Sore Dog Paws

Winter weather can be hard on dog pads, from very cold snow hiding fragments of glass, to salt burn, to frostbite. Normally I don’t have too much problems, but this past week Cassie developed a nasty hole in her paw. Of course, she licked it frequently, so I washed it with alcohol, put on Neosporin, and covered it with a gauze pad and pet wrap – totally not the thing to do. The dark moist environment can allow bacteria to breed causing an infection. Cassie is on Prednisone, a steroid for her leukemia (CLL), which causes her to heal much slower. Finally, after almost a week, I took her to the vet for her bimonthly blood test for her leukemia and of course, the sore paw.

The cure:
• Epsom salts – I couldn’t believe it. My mom had given me a box thirty years ago, and of course when I needed it, I realized I had thrown it out. The vet recommended soaking her paw once a day for 3 – 5 days for about 5 minutes to draw out the toxins.
Have many treats available and a good stay command, plus holding her collar to prevent   her from spilling the bowl.
• A broad-spectrum antibiotic, since Cassie heals so slowly.
• Nix the Neosporin – it causes a moist film that can trap bacteria.
• Leave it open, just wash her paws when she gets into road salt and mud.

Of course, now I google it and this website says pretty much the same thing http://www.ehow.com/how_7720878_care-dogs-sore-paw.html

Cassie’s paw still looks sore, but at least part of it is healing. I’ll try the 50% hydrogen peroxide to clean it better than a damp wash cloth.
Luckily, she is not limping and still enjoys her walks. Hopefully in a few more days it will heal.