My dog tore her paw pad. Should I cover the wound or leave it open?

Hi there. Usually, unless there is active bleeding, I tend to leave wounds open and uncovered to heal. Bandages can trap moisture and cause the area to get infected, and can also cause tissue damage if they become too tight. If Maeby is licking excessively at her paw, you can use an e-collar (plastic cone) to keep her from getting to it until it's healed over. Neosporin is okay to use topically on the wound to help prevent infection. If it hasn't healed within the next 4-5 days, or if you see any redness or swelling developing around it, then I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam as she may need oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds to treat it more effectively.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. This wound appears to be superficial so your initial decontamination with the warm water and soaking it in epsom salt should be enough. I would recommend keeping a close eye on this and making sure the foot does not become swollen and that there is no pus coming from the wound. You can soak the foot in epsom salt solution twice daily until this is healed. If Duke is going to be going outside in the dirt I would recommend putting a booty over his foot or a sock to prevent dirt from getting inside the wound. If there are any changes that indicate infection, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Duke so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello. Wounds like this can indeed take a long time to heal, but everything looks pretty good. You have been doing a great job. This could still be stitched, but it will eventually heal if you keep it clean, medicated & bandaged. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You are doing just fine. It looks like she just scraped her pad and the skin above it. It may take up to 3/4 weeks to completely heal. The damaged pad takes the longest to regrow. The skin is not a problem. I would only bandage it a few days and after that keep it unwrapped as long as she isn't licking it. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes, rest and some topical antiseptic such as Vetericyn wound spray are enough for minor wounds on the paw pads to heal. Vetericyn is available at most Petco locations and on Petco.com, so just apply as labeled topically; it is not harmful if small amounts are swallowed were she to lick it off of the area, though Alivas may need an Elizabethan collar to prevent her from licking the wound to allow it to heal. If the pain persists or the wound continues draining for longer than 1-2 more days, I would recommend having her seen by your Veterinarian, sooner if either her pain or the drainage worsen. Keep her activity level down until healed, especially off of rocks and other rough/sharp surfaces. I hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. This does not require stitches in my opinion. The spot at the top of the picture appears to be a cut or abrasion. The protruding pieces are likely pieces of pad that have not fallen off on their own. I would recommend soaking this in a betadine / saline mixture (mixed to give a light brown solution). I would soak this for 5-10 minutes twice daily until healed. I would also apply Sentry Wound ointment, which you can find at PetCo and apply twice daily. If this does not improve or it worsens, please have Bane examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

You can clean off thee wounds with a mild antiseptic and then bandage the paw. Make sure the bandage is not too tight and you have cotton wool inbetween the toes and pads so that they cotton wool can absorb moisture and sweat. You can put honey on the pad wounds which will help with healing. Change the bandage every other day. If you see infection or the pads do not heal you need to take your dog to a veterinarian. It will take a few weeks for new skin to form.