It's important to take care of your dog's paws to keep them healthy and pain-free. Neglecting their paws can cause cracks, irritation, and even prevent your dog from playing and walking. Don't overlook the importance of maintaining your dog's paw health.
In this article, we will discuss some of the causes of paw problems, as well as which pet paw moisturizers to consider to ensure your dog's paws remain healthy.
Causes of Paw Problems
There are various causes of paw problems. Here is a list of the most common causes:
- Allergies - if a dog has allergies, it will often manifest as skin rashes and irritations which can often spread to and affect its paws in the form of dryness and cracking.
- OCD – this refers to dogs that constantly chew and lick their paws which will result in inflammation and pain and can even lead to a bacterial or yeast infection.
- Your dog could easily damage their paws by getting something like a stone, splinter or plants (like foxtails or burrs) stuck in between the pads of their paws.
- Joint pain can also cause dogs to lick the painful area.
- Hot surfaces - walking on hot surfaces can cause blisters on your dog’s paw pads which your dog will lick. These are difficult to see until they burst because the skin of the paw pads is so thick.
- Immune-mediated conditions - there are also a few immune-mediated conditions that cause the skin of the paw pads (and nose) to become dry and cracked.
If left untreated, these could lead to bacterial and fungal infections, so we recommended taking your dog to the vet for an examination and treatment. As you can imagine, the treatment for something stuck in your dog’s paw would be very different to treating an immune-mediated condition which makes veterinary care an important part of your dog’s paw care.
What Can I Use to Moisturize My Pet's Paws?
Moisturizing and treating your pets paws will help keep them healthy. Look for a high-quality pet paw moisturizer. It is important to buy a moisturizer that has been specifically formulated for pets and does not contain parabens. Such moisturizers will typically have a base of Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Beezwax, or Cocoa Butter. These ingredients can easily be absorbed by the paw and will promote elasticity in the skin.
What Can I Put on My Dog's Irritated Paw?
If your dog’s paws are irritated and inflamed, look for a balm or moisturizer that contains Blue Camomile Oil or Buchu. These ingredients have a soothing effect that will reduce the irritation your dog is experiencing. Reducing the irritation will also stop your dog from chewing on its paws and will therefore give the paws a chance to heal.
At Absolute Pets, you can find both the Ricky Litchfield Paw Restore Balm and Olly & Max Paw & Nose Cream. Both of these products are fantastic for paw care and can be found on the Absolute Pets online store. Browse the Absolute Pets online store to find everything you need to keep your dog happy & healthy.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Candice Cooper, our Absolute Pets vet, for her input in this article.
For any further assistance please don't hesitate to pop into one of our stores and speak to a friendly Pet Care Advisor or email us at info@absolutepets.com.