[caligirl07]

Hi Guys,

I noticed some cut on Buddy paw, it is open a bit, not too deep. I have no idea how he got it. It is small, but I wonder, do I need to take him to doctor? I don't think the doc can do something with it.
Do I need to put some cream on it? Help please

 

[AbbyK9]

It really depends on how big a cut it is and whether you feel comfortable treating it at home or not.

My girl sometimes gets small cuts on her paws when we hike, especially if there's a lot of sharp rocks on the trail (and she's not wearing boots). If that happens, I usually rinse out the cut using water, then put antibacterial creme (like Neosporin) on it, and cover it using either vet wrap or dog boots (or both) to keep it clean.

This has always worked for us. Of course, you want to keep an eye on it and make sure that it's not getting infected. You can tell if it's getting infected if there's a weird smell coming from it, your dog is sensitive to the pad being touched, your dog is running a temperature, etc.

With small cuts, just keep it clean, put some antibacterial stuff on it, and keep a good eye on it, and you should be just fine.

Covering it when you go outside helps. Dog boots, an old sock, Vet wrap, etc. all work.

 

[caligirl07]

Thank you so much for your help. Buddy doesn't complain when I check it, so I think it doesn't hurt him so much.
I didn't know they have shoes for dogs. So would you recommend for him to wear those shoes when we go out for hike? Can I ask where I can get those? I don't think I saw it at the local store. Thanks.

 

[AbbyK9]

They do make shoes for dogs.

If you hike in places that pretty frequently have sharp rocks or other natural obstacles that may be damaging to Buddy's paws, I would consider getting a pair.

A lot of Petsmart and Petco stores carry cloth and leather dog boots similar to Muttlucks (http://www.muttluks.com/) for reasonable prices. There is also a company called Ruffwear (http://www.ruffwear.com/) that specializes in hiking / outdoor gear for dogs and they make a dog boot that has a Vibram rubber sole, called the GripTrex boot. I have a set of those and they're (in my opinion) much better than the leather and nylon ones as they stay on better, don't turn around, and provide better traction for your dog. You can order them online or find them at really good hiking and outdoor stores. (When I lived in the DC area, REI carried them in their stores.)

Be prepared for getting some weird looks and lots of questions when your dog wears boots in public!