Dog paw pad torn, limping after park. What care does she need?

Ouch, poor Oakley! Gently wash his paw with warm water and antiseptic soap. Bandage it and put a sock over his foot to keep the bandage clean and dry. Change the bandage daily and keep an eye out for signs of infection. They include redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, and pus. If you see any of those signs, take him into the vet for antibiotics. He's limping because he is in pain, so rest him for now. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on leash only, and bring him right back in when he's done. Please do not give him any human pain medication. Many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Hello, and thanks for your question. It's difficult to tell in the picture where the injury is. I'm possibly seeing a small area with minor irritation on the edge of the metacarpal pad (the larger pad behind the toe pads), almost like a rug-burn type injury... If that's the case, it will be a bit sore until the tissue starts to heal, but there isn't much to do other than monitor for infection and protect it from further injury. You can apply a topical ointment such as neosporin, and sometimes they're more comfortable if you apply a sock or bootie when Blitz goes outside. Avoid long walks and running off leash for a week or so, especially on abrasive surfaces such as concrete or gravel. Monitor for redness, swelling, or discharge that might indicate infection. If you see any of these, or if Blitz seems uncomfortable enough to need pain medication, then it's best to bring her in to the vet. Of course, if there's further injury besides the suspected "rugburn" or scrape I described above, don't hesitate to question again with a description of the injury you're seeing, and maybe a close-up with an arrow to the injury in question... Hope this helps!

Yes, purchase some bandages so you can protect Lily's paw. Rest her. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to potty on a leash, and bring her right back in when she's done. Do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. If she is still limping in another 48 hours, have her seen by a vet.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Charlie. Limping means he is in pain. That paw pad does look a bit swollen. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

You can clean it daily with a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution and dry it thoroughly afterwards. Anything you apply will likely be lucked off unless you use an e-collar. It may have been abraded on rough surfaces inside or outside his enclosure. Since he is limping, he is likely painful and should be seen by your veterinarian. Pain medication can be administered or dispensed if indicated. If possible, the paw should be protected until it heals. This may require a bandage/bootie, coming indoors, an e-collar (cone) or a combination of the three. Your veterinarian can determine the best course of treatment after an exam.

Charlie is adorable! Thank you for posting a picture of her. If the cut is not open or bleeding and is padded with a bandage, Charlie may not be painful. Many over the counter human pain medications are not safe for dogs and some interact with pain medications that your vet may give you, so I would not recommend giving her any over the counter medication until you talk to your vet. As far as the wound, it sounds like you have done everything right. The most important thing is keeping the cut protected which you have already done. Make sure that the bandage stays clean and dry. If any moisture gets under the bag and the bandage gets wet, then it needs to come off right away because it will actually make the cut more likely to get infected. If the cut is starting to heal, I will often change to a dog bootie or shoe to prevent problems with bandages getting wet. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Potato! Yes, I would gently clean her paw with water water and antiseptic soap, then bandage it, and put an Ecollar on her. Do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. Change in the bandage daily, and if she is still limping after 48 hours, or the bump gets bigger, have her seen by a vet.