Your dog's paws withstand a lot. The paw pads act as a cushion for the body weight the dog carries around, and also helps protect the delicate bones and joints within. There are actually three different kinds of pads on a dogs paw. The first are the "toe pads" called Digital Pads. They help act as shock absorbers while the dog is running or walking on different terrains. The second pad is the large pad, and is called the Metacarpal Pad. This is the main pad that becomes super rough and thick on dogs who are outside on harder terrains or more unstable terrains. The third pad is the one going up the back of the leg... almost what you'd think of to be the "heal" if the dog put its whole foot down on the ground. This pad is called Carpal Pad. The carpal pad is used to gain traction when stopping or doing downhill.
On top of the digital pads are the claws. Claws and Nails tend to be used interchangeably, but according to Wikipedia, a claw is for catching and holding prey, for digging, climbing, self defense and grooming. While a nail is more of a rounded, protective piece at the top of the finger or toe. Both are made of the protein keratin, which is what we care about for this post!
This post is going to teach you how to perform the perfect "Pawdicure" on your dog. Not only can treating your dog to a paw massage and nail oil treatment (or should we say "claw oil treatment") be a relaxing event for your pooch, but it allows you to inspect and stay on top of their paw health.
Now before you can give a perfect pawdicure, you need to have the right supplies on hand! You'll need our Paw Cream, our Nail Oil, a towel, a cup of lukewarm water, and nail clippers or dremel. You want your dog to lay or sit in their favorite area and be as comfortable as possible, so if this means up on a couch or bed, you may want to wash their paws first in another area before letting them get snuggled in.
You can purchase our Pawdicure Set ready to go in this cute little box. They even make a great gift!
Ok on to the steps!
Step 1: Dip each of your dog's paws into the cup of lukewarm water and dry them off on the towel. If your dog likes having their paws wet, feel free to let each paw soak a bit before removing. If your dog's paws are quite dirty, you will have get fresh water for each paw or have multiple cups ready to go.
Step 2: After your dog has freshly washed paws, clip or dremel their nails if they'll allow you. If this part stresses them out, feel free to skip it.
Step 3: Give your dog a chance to relax. Grab your Paw Cream and let the massage begin! Scoop out a little cream, and apply to all the pads on the paw. While gently talking to your dog, or playing soft music, massage the cream in a circular motion across each pad. Make sure to get up around the sides of the pad too and all the extra dry or rough spots. If your dog is groaning, sighing, or stretching open their toes, they are loving their paw massage so feel free to rub some cream and massage up in between the toes and in between the pads on the fur feeling those little tendons. Work your way up the leg to the last carpal pad. This pad may not need as much attention since it isn't used daily, but it still deserves some attention. Note, if your dog is trying to lick your hand or their paw during this massage, you can apply some cream to the top of another paw or a spot on their leg to lick while you are massaging. Paw Cream is made with natural and organic ingredients, is non-toxic, chemical free, and safe if licked!
Step 4: After you are done with the cream and massage, reach for the Nail Oil. This oil is also made of natural and organic ingredients, is non-toxic, chemical free, and safe to lick. Take and brush the oil onto each nail paying attention for any chipped, split, or cracked toe nails. This oil not only moisturizes the nail, but will help heal up chips, splits or cracks strengthening the nail and helping block out infection.
Step 5: After you have completed each paw, each pad, and each nail, pat yourself on the back for giving your dog a full pampering pawdicure! They will be over the top in love with how good they feel mentally and physically. A job well done.
Step 6: You can give your dog pawdicures on a regular basis. Some dogs will need them year round, and others will only need them during certain seasons. Keep an eye on their paws and pull out your supplies as needed.
You can read more fun dog paw facts here. Also be sure to check out our other posts on how to take proper care of the paws during the summer and the winter!
Proper care of your dog's paws can ensure they stay soft and pain free. Just like human feet, paws get a lot of beating. From freezing pavement and burning snow melt, to frying hot asphalt and burns, dogs depend on you as their owner to help care for their paws and keep them safe in all the elements. Part 2 of this blog post is all about proper paw care during the Summer.
The summer months not only bring out the sun and heat, but also bugs, allergies, and injuries to a dogs paws and toes more often than in the winter months. Being aware of what your dog is stepping on, running through, and swimming in will help you keep their paws in tip top shape throughout the warm months.
Summer = High Temps. The sun can heat up pavement almost 50 degrees more than what the air temperature is reading! The Carolinas Animal Hospital says to place your hand on the ground you will be walking your dog on for 7 seconds. If it feels too hot and its burning your hand, then it is too hot for your dogs paws. A dogs paws can burn and cause extreme injury. Look at this photo of a dogs paws in Florida where the air temp was reading 80 degrees out, but the pavement/asphalt was more like 130 degrees. An egg can fry in five minutes at 130 degrees... basically this dogs paws did as well.
It is extremely important to take proper precautions when taking your dog out for a walk in temperatures like this. Here are our tips:
1) Don't overdo it. Any age dog needs limited exposure to hot pavement and asphalt. Not only because of burning potential, but also because cuts, raw pads, soreness, and infection can occur. If you are going to be outside for awhile and won't be able to keep your dog off of the heated ground, consider getting booties for them to walk in. You can purchase ones designed more for the summer weather and terrain versus the winter. This is a nice article on the Best Summer Shoes for Dogs to give you some ideas.
2) Groom the Paws on a regular basis. This means keeping the fur trimmed short between the toes and pads and cutting the nails to a desirable length. Dogs with long fur on their paws easily "collect" things from outside and if their paws aren't taken care of when coming inside, the debris can cause irritation to the toes and even lead to infection. Long fur can also retain moisture so that wet fur can allow bacteria and yeast to grow. As for the toenails, a dogs nails grow at different speeds. Some dogs have naturally long nails and quicks and other dogs have short. Walking helps nails stay short, but they need to be inspected and trimmed on a regular basis. Too long of nails cause the toes to spread outward when walking and can create a lot of pressure. This can also lead to the nail breaking which is not only painful, but can allow for bacteria to enter and cause infection. Our Nail Oil works great at healing chipped, split, or cracked toe nails. It can also be used as a moisturizer to the nails and toes.
3) Wipe down the Paws. Some people might only think to do this if their dog is prone to allergies or has long fur in between their toes, but all dogs can benefit from having their paws wiped down after being outside. Wiping them off or cleaning them in a cup of warm water, will help reduce bacteria on the pads and toes, cut down on debris carried inside, help soothe from bug bites, and make grooming easier.
5) Use Products Designed for Paws. Using the right products on your dogs paws will ensure you are preparing them for daily use. Check out our Paw Cream and Hot Spot/Wound Spray to help soothe and heal dry cracked paw pads, help heal up cuts and scrapes, and moisturize. Both are safe to lick and use on sensitive dogs or dogs with allergies. If your dog has issues with bugs infesting their paws or you are finding bug bites along your dogs toes, we offer a Bug Repellent Spray to help ward off insects while being outside, but also help heal up any existing bites. All of these products can be used before or after going outside and having fun.
Having the proper products, tools, and knowledge on hand before the warm months hit can help you and your dog enjoy the weather outside and partake in outdoor activities in a safe, effective way. Happy Summer!
Proper care of your dog's paws can ensure they stay soft and pain free. Just like human feet, paws get a lot of beating. From freezing pavement and burning snow melt, to frying hot asphalt and burns, dogs depend on you as their owner to help care for their paws and keep them safe in all the elements. Part 1 of this blog post is all about proper paw care during the Winter.
During the cold, snowy months, dogs with long fur can attract snow and ice to the fur between their toes and create little snowballs. Not only are these hard to walk on, but they are freezing to your dog's feet. The little nerve endings in their paw pads and toes can can lead to frostbite. When a dog gets frostbite on his/her paws, the paws will change to a white or light blue color, then as the paws warm up and blood flow returns, the tissue with die will and change to black. PetMD has a great article on frostbite in dogs and provides some immediate treatment options as well as after care. You can read the article here.
To help prevent frostbite when taking your dog on a walk or letting them run in the winter months, we offer a few tips. 1) Keep the toenails short as long nails force the paws to spread open when walking and create a spot for the snow, ice, and ice-melt to stick. 2) Keep the fur in between the toes and paw pads trimmed as short as possible. Wet cold fur lowers the body temp and will make the paws more prone to frostbite. 3) Use waterproof booties. 4) Use Paw Cream before going out to moisturize the pads and fur. The beeswax and oils in it will help prevent snow and ice from sticking. You can also use it when your dog comes inside to add moisture back into the pads (think lotion for your own hands after being out in the cold). 5) When you arrive home consider wiping down your dog's paws. If there are frozen snow balls or ice on the fur, gently dip the paw into a bowl or cup of lukewarm water. Remember not to make the water too hot because those paws and toes are cold! They need to warm up gently. The water will help melt off the snow and ice, and improve blood flow.
Now just because you have your own dog prepared, think of other dogs out in your neighborhood. Be courteous of other dogs walking along your house and use only pet-safe ice melts. Pet safe ice-melts are salt-free, meaning they won't burn your dogs paw pads and toes while walking. Have you ever seen your dog shaking it's paw and leg after walking through salt-based melt? This is their way of trying to get the salt off as the burning sensation can occur immediately and is uncomfortable. Having a non-toxic option is the best because they are not harmful if your dog licks their paws right after walking through it. They are also safe for the environment and are non-corroding to the pavement.
Hopefully with all of the above information, you will feel prepared for the winter months and will enjoy walking your dog in the cold elements without the worry and headaches of frostbite and beat up paws.
Hey all you hunters out there!
It's your favorite time of year! Your dogs too, but with today's lavish lifestyle for pups the wilderness can mean more then reconnecting with their ancestral instincts. With plush carpet, comfy couches, and their own bed with pillows, modern day dogs have pampered paws. If your dog is coming home with dry sore paw pads reach for Paw Cream for relief.
It was designed for hunting dogs originally and has all natural and organic healing properties to moisturize, soothe, & reduce inflammation in pads and toes. It is safe to lick, smells great, and is easy to throw in your bag. A little massage of this into your pooches paws after a long day in the field or woods and they will be ready to go for round two!
