February 2017 - MOSTLY MUTTS

Dog Foot Problems You Need To Take Care Of Now

Dog foot problems can become a real pain in the foot for your dog. And, it can become a real pain for you, his caretaker, both to figure out the exact nature of his paw problems as well as the dog paw treatment to help the situation.

You may suddenly notice that your dog is limping or biting at his foot. Let’s break down the most common dog foot problems and the solutions to them. Sit down with the dog, his foot resting in your lap. Now, dogs are not known to be happy about having their feet touched. Start by gently stroking his leg, close to the foot area, speaking soothingly to him. When he seems comfortable, venture onto the top of his foot, still speaking softly to him.

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Common Dog Foot Problems:

- Spread his toes slightly apart, inspecting the nails to assure none are broken or bleeding. Dogs will often catch their nails in carpets, deck boards, etc., causing them to rip. If this happens, you will need to stop the bleeding with a styptic powder, clean and apply antiseptic ointment. Then, a Veterinarian appointment is in order to assure nail does not become infected. Also, if the nail is still attached, it may need to either be bandaged or removed.
- Check between the paw pads for any objects that may be lodged there, such as: sand spurs, thistles, stones, grass. If you discover something there and there are no open wounds or abrasions around the area, you can simply remove it with a long tweezers and your dog will likely run off happily on his way. If the object has caused an irritation, clean it with cool water and apply an antibiotic ointment.
  Miracle Care Kwik Stop Gel swab – 423601 Rapid Vitality Stainless Steel Slant and Pointed Tweezer Set, 2-Pack SynergyLabs Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic & Antifungal Spray for Dogs and Cats; 8 fl. oz.
Examine the bottoms of your dog’s sore paw pads. Is the surface rough and dry, cracked or bleeding? Weather is often the culprit. Hot, rough pavement in summer can burn and irritate the dog’s paws, causing dog paw problems. Unless there is a burn, which will need an immediate Vet’s attention, wet a washcloth with cool water and place on the pad several times. The dry, cracked paw pad can then be soothed with a cream to soften the skin. Winter can be equally bad for your dog and cause issues for your dog’s paw pads. Very cold weather can cause frostbite and salt used to de-ice your walk is very irritating to the dog’s pads.

These are the most common dog foot problems. Others, such as fungal and bacteria infections will require a definite trip to your veterinarian. Then, there is the problem of allergies which plague many dogs and often goes overlooked. Chewing of the foot is a common sign of allergies in a dog. For the scoop on signs your dog has allergies, check out this page. Or to learn how to protect dog paws, head on over to this page.

7 Signs Your Dog Has Allergies Making Him Miserable

Signs your dog has allergies can be quite obvious if you are in tune with your dog. While some signs your dog is allergic can be mistaken for ordinary dog behavior, others are unmistakable as a dog allergy symptom.

Signs Your Dog Has Allergies

Sneezing – One or several sneezes are no big deal but repeated sneezing over a period of time, can indicate that your dog has allergies.
Itchy Ears – Often with allergies, dogs will dig at their ears or repeatedly shake their heads.
Red, Watery Eyes – When those soulful brown eyes become red and watery, it may indicate that your dog has allergies.
Itchy, Red or Irritated Skin – All signs your dog has allergies. This sometimes shows up around the ears or at the base of the tail. Irritated skin at the base of the tail may be a symptom of a flea allergy. Even if your dog does not appear to have fleas, there may still be a problem. One flea in a sensitive dog can cause much irritation. Several years ago, our Lab was continuously biting at the spot at the base of his tail. It seemed to literally be driving him crazy. We flea combed him and found no fleas. So, we took him to his Veterinarian to see if there was another issue causing the itchiness. Our Vet found no issues and flea combed him again, finding no fleas. Several days later, we again flea combed him and found one lone flea. Turns out, one tiny elusive flea was wreaking havoc with our poor dog. Once the flea was removed to his afterlife, we treated the skin with a steroid cream and within a few days, our guy was back to his normal, only occasionally itchy self.
Paw Biting/Chewing – If your dog begins to bite or chew obsessively at his paw, it could be a sign your dog has allergies.
Diarrhea/Vomiting – Although these symptoms can be a sign of many problems, some serious, bouts of diarrhea or vomiting may also be a symptom of a food allergy in a dog. Common food allergens are wheat, grains and even chicken. Limited ingredient dog foods may be the answer.
Licking – Similar to biting and chewing, whenever a dog compulsively licks at an area, it may indicate he has an allergic reaction.

What Causes Dog Allergies

Common causes of allergies in dogs are grain/wheat/soy/chicken – These common dog allergens typically manifest in skin issues, such as: itching, redness and irritation. They also can cause stomach upset with diarrhea and vomiting. These ingredients are commonly used in dog foods.
Household Products, such as: detergents, cleaners, air fresheners, candles and fabric softeners can be causes of dog allergies. Itchiness and skin irritations are common symptoms your dog may be experiencing an allergic reaction. Try switching to products that are less likely to produce an allergic reaction in your dog.
The Honest Company – Effective Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent – 70 oz Puracy Natural All Purpose Cleaner, THE BEST Household Multi Surface Spray, Streak Free on Glass and Stainless Steel, Child and Pet Safe, Green Tea and Lime, 25 Ounce Bottle, (Pack of 2)Allergy Asthma Clean Whole Home Allergy Kit (fragrance free, hypoallergenic) 101.4oz
Molds, Pollens and Grasses can cause a dog to be allergic. Just as people experience seasonal allergies to these culprits, dogs can suffer the same allergic misery, manifesting as: itchy, watery, red eyes, sneezing and runny nose.

Find Out How To Treat A Dog’s Allergies

How To Treat A Dog’s Allergies For A Happier, Healthier Dog

How To Treat A Dog’s Allergies

How to treat a dog’s allergies is usually a desperation question when your dog is deeply miserable with allergy symptoms. With the exception of a few allergies, the best treatment for your dog’s allergies is actually prevention. For seasonal allergies such as pollen and grasses, your veterinarian can test and provide medication to help relieve your dog’s allergy symptoms, such as: itchy skin, sneezing, red, itchy eyes and drippy nose.

Most allergies that plague your dog can be prevented by a careful evaluation of the products you use on your dog and in your household, as well as the dog food you feed your dog.

How To Treat A Dog’s Allergies By Preventing Them

- Try to clean your home with all natural products, free of as many artificial chemicals as possible.
- Use mild detergents, preferably hypoallergenic when you wash your dogs bedding and forgo the fabric softener.

- When bathing your dog, stick to gentle, hypoallergenic shampoos and do not use shampoo meant for humans.
  
  Pro Pet Works Hypoallergenic Organic Oatmeal and Aloe Cat and Dog Shampoo and Conditioner For Allergies and Pets With Sensitive Itchy dry Skin 17oz Burt’s Bees for Dogs Hypoallergenic Shampoo Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo, Vanilla & Almond, 16 Ounce

- Keep your home as dust-free as possible (I know, not easy when you have a dog.) I use a vacuum with a hepa filter built in. An air purifier is also a big help for your dog as well as the humans in the home.
  
  Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover, 465 sq. Ft, HPA300 Honeywell Bluetooth Smart True HEPA Allergen Remover Hamilton Beach TrueAir Allergen-Reducing Ultra Quiet Air Cleaner Purifier with Permanent HEPA Filter and Specialized Odor Reducing Filter for Pets (04384)

- Flea-Free – Keep those little buggers as far away from your dog as possible. Check out the natural solutions to keep the fleas at bay.

How To Protect Dog Paws In Winter For Soft Healthy Feet

Learning how to protect dog paws in Winter is a very important part of caring for your dog properly. Just as our skin can become dry and irritated during the cold weather, so can your dog’s paws. Without the right care, your dog’s tootsies can begin to crack and bleed. Dogs also have the added hazard of sidewalk salt to deal with, which can further wreak havoc to their tender paw pads. But, with a little knowledge and some tender loving attention, your dog can enjoy soft, supple paws and happy feet.

How To Protect Dog Paws In Winter – Washing and Softening Is The Answer

1. Do not leave your dog outside for extended periods during extremely cold weather. Some dogs may really enjoy being outside but we need to show the common sense they don’t seem to possess. My Lab would stay out all day if I let him, but during really cold weather, I play the bad guy and make him come in.
2. After being out, especially if walking on surfaces treated with salt, wash your dog’s feet to remove all the salt and chemicals. There are several options for doing this.

I started by washing my dog’s feet with a washcloth, dipped in warm water, repeating several times with each foot. If you start doing this when your dog is young, they don’t seem to mind.

Another option is to fill a small plastic pan with warm water and dip your dog’s feet, one at a time, in the warm water, then dry thoroughly. The final options and ones I am liking a lot are the Paw Wash or Dog Paw Cleaner. Both are great at cleaning dog paws.

The Dog Paw Wash is a self-contained dog paw washing station. It holds warm water, to which you can add a bit of an antibacterial wash solution if you like. You can place it beside the door your dog enters and clean his feet before he comes into the room. The dog’s foot is inserted into the opening. There is a cleaning pad in the bottom with soft, flexible fingers that cleans the dog’s feet.

Paw Boss Paw Wash for Dogs (With Paw Print Vinyl Skin)Dexas Petware MudBuster Portable Dog Paw Cleaner, Medium, Blue

The dog paw cleaner is a simpler version of a dog paw washing device. The cup holds warm water and the flexible fingers on the side will clean your dog’s paw as you slide it in.

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Actually, in any weather, these paw washers are great ideas. Just think, your dog comes in from outside, jumps on your bed and his paws that had just been running happily through dirt, mud and bodily droppings, are now depositing the same on your clean linens. Ewww, Yuck and Gross! Wash those paws!!!

How to protect dog paws in winter would not be complete without mentioning conditioning of your dog’s paws after washing. Applying a dog paw softening cream will help prevent dry, cracked dog paws. I also use these creams on my dog’s dry, cracked nose which is a real problem for him in winter.

Pet Head Oatmeal Natural Paw Butter 2oz 4-Legger Certified Organic Nose and Paw Pad Healing Balm for Dry Chapped Cracked Skin with Hemp Oil and Shea Butter – Made in USA – 1 each – 1.9 oz Dog Healing Balm for Paws and Snout – 2 oz Jar + .5 oz Stick – All Natural – Aloe Vera, Tea Tree Oil, Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil

The ultimate protection for your dog’s paws is a nice pair of doggie boots. Some dogs will wear them and some dogs seem to think they are definition of torture. If your dog will wear dog boots, they will provide great protection against the cold winter weather.

URBEST®Detachable Closure Puppy Dog Shoes Booties Boots Brown 2 Pairs (xxs)Waterproof Dog shoes, Dog Boots for Labrador Retriever, Keep Warm in Winter, 4pcs Pesp® Puppy Dogs Candy Colors Anti-slip Waterproof Rubber Rain Shoes Boots Paws Cover (Rose Red, Small)