LoobaniIf you love to take your dog on a walk in the summers, then you must take some time out and learn all about paw pads. Summer months are the hottest time of the year, and if you go outside bare feet, you can easily bruise yourself; the same applies to dogs. It is imperative that you provide your puppy with the best paw protection so that their tiny feet can stay protected, and to learn all about this protection, continue reading!
How To Protect Dog's Paw In Summers?
Doggy paws are a very sensitive part of your pet’s body, and they can easily get bruised and hurt if not taken care of. Many owners are not aware of dog paw maintenance and how the heat can affect them. If you are such an owner, then you have come to the right place. There are many different dog pad protection you can opt for depending on what your pet is more comfortable with.
Some of the most common solutions include the following: dog paw covers, paw wax and dog booties for hot weather. To learn more about them and the importance of dog paws, keep on reading.
What Are Dog Paws?
First and foremost, as a dog owner, you must take some time to understand their paws. The pads present at the bottom of the paws are soft, and they serve as a cushion to protect the joints and bones from shock. Also, they act as insulation in extreme weather conditions and help them when walking on rough surfaces.
As a pet mom or dad, you need to pay attention to their little paws and make sure they do not get wounded up or burned in the summer heat. Sometimes, objects such as shards of glass or rocks can get lodged in between their paws and injure your pup; keeping an eye on their paws will help you in fixing such issues as soon as they take place. In order to find out if your dog’s paw is hurting, you need to focus on a few telltale signs. Read on below to know all about these signs.
How To Know If Your Puppy Dog Paws Are Hurting In Summers?
The footpads present underneath your puppy’s paws are very strong and can handle whatever nature throws at them. However, sometimes, they can get weak and hurt due to nature and also due to human-made surfaces. In the summers, concrete pavements and sidewalks can become unbearably hot, and your puppy can burn their paws; but the question arises, how can you find out they are burned?
Well, burned paws show a few specific symptoms, and these include the following:
● When your pet is reluctant and avoiding to go on walks
● If your pet is limping when moving from one place to another
● Your dog is constantly chewing or licking their feet
● The pads have a darker color than usual
● You can see visible damage on the paw pads
● There is blister and redness all around the pads
Apart from these common issues, there are a few paw disorders that your pet can go through as well. These include callus, nasodigital hyperkeratosis, pemphigus, hard-pad disease and cracked footpads. Their names may sound very dangerous, but with the best paw protection for dogs, you can deal with them easily.
Now that you know when and how your dog’s paws are damaged let’s learn all about the different ways of protecting them.
How To Protect Dogs Paws?
There are three main techniques that you can use in order to protect your puppy’s paw: dog paw wax, dog paw covers and dog heat booties. Each of these dog pad care products will make sure that their paws are healthy for both winters and summers. Continue reading to learn all about dog paw pad protection and how each of the methods works.
● Dog Paw Wax
Paw wax is a non-toxic organic product that is made with many different food grades mixed together. This product is designed to provide your pet’s footpad with a shield that keeps it protected. The shield is semi-permeable and gets absorbed right away; after a long day of walking, paw wax allows sweat to escape and keeps the pads breathable.
Organic paw wax is a very refreshing medium that provides your pup with tenacity and allows them to enjoy rugged terrains and extreme weather conditions. The best part about paw wax is that there is a wide range of waxes present in the market today that you can choose from. To find the one most ideal for you, simply skim through the paw wax reviews and choose the wax that suits you the most.
Paw wax is incredibly effective on active dogs that take part in vigorous activities. It acts as a strong barrier against hot pavement, snow and road salt; road salt can enter your dog’s skin and into their bloodstream, making it dangerous, which is when paw wax can help you out.
Whether it is summer or winter, paw wax can keep your pet’s paw protected and allow them to have fun completely; so get your hands on one today!
● Dog Heat Booties
Apart from getting paw wax, another ideal solution for the summers is dog booties. These dog heat booties are extremely effective in keeping their paws comfortable and safe if your dog doesn’t mind wearing them. Sometimes, dog booties can be difficult to put on your pet, but once they are on, these booties are incredibly adorable and keep the paw pads well-protected.
Furthermore, you can opt for disposable dog booties as a short-term solution as well and simply discard them after use. You can also get dog shoes but keep in mind that they require some getting used to. Many heat protectant dog shoes can provide your pet with waterproof cushioning, and they can walk in the mud without messing up their pads. However, before you get either of these protections, you must get the right size; keep in mind that the larger sized booties must be fitted on the front paws than the rear paws to avoid injuring your pet on long walks. Also, over time, with continuous practice, your dog will start to love these booties. You can even get designer dog shoes today and make your pet look stylish on its daily walks!
● Dog Paw Covers
Another effective solution for protecting your dog paws in summer is by investing in dog paw pad covers. They are ideal for the hot weather, and since they are anti-slip traction, it is a great alternative. Many of these paw pads are hypoallergenic and come in a peel-and-stick manner. This makes the cover very user-friendly, and all you need to do is peel the backside and stick it on your dog’s paw to reduce the chances of burns and injuries.
With this product, you do not have to worry about your dog slipping on smooth terrains because the pads adapt very well to all surfaces. The best part about dog paw covers is that you can cut them according to the right fit and place them on your dog’s paw exactly where you want. You can even opt for anti-slip grip pads such as the Loobani Dog Paw Protector. Their pad covers have a wider rubber area, and this allows them to increase contact between the floor and the paw. The ideal part about these covers is that it comes in a set of 6 or 12 and makes it ideal for disposable use.
● Dog Foot Pad Cream
Paw protection cream is not a very common paw pad injury solution, but it does wonder when you wear it with any of the three products mentioned above. If you find your dog’s paw getting very dry or cracked, then this means that moisturizing them can help. You must avoid the use of moisturizers and lotions and instead opt for paw cream. Also, make sure that you do not over-apply it; if your pet’s paws are already soft, then moisturizing them can make it more sensitive and susceptible to injury.
● Dog Socks
Dog socks are very similar to dog booties, and one may say they are entirely the same, but that is not the case. Dog socks are made of a much softer material, and it doesn’t have too much cushioning on the inside. These socks are very similar to human socks but have an anti-slip design that makes it easier for your pet to run, walk and play. You can find dog socks at a very reasonable price and even get disposable dog socks that you can throw away after a week of use without any worry.
How To Look After A Simple Paw Pad Injury?
Now that you know all about looking after dog paws in summer, you should focus on dealing with burned paws. As mentioned above, doggy paws are very sensitive and can easily get burned, and if such a situation occurs, you must know how to deal with it.
Burnt paws can be very painful for your pet, and as a pet parent, it is something you will want to fix right away. So continue reading and learn all about dealing with dog paws burn from the pavement below.
1.As soon as you notice some redness on your dog’s paw or bleeding, thoroughly check the paw and find out the course of bleeding. If you cannot find the spot where bleeding is taking place, then it may be a broken nail.
2.If you do find the bleeding spot, then start to clean the wound using lukewarm water and check for any debris left behind in your pet’s paw. If there is any debris, use a tweezer and remove the particles right away.
3.Once the debris is removed, use an antiseptic recommended for canines, such as a Betadine and disinfect the paw pad right away.
4.As soon as the paw pad is disinfected, grab a gauze and wrap the injury right away. This will prevent your dog from harming it further and will also act as a cushion for protection.
5.After the gauze is in place, grab a pressure bandage and tie it up all towards the wrist joint; however, make sure that the toe is exposed. Also, do not tie it up too tightly as this can restrict the flow of blood. In order to find the perfect pressure, you can simply leave enough space for you to insert two fingers under the bandage.
Once you have followed the five steps mentioned above, you may think you are done, but that’s not true. Another complication you may encounter is that your dog will chew and gnaw at the bandage, and to counter this issue, you simply need to spray the bandage with either apple cider vinegar or citrus oil. The taste of these two liquids is very unpleasant for your pet. You can also opt for an anti-lick strip wrapped over the bandage to stop your pup from biting it.
How To Measure Your Dog Paws Before You Buy Dog Shoes?
If you are headed to the store to buy dog shoes for your pup, then bear in mind that you must first buy the right size of shoes. You must measure the entire paw area that touches the floor, starting from the edge of the toenail to the end of the back paw. If you get even the slightest measurement wrong, then the shoes will be too tight for your dog to walk comfortably. So in order to measure the paw accurately, follow the four different methods mentioned below:
Make your dog stand on a piece of white paper and mark the front and back of their paw. Don’t forget to include the length measurement and carry this out for both the right and left sides of the paw. Do not trace the shape of the paw since this can be confusing; instead, just place two dots or lines.
Use a measuring stick or a tape to find out the length of the paw from top to bottom, including the puppy’s toenail while your dog is lying down.
Put a stationary ruler or tape measure on the floor and let your dog stand on it; while standing accurately, check where the toenail starts and where the paw ends.
Place your dog’s paw in the water and stamp it on a blank piece of paper, preferably white. Measure the width and length of this paw impression using a ruler or a tape measure.
With the above four methods, our preference is method one since it leaves less to no choice of errors. Methods 2 and 3 can be slightly tricky since dogs tend to move around. You can even use method four, but your dog’s paw may drip water and ruin the impression easily if you are not careful. So make use of method number 1 before you head to buy dog shoes and get the right size today!
Quick Tips To Keep Your Dog's Paw Protected
Even with all the necessary products and information on treating dog feet burns, you must know some quick tips to avoid these issues altogether. These tips include the following:
● Make sure you do not walk on sidewalks and streets when it is incredibly hot outside.
● If your pooch is not comfortable walking on hard surfaces, then shift towards grass since it is cooler than the streets.
● Take your puppy on pavement walks only when you find the weather cool; this will help in preventing calluses.
● If you need to know when the pavement is safe for a dog’s paw, simply try to stand on your home’s pavement bare feet. If you cannot tolerate it, then your dog cannot either. Also, keep in mind that paw pads are more sensitive than our feet, so until and unless the pavement is cool for you, it won’t be cool for the dog.
Bottom Line
Dogs are the most adorable animals present on the planet. They listen to what you have to say, take care of you, look after you and are there for you all the time, but are you there for them? When was the last time you took a look at their paws? Well, if you haven’t done that in forever, then look at their paws today.
Make sure you check out the symptoms of different paw disorders and get the best paw protection products to keep your pet’s paw safe and secure for all outdoor adventures.
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