pup has cracked pads

[Road Hog]

have 3 dogs ,but only the pup(1 year old) has cracked pads , and seems to struggle walking on the snow ,

what can i give him to heal his pads ?

[J B L]

Vaseline / baby hydrating cream and baby socks worked fine. You need to ensure it keeps the socks on for a while though (good luck with that one... )

Edited by J B L on Tuesday 22 December 11:06

[Ahhh Moneypenny]

we put sudocrem on ours and put socks (taped gently around the paws) so he could lick it off, everytime he was in the house, healed really well

[daninsidious]

Limit Your Dog's Exposure to Potential Triggers.

If your dog has sensitive paws, which is not uncommon in older dogs, consider purchasing doggie boots for use during the winter months when your dog is exposed to frozen pavement and ice. Reevaluate the products you use to clean your floors and see if you can substitute a gentler, organic product from a natural food market. Limit your dog's exposure to lawn chemicals and ice melting products placed on sidewalks in the winter which can trigger cracking. If you use salt to melt ice in your driveway, don't allow your dog to walk in that area without boots. Can you imagine how it feels to have salt applied to cracked paw pads?

Step
2
Consider Your Dog's Nutritional Status.

As previously mentioned, zinc deficiency can cause dryness and cracking of the paw pads. To be sure this isn't the cause, have your vet check your dog's zinc levels. One possible nutritional approach to this problem is to add omega-3's to your dog's diet. One of the best ways to do this is to simply add fish oils directly to your dog's food. To avoid problems with diarrhea, add small amounts initially and gradually increase the dose as tolerated. You may also notice that other skin and coat conditions respond favorably to this treatment.

Step
3
Other Tips.

Don't allow your dog to bite or nibble at his cracked pads as this can exacerbate the problem and could lead to secondary infection. The best way to prevent this behavior is to soothe the area by applying Vaseline to the cracked paw pads several times a day. This can help with the healing process also. You may also want to apply a protective bootie to keep the area out of reach of your dog's tongue and teeth.

[Road Hog]

thanks folks

this is going to be fun ,the only time he isnt being hyper is when he is walking on the snow.


is there a way to test zinc levels (blood test)?

[JamesNotJim]

Nothing but time really, same happens to our little one. We just make sure his feet are clean after a walk.

[JamesNotJim]

Nothing but time really, same happens to our little one. We just make sure his feet are clean after a walk.

[bazking69]

The cold seems to bring out dried and chapped ear tips on our dog. He is currently sporting a scab on ear ear tip and it happens every cold snap.

[becksW]

Road Hog said:

thanks folks

this is going to be fun ,the only time he isnt being hyper is when he is walking on the snow.


is there a way to test zinc levels (blood test)?

Not sure would have to ask a vet, may need to ck biotin levels (which I think is zinc related) There are supplements available (one product used to be called Zincaderm, not sure if it still made)

Vaseline and socks over feet can work quite well.

Meant to add if it is lack of e.g. zinc, nails are usually affected as well.

Edited by becksW on Tuesday 22 December 15:36

[Motown Junk]

Road Hog said:

thanks folks

this is going to be fun ,the only time he isnt being hyper is when he is walking on the snow.


is there a way to test zinc levels (blood test)?

Tried testing the blood sugar levels on a neighbour's cat - didn't go well....