Dog Paw Care is Important
to Your Dog's Health
Let's face it- dog paw care really isn't on our radar screen most of the time.Most of us forget about the importance of trimming dog nails, and take a "catch as catch can" approach to paw care unless our dogs are suffering with a paw problem. But dog paw health is really pretty significant to a dog's well-being when you think about it....
After all:
What walks barefoot all day long,
has four "feet," instead of two,
22 "toes" (a.k.a. pads)
and at least 16 "toenails?" (a.k.a. claws...not to mention two additional dew claws, if they weren't removed in puppyhood)
Of course, the answer is your dog!
Can you imagine not having a foot problem or two if you didn't cut your nails frequently and if you walked barefoot all of the time- especially in outdoor terrain? This page is all about what to do regarding dog paw care. Dog paw health problems will be kept in check with some routine maintenance (trimming dog nails regularly), and watching out for problematic factors in the outside environment (weather, rough or hot terrain, snow, ice, salt). If you are wondering what the different parts are in the dog paw photo above, here is the key:
A. claws
B. digital pads ("toes" - for bearing weight)
C. metacarpal pad (the largest pad)
D. dew claw (many dogs have these removed at an early age)
E. carpal pad (this provides additional traction when descending slopes.
With proper dog paw care, your dog will only have a paw health problem when he gets bit by an insect (like the dog pictured above) or has some other unforeseen accident.Let's first look at what we can do in terms of preventative dog paw care.
Trimming Dog Nails
One of the easiest and most important part of dog paw health is keeping up with the nails. Nails should be trimmed regularly -at least once a month- and more often if your dog's nails grow faster than the norm.
This is all you need to have available:
dog nail clippers -scissors style or guillotine style (my favorite)
styptic powder, in case you nip the nail quick by mistake
Get your dog in a comfortable position with your dog nail clippers in hand. You will first examine your dog's nails. If the nails are light in color, you should be able to see the pink nail quick that is a slender, curved triangular shape that runds down the center of the nail. You will want to only cut the nail away that is beyond the quick. Click here to see some really terrific
nail trimming photos and instructions
from the College of Veterinary Medicine of Washington State University. Follow the photo tutorial in the link just above and you will have great success. You will be cutting away a small portion of the nail tip, always being careful to avoid the nail quick. If your dog's nails have grown to a point, you will be cutting on an angle to make a straight surface, which removes a triangular piece of nail (the tip). If you happen to catch the quick, put a little of the styptic powder where it is bleeding and it should stop pretty quickly. If you cut your dog's nail quick by mistake, he will probably be wary and uncooperative as you continue cutting the rest of the nails.
Other Preventative Measures in Dog Paw Care
Most of our dogs love the outdoor world, and we love to share it with them through daily walks, trips to the dog park, hikes, and sporting activities. But the outdoor world can be rough on our dog's paws and there are some things to keep in mind.Watch carefully the ground that your dog is walking over. Be aware of areas where thorns and sand spurs are prevalent. Even gravel can present a problem if small bits of gravel become lodged between the pads. During hot times of the year, be aware of the hot pavement or asphalt that your dog must walk on. Many dogs have sensitive pads, but can't figure out how to get away from the hot sidewalk, if not offered a choice. Try to walk them in areas where they can walk on a cooler surface if their paws begin to become sensitive to the hot pavement. In the winter, there are many potential dog paw health risks to avoid. Snow and ice can cause small rocks and other debris to become stuck to the ice and lodge between the pads, especially if your dog has furry feet and the extra hair has not been trimmed well between the pads. Using small bladed scissors, carefully trim the hair on the bottom of the paw, especially between the pads, or have a professional groomer take care of it for you. By paying attention to a few minor details, your dog will sure to have "happy feet" for a long time to come!
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