Weather, age, allergies, and more can all impact our pups paws! Here are some signs their paws may need some love, and what you can do to give them some relief.
What to look for:
A dogs paws can tell you a lot about the health of your pup!
- Obsessive chewing or licking: this is a major sign of stress and anxiety in dogs.
- Avoiding walking or limping: can indicate some paw irritation or pain.
- Excessively oily and dry: there could be an over production of keratin.
- Skin redness, dryness, flakiness, abrasions, blisters, or growths: can indicate an allergy, as the skin around a dogs paws is usually the first to react!
- Darker than usual in color, redness, or blistering: may indicate your dog is experiencing some burns.
- Swelling, pain, itching, and greasy discharge: may indicate a possible skin or bacterial infection.
- Torn, fractured, ingrown or overgrown nails: can cause your dog severe pain and discomfort, as well as pressure on their joints, your pups nails usually shouldn’t touch the ground when they walk. (Also, always remember to check your pup’s declaw! These are a bit higher up than the rest of their nails, and are more frequently overlooked. They also need regular trimming and care!)**We are not veterinarians, nor can we act as a complete source of medical information/advice for your pup! If you have any concerns, please always contact your vet.
What to do!:
If you ever have a concern about your pup’s health, always contact a trusted veterinarian. They are the most equipped to appropriately address your issue with you!
Here are some things you can do as a pet parent to help your pup’s paws healthy and happy.
- Dogs love a good paw massage! It increases circulation to the paw pads and promotes stress release and relaxation!
- Regularly trim your pups nails after careful research on safety and proper technique! Some pet parents also like to use a scratch pad, where dogs can file their nails down themselves, and get some mental enrichment.
- Give your dogs regular paw checks, especially when they’re spending lots of time outside! Checking for ticks and rocks that can get stuck in between your pups toes can prevent further irritation!
**We are not veterinarians, nor can we act as a complete source of medical information/advice for your pup! If you have any concerns, please always contact your vet.