How do you take care of a dog's paws?
Cameron Tromp
2025-08-23 11:44:56
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Looking after your dog’s paws can require a lot of patience – especially if they are not used to having their paws touched. Give your dog a paw massage every now and again which will help your dog get used to you touching their paws. Start by gently rubbing the pads and then move to between their toes to relax them and get them comfortable with the experience. If it would hurt the soles of your feet to walk across the hot tarmac of a car park in summer, it can also be uncomfortable for your dog – and may lead to blistering on their soles. If this happens, you should wash their paws gently in an antibacterial wash or warm salty water and wrap in gauze in a figure eight pattern, with loops around the foot and ankle. The cold weather presents a whole host of issues for dog owners when it comes to caring for your pet’s paws. The salt and de-icers used on roads and pavements can irritate your dog’s paws, so you should ensure you wash and moisturise their paws after they’ve been outside. If you notice the soles of your dog’s paws are cracked or dry, then massage Vaseline into them. Alternatively there are special pad moisturisers which you can buy from pet shops that are specifically designed for the job. The hair between the pads can also matt and become painful to walk on, so make sure that you trim these areas regularly too.
Ashley O'Keefe
2025-08-19 13:43:10
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: 18
Check paws regularly. Foreign objects like pebbles, weeds, thorns, and bits of glass can get lodged in paws. Try to check your dog’s paws regularly, especially after being outdoors. Use tweezers to gently remove any debris. Clean regularly. Wipe or wash your dog’s paws as soon as they come in from outside. In winter, this will remove any de-icing products or ice that has gotten stuck. A cloth soaked in warm water and gentle massage can help loosen the ice. Dog’s paws need to be groomed regularly. Long nails can injure your dog and interfere with their walk. Your dog’s nails shouldn’t touch the ground when they are standing on a flat surface. The frequency of trimming depends on the breed and how active your dog is. In general, nails should be trimmed monthly. Moisturize. If your dog’s paws get too dry, they can crack and bleed. Only use moisturizers that are meant for dogs.
Noelia Schamberger
2025-08-05 20:14:04
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When your dog comes in from a walk, you can rinse their paws in warm water and blot them dry with a towel. You might like to apply a little paw butter or paw balm afterwards, to moisturise them and prevent cracking. Snow can collect and ball up between your dog’s toes. When this gets compacted and icy, it can become painful for your dog to walk. You might need to break apart the clumps during your walk if your dog looks uncomfortable, or you can melt the ice off using warm water when you get home. It can help to stop this from happening if you trim away the fur from between your dog’s toes so the snow has less to adhere to, and some paw butter between your dog’s toes might also help to prevent snow from sticking. You could always consider getting your dog a set of boots to wear during icy and snowy weather. Be sure that they fit correctly and dry them out properly between each use.
Anna Stamm
2025-08-05 17:58:34
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: 15
When out for a walk or playing in the garden, your dog’s paws are exposed to rough surfaces, wet ground, dirt and debris. Those adorable little paw pads on your dog’s feet help to protect them from impact, extreme temperatures and uneven terrain, but it’s still important to keep your dog’s paws in tip-top condition. Depending on their level of exercise and the season, you can adjust the schedule to fit your dog's needs. If you frequently take your dog hiking, for example, you may need to check and wash their paws after every walk. Debris often gets stuck between the paw pads or in the toenails, so it's important to check your dog's paws before lathering them up. Next, if you have a medium- or long-haired dog, take a moment to trim the hair on the bottoms of their paws. After checking your dog's paws and trimming their hair, wet their feet, lather with mild dog shampoo and rinse. Don't forget to keep a towel nearby to dry your pet's paws so they don't slip or leave wet footprints around your house. If you want to do a routine dog paw cleaning after a quick walk, just gently wipe the paws with a washcloth and water. Don't forget to trim your dog's nails and dewclaws if needed.
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