bags to put over. When the bandage comes off/stitches out always soak pad in salt water or dilute Hibiscrub after going outside. My experience of dog boots is that most don't work. We do have a hard core boot designed for racing huskies but paw still gets a bit wet in it. Skidding after balls wrecks pads! Would avoid beach until healed as bits of sand get in wound. Stick to grass. If it is a bad cut you are looking at about 2 weeks until healed. Hope this helps. Chloe
Re: Pad injury and recovery. Thank you. He has a drip bag for keeping it dry at the moment and i usually put a plastic bag over that just to be safe. I may buy the shoes, the ones ive seen are Velcro fastening so may give them a go. Good there are plenty grass areas i can take him initially and will definitely be using the salt water method. Thanks again for your time.
Re: Pad injury and recovery. Also important to remember that once fully healed the new skin will not be as hardened as the old so it may be tender or get sore easily.
Re: Pad injury and recovery. The best boots we have are from snowpawstore.com. They are def hard wearing and almost waterproof but the shape of them means the dogs find it hard to walk in them to begin with, although my lab has perfected a good run in them! Mikki do a boot which is a better shape but is not waterproof so don't even bother wasting your money on it. Chloe