How to Care for a Cat's or Dog's Paws

Keep your pet's paws in good shape by inspecting them on a regular basis.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog Beds
• Dog Bones
• Dog Brushes
• Dog Collars
• Dog Dishes
• Dog Food
• Dog Shampoo
• Nail Clippers For Dogs
• Styptic Powders
• Dog Shampoo
• Antibacterial Soaps
• Eyebrow Tweezers

1. Trim nails as needed (see related eHows).

2. Check regularly between toes for foxtails, stickers and other foreign bodies. They can sometimes be deeply embedded between toes.

3. Pull out any irritants you can locate, using tweezers.

4. Check for cuts on paw pads. If cuts are small, wash them gently with antibacterial soap. If they are large or bleeding excessively, contact your veterinarian for care.

Tips & Warnings

• Running on pavement can wear out your dog's pads'check them regularly if you run with your dog. Also, avoid running with your dog on hot pavement, since it can burn his pads.
• Take your pet to the veterinarian to be checked and treated if he's limping and excessively licking a paw.

on 6/30/2006 The best nail trimmers (for both dogs and cats) are the kind with a built-in guard (available at your local pet store). This guard creates a "stop" so that when you trim the nails you trim about 1/8 of an inch and that's it. It's much faster than using a flashlight and/or regular trimmers, because you don't have to eyeball the amount you are trimming. You will never over-trim the nails if you use this only once per week. Your pet will thank you for being responsible and sensible.

on 3/21/2006 The Dremmel hand sander is the best instrument I have found for filing down dogs nails! Much safer, as you do not have the mistake of cutting too far down as with clippers; you just file and stop, file and stop, until you reach the desired lengths. I do my dog's every weekend, and she's very relaxed about it. Easier to do the dews claws, too!

on 2/16/2006 Place a flashlight (the more powerful, the better) behind your dog's nail before cutting so that you can tell where the quick ends inside the nail. It definitely helps me cut with confidence. It works best on dogs with lightly colored nails.

on 11/22/2005 I use a Dremel tool instead of a nail clipper. When the dremel is set on a low speed the sound doesn't seem to bother the animal. I can file away the nails on both of my dogs in less than 20 minutes. Using a dremel there is also less chance of hitting the quick of the nail.

on 11/22/2005 In the winter, some dogs' fur gets matted from wet snow. Just spray Pam between the dog's toes if they have long fur and leg feathers! The Pam acts as a barrier and any excess can be toweled away!