Spins4me Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 Flo has two deep cracks in one front paw. Her other paws are fine. I've been checking her feet regularly mainly for those sticky green balls that are around at the moment and grass seeds. On Friday night she was licking her paw a lot and I checked it but couldn't see anything. On Saturday morning she was limping. When I looked there were two deep cracks in the large pad. We went to the vet straight away who said they had been neglected and were now infected so anti -inflammatories and antibiotics plus lead walking and bandaging her foot. I felt really bad that the vet said the foot had been neglected, there had been nothing there when I checked on Friday night. What I would like to know is: can cracked pads be prevented and how can they be cured - preferably without antibiotics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 My old rottie used to get cracked pads, I used to use evening primrose oil in his diet, on the basis it's good for the skin but I don't know if this helped. I also used paw wax to protect them and keep them supple Paw Wax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spins4me Posted June 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 Thanks, Rudi. I'm not sure about diet. Flo is raw fed and I work hard to balance her diet and make sure she gets everything she needs but I'll bear the evening primrose oil in mind. I'll try the paw wax and see if it helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griff Posted July 29, 2008 Report Share Posted July 29, 2008 i had a similar problem with my staff and i asked the vet about the cracks, he said sometimes fissures are diet related and sometimes hereditary, i use the shaws paw wax from pets at home as i found the hyperdrug one quite runny, if you do go to get the shaws one though, open the tin and check it as the last few times i have been there has been a gritty white substance in there when there shouldn't be! as for the vet saying your dogs paws had been neglected... well you noticed a problem and it developed overnight so not neglected at all . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexis Posted July 29, 2008 Report Share Posted July 29, 2008 http://www.tuffoot.com/about/index.htm charlie our staffie sometimes gets cracked pads. my theory is she will get a little crack or split/cut from something that is hardly noticeable and then over a period of 12-24 hours will constantly lick/chew it so a few hrs later it looks much worse. We buy hydrocortisone cream over the counter at the chemist which calms itching and any inflammation ( it's a very low dose steroid cream) which seems to help. We have started using this stuff recently and her paws seem better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieK9 Posted July 30, 2008 Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 Have a word with Phil at Culpeppers: http://www.culpeppers.co.uk/catalogue/?_Cu...amp;cat=Padcare and try wheatgerm oil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one.eyed.dog Posted July 30, 2008 Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 (edited) My GWP Lottie and Lizzies (Coryn's) GWP Maya get this. I don't put anything on Lottie incase she licks it off. I cut her walks down a bit for a while and she seems ok. ATM she has a couple of splits in one pad that are not bothering her at all. Mind you she has to be on lead just now as she has staples in her leg. (Not that you'd know it) Silly tart was charging round the house with a buster collar on last night leaving a right trail of destruction. Edited July 30, 2008 by one.eyed.dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spins4me Posted July 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 We eventually used the potato water cure - peel a few potatoes, boil the skins in water for 5 mins or so, drain and cool. Soak the dog's foot in the water. It was brilliant. The inflammation settled really quickly and after about three soaks it healed over. I took her back to the vet and she was amazed that it had healed so quickly. I did put a double sock on her foot and topped it with a bit of vetrap (?sp) to keep it clean but it was only for a couple of days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one.eyed.dog Posted July 30, 2008 Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 OOOOOH. Good tip. I'll remember that. Thanks x x How much water????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spins4me Posted July 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 (edited) I think it was about half a middle sized saucepan with 2-3 middle sized potatoes. When we were soaking th paw we used enough water to cover the it. Flo, of course, thought we were trying to stick her foot in boiling acid or similar and was not at her most co-operative. "For sore cracked pads, boil up some potato peel and use the water when cool to immerse the paw. The pad will heal in a couple of days." This came from: http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/grooming/...tions2.htm#soft Edited July 30, 2008 by Spins4me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spins4me Posted July 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 PS Hope the hurty leg is better soon, although Lottie doesn't sound like she's suffering too much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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