german shepherd

Question
Our six year old german shepherd is licking and chewing off the bottoms of her pads until they are pink.  In some areas of the pads she has cracks and some bleeding.  We know shepherds can be nervous, ie excessive itching etc.  Could this be an allergy or a nervous obsession.  Any help would be appreciated.

thanks, gail

Answer
Hello Gail -

With the cold winter, snow, ice and melting salts, dogs paws become very sensitive. This is a common problem this time of year and may be something deeper then your pet just licking her paw.

You will first want to check if a foreign object is lodged between toes or in the pad, carefully remove it with a tweezers. Burrs and dried mud are common culprits. Hair mats can also form and cause discomfort. Clip back mats. Wash and apply an antibiotic cream if necessary. Sometimes balls of snow get caught in between the pads and will irritate the pad itself causing the pet to lick and lick it until it bleeds. We have a Golden Retriever who use to do this until we realized the problem. Although snow melts, it clots with the fur and forms an ice ball which can poke and scratch the pads. Wash the area with antibiotic soap and apply Aloe Vera gel to the area and wrap it up with gauze.

Melting salt is super dangerous to pets paws. It burns and irritates them and will cause an actual burn on the paw pad. If this is the case wash with antibiotic soap and apply Aloe Vera gel, wrap with gauze. If the salt has gotten into an open wound, you may want to take her to your veterinarian just be sure she has not been highly exposed to the toxins in the salt.

Check also to see if your pet has a torn nail, it can be very painful. The fractured nail should be removed entirely. Anesthesia may be required. Hemorrhage should be controlled either with styptic powder, bandage, or cautery. Once the nail is removed, healing will begin. Eventually, a new nail will regrow. This may take months, and the nail may be malformed. Depending upon the injury, antibiotics may be given.

Your pet may have a small cut on the bottom of her paw, wash the foot with a wound cleanser and apply an antiseptic ointment or Tea Tree Oil. Wrap in gauze and cover with a dog boot. If you have problems keeping the foot bandaged or the cut is large, deep, or bleeding a lot, consult your veterinarian.

Dry, cracked pads need a moisturizer. You can use the same lotions you use on your hands, but if you do, only use for a few days in a row. If pads get too soft they will be vulnerable to injury. Protecta-Pad Cream product for dogs from Drs. Foster and Smith works very well because it moisturizes and toughens pads at the same time. Cover with gauze to prevent pet from licking off the lotion or cream. You can also apply Aloe Vera gel to help soften, its okay if the pet ingests it.

You may want to add Garlic powder to your pets food. Garlic is an anti-microbial and will help fight bacteria and infection if it is present. Don't be afraid to sprinkle it on with a heavy hand, dogs love it and she should eat it up right away. The only draw back to adding Garlic to the food is flatulence. It may be a little stinky but its doing it job by pushing the bacteria through the system. Just keep a couple clothes pins handy.

You also may want to add a regimen of Vitamin E to your pets diet. This will help with skin dryness and will give your pet a healthier, shinier coat.

I hope this information has helped you and your pet.

If you would like information on natural and herbal remedies for human and animal concerns please contact me at wintersaurora@yahoo.com and I will be happy to assist you and send you a catalog of my home made herbal remedies.

Thank you and best wishes to you and your pet.

Sincerely,
Sharon Hubbs, AHG
Certified Natural Health Consultant & Herbalist