Peeling pads
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Causes? Solutions? Opinions? |
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| Susan,
This can be caused by exposure to cold (almost like a frost bite) or from salt from snow, etc. Seeing that you have fleas - I'm not thinking you have snow problems or cold weather though??? It could be connected with the fleas as well - and there's a good article about fleas and treatment on the Bearded Collie Health Site. http://www.beaconforhealth.org/Fleas_Ti ... ctions.htm http://www.beaconforhealth.org/skin.htm You could try putting some Hand Salve on them (i.e. Burt's Bee's Hand Salve) - it can make their pads slippery - so just be careful. Hope Rufus is feeling better soon! Kristen |
| it's plenty cold here, we still have snow on the ground...
you know, he does love to lay outside and run around even though it is really cold.... i think i will curtail his outside exposure and get something like you suggest on his piddy paws. thanks for the ideas  |
| I'm wondering if his big fluffy feet are picking up salt on the walkways ... ? |
| That's probably it then - you can also get some boots (but not sure how happy he'd be about keeping them on).
ShaggyLamb OES makes and sells Dog Boots... http://www.shaggylamb.com/ I can't believe you're stilling having problems with fleas - those little buggers can obviously live through anything. 
Kristen |
| the other day he did have a big chunk of ice stuck to the hair in his pads, no idea how since i shave his pads at least once a month, but i shaved them again right after and he's been fine so far...
my parents want me to make him wear booties whenever he visits them i don't know why, i think big muddy pawprint goes great all over the carpet!!
he goes to doggie daycare so he probably picked them up there... all the dogs are supposed to be on flea control, but well, mine isn't during the winter, so i'm sure nobody else's is either. |
| Have you checked for dryness in his pads? If he's picking salt from outside, they will be dried out. I'll take from your comments that if you pass your thumb in one direction they feel smooth, against the other you can feel the scaly texture of them and maybe some will flake off.
Sofa's pads were very dried out when she got to us and she licked them all the time. Try putting some hand lotion on them before he goes to sleep so he won't lick the lotion. If it's dryness, remosturizing them will improve them in a week or so... Cold floors and dirt seem to dry Sofa's pads, so we moisturize her from time to time. |
here are some pics so it is clear... what is dark is hard, callous-like, and it's peeling off from the inside to the outside, the pad underneath isn't too soft either but it is pink. |
| Looks like weather exposure to me - but I'm not an expert.
Kristen |
| Danita checked the picures and confirmed that it appears to be cold/dryness damage. Sofa's pads were in a much worse condition when she arrived than what we see in Roofus, and were flaking in the same fashion you describe.
Rub them with vaseline, neutrogena moisturizing oil or any other thick moisturizer that can stay in his pads for a while, do that for a couple of weeks , protect his paws from the cold floor and he'll be better soon. |
| It does look like weather damage, however, it could also be a fungal infection, so it may not hurt to get some ointment just in case. |
| I didn't think about that. Will human ointment will do? |
| Yes, but you have to make sure it's not toxic if they lick it, or put something on the paws till the ointment is totally soaked in and then perhaps wash them. |
| Also, plain old iodine drops will clear up a fungal infection on the paw pads, but it won't moisturize like an ointment might. |
| I would definitely either wipe or rinse off his paws if he's been walking in the street the salt can be really rough on their feet. Also, if there is any gross discoloration or odor get him checked for frostbite (that's pretty extreme though.)
Rufus is just one year old, right? When Carl was about that age his paws got a bit scaly and the vet said it was just him developing calluses as he grew older. He had the softest pads but as he ran more and did the hard cuts and turns his pads got rougher and rougher. |
| yeah roofus is about 8 months now.... i dunno about the salt thing, i use the safe stuff for animals around the house, he doesn't really go anywhere right now because it's bitterly cold, except to doggie daycare, where they also use dog safe salt. I think it's the frost thing, he stays out a long time!
i bought him some booties, which the other two dogs immediately started trying to rip off his feet, and rubbed in some neosporin last night. I have some lotrimin if it turns out that it is fungal, and i'll just put his booties on after i rub it in. Thanks for your help guys! Roofus thanks you too |
| TotallyRoofus --
Have you ever tried Paw Wax? It might be worth a try for your little one. When I first adopted Maggy, her paws looked very similar. Ouch! Maggy's were also cracking. I would recommend trying "8 in 1 EXCEL PAW WAX Protector". You can find it in your local pet store, and I'm guessing other similar Paw Waxes. This is what it says on the container: ..."helps protect & condition dog's paws all year round. Prevents damage from gravel, asphalt, ice, snow, salt-treated roads, hot pavement and all hard surfaces. Provides grip on slippery surfaces." Wash, RINSE and DRY her paw pads thoroughly, then apply the wax. It cleared up Maggy's poor, sore, cracked paw pads and continues to help her and the other Sheepies on our hardwood floors.
Keeping their paws in good condition is very important. Great thread! Nancy PS -- Just found what the container looks like ... here's a link: http://shop.store.yahoo.com/pet-guys/-026851071160.html |
| wax on....
wax off.... I didn't know they made paw wax! |
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