Tips for Treating Dog Paw Pads

Foot (or paw) care is just as important for your pooch as it is for you. Your canine companion can easily suffer from blisters, burns, cracks, and hair matting between their toes if their paw pads aren’t being properly cared for. To help keep your canine companion happy and healthy, here are some tips on properly treating their paws.

Use Paw Wax for Protection

An easy way to protect your furry friend’s paws, especially in the winter, is with paw pad wax. Paw wax helps create a barrier between your canine’s foot, repelling things like ice, salt, and dirt that could potentially cause them irritation or harm. Using this wax can also help protect your pooch from paw pad burns that the hot pavement cause.  Paw wax is also a great alternative if your canine doesn’t tolerate wearing doggy booties. The wax is easy to apply and also moisturizes Fido’s paws.

Moisturize Dry Paw Pads

If you notice that Fido has cracked, peeling, or dry paw pads, you should definitely help them out by moisturizing them. However, be careful not to use human lotions or moisturizers as your pooch may lick them off, and they could potentially be toxic to them. So to be safe, always stick with products made specifically for canines. When applying moisturizer to your dog’s paws, keep in mind that less is more. Our pups already have pretty soft paw pads, so over-moisturizing them can cause them to be more susceptible to tearing or ripping when they end up walking across rough surfaces.

Keep Your Pup’s Paw Pads Trimmed and Mat-Free

To help keep your canine’s paws healthy, another thing you can do as a pet parent is to make sure that the hair that grows between their paw pads is regularly cut short. This can help keep Fido’s paws healthy and provide them with more traction when walking on slick surfaces (this is especially crucial for senior dogs). Plus, when your furry friend’s paws are trimmed, it’s a lot easier for your to apply products and inspect their paws to ensure they’re clean and free of debris. Keeping the hair between your canine’s toes trimmed will also help prevent matting, which can cause your pooch quite a bit of pain and lead them to chew at their feet, which will only worsen the issue.

Taking care of your canine companion’s paws isn’t a difficult task, but it is crucial, and your pooch will thank you for it.