Hello, and a query about my dogs paws
Discussion
First post in this part of the forum, so hello!
Basically, although we've dogs in the family all my life, and my partner has a dog, I've never had my own dog, until last week.
I've taken on a lovely young staffordshire terrier puppy from a dog shelter that was brought in as a stray. He was a bit bouncy and excited, but I've had him for 5 days, and he's settling in a treat.
However, with the snow we have here presently, he's developed sore paws. Basically, after being out in the snow, his paws start to bleed at the top of the pads. I've had a look about online and it seems fairly common in that if he's not used to being outside (he's been in a shelter for the last 6 months) the pads on his paws can get chapped in the cold and start to bleed. When I warm them up again and dry them they stop straight away, it's just when he's out in the snow.
I've ordered him some waterproof boot type affairs, I'm not sure how he'll take to them but I need to do something because he's in visible pain when he goes out. I'm washing his paws afterwards in warm water to get the salt etc off them, and they're fine within a couple of minutes of being in, but it's stopping him getting out and about so I wondered if anyone else had any suggestions? I've read that trying vaseline can help as well as a barrier, so I'll give that a go.
Thanks
Basically, although we've dogs in the family all my life, and my partner has a dog, I've never had my own dog, until last week.
I've taken on a lovely young staffordshire terrier puppy from a dog shelter that was brought in as a stray. He was a bit bouncy and excited, but I've had him for 5 days, and he's settling in a treat.
However, with the snow we have here presently, he's developed sore paws. Basically, after being out in the snow, his paws start to bleed at the top of the pads. I've had a look about online and it seems fairly common in that if he's not used to being outside (he's been in a shelter for the last 6 months) the pads on his paws can get chapped in the cold and start to bleed. When I warm them up again and dry them they stop straight away, it's just when he's out in the snow.
I've ordered him some waterproof boot type affairs, I'm not sure how he'll take to them but I need to do something because he's in visible pain when he goes out. I'm washing his paws afterwards in warm water to get the salt etc off them, and they're fine within a couple of minutes of being in, but it's stopping him getting out and about so I wondered if anyone else had any suggestions? I've read that trying vaseline can help as well as a barrier, so I'll give that a go.
Thanks
jontymo said:
Have you walked him on grit? if so then it dries out the pads and they split (learnt this with my Jacks who used to just stop and put there paws up and ended up with me carrying them home)
Mine seem fine on snow but as you said earlier it could be soft pads due to being young.
Grit, I wish lol. I'm north of Alnwick and rural to boot, let's just say it's clearly not high on the council's gritting priority sheet haha.Mine seem fine on snow but as you said earlier it could be soft pads due to being young.
Here's a photo of the chap in question, he's quite taken with having his own bed.
My springer suffers in the snow as well. Her pads end up spliting. What we need to do with her is put vaseline on them and we also cover her paws with Pawz Dog boots. They are rubber and seem to work. They don't hinder her like the padded ones. There is a lot of grit where we are and they also prevent the grit doing her any damage, WIth my collie we just make sure we rinse his paws off when we get back in so that he doesn't get any problems.
e320dave said:
My springer suffers in the snow as well. Her pads end up spliting. What we need to do with her is put vaseline on them and we also cover her paws with Pawz Dog boots. They are rubber and seem to work. They don't hinder her like the padded ones. There is a lot of grit where we are and they also prevent the grit doing her any damage, WIth my collie we just make sure we rinse his paws off when we get back in so that he doesn't get any problems.
sweet, well I've bought some vaseline this afternoon so I'll give that a whirl later on, doggie boots don't arrive till tomorrow 
thanks
LiamB said:
Nothing to add apart from he is gorgeous!
Good on you for getting him from a shelter
Haha, thanks chap.Good on you for getting him from a shelter
I was expecting him to be harder work than he is so far bless him, touch wood. He doesn't bark, he doesn't bite, he doesn't whine, he does snort and snore, badly, but he also sleeps through the night in his bed already, so far bar one pee in the kitchen has cracked house training, and is great off the lead.
He's terrible on it, but that'll come with time. I think he's loving being warm and inside, he's basically spent the last 4 nights on his back in front of the coal fire, or hanging off the sofa. He was found as a stray, I think someone took him for a walk and left him, because he loves his walks, but as soon as we turn round to go home he races back as fast as he can, and he's long since figured out his door, he seems scared of being left out I reckon.
Either way, he's happy, I'm happy, jobs a good'un!
geordieracer said:
Our old english is currently modelling two pairs of men's walking socks topped with wetsuit tube socks. Saves his pads and the fur between getting matted.
Though he looks thoroughly disgusted.
without sounding like a total muppet, how do you keep them on?Though he looks thoroughly disgusted.
I tried fitting him with a pair of my cycling / gym socks last night as they're small and grippy as it were, then adorned him with doggy bags over the top tied to keep everything on, and they didn't make it out of the kitchen
To be fair, I have a hard time putting my own shoes on never mind his.
My friends Whippet had similar problems when a pup. She got some special paw wax (?) that was suggested by the vet, but he just used to lick it off. Eventually his pads toughened up.
Puppy's pads are just soft and sensitive and I wonder if boots help long term or do they just prevent the pads getting tough?
How old is he?
Puppy's pads are just soft and sensitive and I wonder if boots help long term or do they just prevent the pads getting tough?
How old is he?
durbster said:
Can't help with the paw issue but I just wanted to say that's a lovely pup, and when you put these boots on make sure you have a video camera handy. Our Staffy usually has us in tears of laughter whenever we try and put something new on her. 
Haha, I will do, he's had me in stitches already just with the way he sleeps. How he can possibly be comfortable I have no idea.For example:
'zzzzzzzzzzzzz'
nutter!
AdiT said:
My friends Whippet had similar problems when a pup. She got some special paw wax (?) that was suggested by the vet, but he just used to lick it off. Eventually his pads toughened up.
Puppy's pads are just soft and sensitive and I wonder if boots help long term or do they just prevent the pads getting tough?
How old is he?
He's 18 months (ish) / (we think / were told)Puppy's pads are just soft and sensitive and I wonder if boots help long term or do they just prevent the pads getting tough?
How old is he?
I'll put them on while the snow etc is here, and then hope they toughen up later, there's no way he can go on otherwise though, he's avoiding going out now and hobbles, and when he is out the bleeding is worse every day, so I'll have to try them.
Argh!
Karyn said:
Agreed that the boots will hinder long-term - pads do need to toughen up...
But he could do without split pads for now, poor mite! Can you do walks little and often, help toughen his pads? Like, five minute walk, a gajillion times a day?
Even if I could, I expect he couldn't lol, he loves a run! He loves the snow as well, which makes it worse!But he could do without split pads for now, poor mite! Can you do walks little and often, help toughen his pads? Like, five minute walk, a gajillion times a day?
D4MJT said:
He's 18 months (ish) / (we think / were told)
I'll put them on while the snow etc is here, and then hope they toughen up later, there's no way he can go on otherwise though, he's avoiding going out now and hobbles, and when he is out the bleeding is worse every day, so I'll have to try them.
Argh!
Didn't realise it was that bad. In that case you don't have much choice but to try them untill the weather improves.I'll put them on while the snow etc is here, and then hope they toughen up later, there's no way he can go on otherwise though, he's avoiding going out now and hobbles, and when he is out the bleeding is worse every day, so I'll have to try them.
Argh!
This is the sort of stuff my friend used... http://www.petsathome.com/shop/paw-wax-50g-dog-paw... It did help... when she could prevent him eating it.
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