How to Take Care of Beagle Dog Feet
A small short-haired member of the hound family, beagles generally require very little grooming. However, basic foot care is important, especially for beagles who hunt, have a large property to roam on or do a lot of walking in harsh weather conditions.
Instructions
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Clip your beagle's claws, including his dew claw, which is found higher up the leg, about every three to four weeks. Great care must be taken not to clip the dog's claws too short, as that will cause the dog pain and the nail will bleed. You should not cut closer than two millimeters to the quick of the nail. If you prefer, you could choose to file the beagle's nails down instead.
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Check your beagle's feet for any cracks, cuts or objects your dog may have stepped on. If your beagle is used for hunting or runs in open fields, it may pick up thorns or burrs in its paws, so check its feet if it is limping. Look between the fur of your beagle's toes, too, to make sure there is nothing embedded there.
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Clean any cracks on your beagle's paws gently and then apply an antiseptic lotion to help them heal.
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Trim the hair between the beagle's toes if it has gotten too long, but don't cut it all off.
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Clean your beagle's feet as soon as possible if it goes out in the winter and there is salt or other deicing products on the ground. Use warm water and clean the paws thoroughly. Also, make sure to remove any ice, snow or mud that has accumulated between your dog's toes and pad areas, as soon as it comes in the house.
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Seek veterinarian help if your beagle licks its paws too often. It may be a sign of a food allergy. Paw licking because of allergies is not uncommon in beagles. Your veterinarian may prescribe medication to soothe the itch and/or may suggest changing your dog's food.
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Use dog booties on your beagle's paws, if it hunts in areas with a lot of burrs or thorns. Dog booties also are useful for your dog if it has to walk on hot asphalt or in severe winter conditions a lot.
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Rub wax onto your beagle's paws if it is having trouble getting up on slippery wood floors. Wax made for dog paws also will protect it when it is running on gravel, snow and on other surfaces that might damage the paws.
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References
- Photo Credit Beagle image by Buffy1982 from Fotolia.com
