How to Moisturize a Dog's Pads

In the winter, ice and snow caked in a dog's pads can cause cuts and sores.

The hard, scaly pads on the bottoms of a dog's feet insulate the feet against exposure to heat and cold, protect them from injury when walking on hard, rough surfaces, and control the amount of pressure placed on bone, muscles and soft tissues by the dog's weight. The pads can become dry and cracked over time as the dog ages, cause pain, and serve as a breeding ground for potential skin infections. An important part of keeping your dog healthy, taking care of its feet needs to be included in your pet health care program.

Things You'll Need

• Aloe-free baby wipes
• Clean towel
• Scissors or dog clippers
• Petroleum jelly or commercially prepared canine foot pad moisturizer

Instructions

1. Place your dog in your lap or sit it in front of you on the floor and gently pick up one of its front feet.

2. Turn the foot over so that you have a clear view of the pads.

3. Clean all of the debris from the underside of the foot using your baby wipes, ensuring that any dried dirt has been removed from between the pads and toes.

4. Dry the pads and hair thoroughly with a clean towel.

5. Trim any excess hair between the pads using a pair of scissors or dog clippers. This allows your dog to get a good grip of the ground surface without slipping on unwanted hair.

6. Dip your finger into the petroleum jelly or commercial dog pad moisturizer and pick up a tiny amount of the gel. Gently begin working the moisturizer into the pads of your dog's foot using a circular motion. Rub the gel in between the toes and up around each of the pads until the moisturizer is absorbed.

7. Continue this procedure on the other three feet.

Tips & Warnings

• Acclimate your new dog or puppy to having its feet handled by picking up the feet and gently rubbing between the toes when it is sitting in your lap and is calm and relaxed. Massaging all four feet when your dog feels safe and secure teaches it not to pull them away when its nails need trimming or its feet need to be examined for any reason.

• If you're going to be out in the ice and snow with your dog, considered putting dog booties on your pet's feet. They keep the feet warm and ice-free and come in a variety of styles. You'll probably have to try on the booties in the house and let your dog get used to them before it is willing to walk in them outdoors.

• Be very careful removing burrs or other foreign objects lodged in the paw. You don't want to clip the webbing between your dog's toes. Not only is it highly vascular, so that it bleeds profusely, but, because of its location, the webbing heals slowly and with difficulty. Should you accidentally clip a toe pad or the webbing, you need to seek veterinary attention for your dog to receive antibiotics and proper bandaging.

• Place an Elizabethan collar -- or "e-collar" -- around your dog's neck if it persists in licking away the paw moisturizer. You can remove the collar once the gel has been absorbed into the skin.

References

• ASPCA: Top 10 Paw Care Tips for Dogs