my puppy has cut her pad

Question
hi can you help me to prevent my dog from getting a infecshion in her cut on her pad just till we gan take her to the vets this thursday i have stude her in salte water and dryd it then i have put soume dog cream on for cuts and borns but i put a sock on her and she pulls it off she just whant keep it on shall i just keep bathing it in salt water till this tursday pleas hellp

Answer
Hi Jordan,

Don't use salt water to wash your dog's cut foot pad. The salt can be painful. Instead, wash your dog's foot with an antibacterial soap, such as Dial, twice daily with warm water. Pat the wound dry, and apply antiseptic or Bacitracin ointment.

If you can't keep your dog from pulling off the bandage or sock, a good solution is to use a "liquid bandage". This product is a spray that protects the wound and promotes healing. It's a breathable protective layer that won't sting when applied. 3M Pet Care Liquid Bandage Spray and R-7 Liquid Bandage are two brands made especially for pets. If you use a liquid bandage product that's made for people, make sure you get one that says it doesn't sting.

Maybe only use the sock when you need to take your dog outside, so the wound is protected. Just remove the sock when you come back from the walk.

If your dog can't be stopped from licking or chewing at his foot, he may need to wear an "Elizabethan collar" so the foot can heal. You can get this collar from your veterinarian's office.

Not every injury needs to be bandaged. For any bandaged paw, frequent bandage changes are necessary regardless of the severity of the injury. Your dog sweats from his footpads so moisture develops in the bandage. This can slow healing and result in infections. Your vet can best advise you about whether or not you need to bandage your dog's paw.

Many times there are cancellations at a veterinarian's office, it might help to call your vet back, and see if you can get an appointment sooner.

Best of luck,

Patti