Paw Wax

[giraffez]

My dog has very rough paws. It feels cracked but not to the point where it exposes flesh and he is not irritated by it. Just that everytime he climbs onto me, i feel it being very rough.

I was browsing through some dog books today and it was recommending paw wax. Is this necessary? Would it become problematic if i don't treat it now?

Edited March 31, 2010 by giraffez

[Kirislin]

I wonder if it's diet related. Maybe you could get the good ol' pumice stone onto them.

[Erny]

Dog paws need to be rough for grip. They also need to be a bit tough - soften them up and you risk your dog not having the protection he needs when he is walking out and about with you, crossing pavements; gravel and the like.

Unless your dog's paws are unhealthily rough I wouldn't try to fake up nature. My dog's paws can be a bit 'catchy' but that's normal. He did however go through a stage of what I thought was developing Hyperkeratosis which can prove a bit of a problem. He has other health issues (including interdigital cysts) and to sooth them I've been applying Aloe Vera Gel. Coincidentally, the Hyperkeratosis (if that's what it was - I am only surmising as I am not a Vet) seems to have disappeared and his paw pads look healthier. I didn't think that could be cured, so perhaps I am wrong with my self-diagnosis. I am conscientious of the fact that his paw pads don't seem to be as tough as they were - which is nicer to feel but not necessarily as protective as they could be, so I need to be careful until they toughen back up to normality.

So, if your dog's paw pads are normal and healthy, I wouldn't be toying with them. Perhaps instead train him to not climb on you, or make it so that he only does so on your command, and you can use a blanket or towel or something so that his paws don't scratch you?

[Miss Danni]

Paw Wax is an excellent product for specific uses, such as dogs running in the snow/ice or to provide grip on smooth surfaces such as polished concrete.

But I would not use it to soften up your dogs' pads. As Erny said, your dogs' pads sound fine and I'd leave them as they are unless the splits deepen and cause your dog pain.

[PeiPei]

If your dogs paws are cracked or really rough and sore try Lucas Paw Paw ointment (its in a red tube and humans use it for all sorts of skin problems)

You can buy it in most chemists, health food shops and alot of supermarkets. It is completely natural, so if licked off will not cause any problems.

Rufus and Coco also do a paw butter which you can buy in pet shops and online.

Hope this helps.

[megan_]

If you are worried ask your vet to check them at your next check-up. I wouldn't be doing anything to them otherwise.

[cavNrott]

If your dogs paws are cracked or really rough and sore try Lucas Paw Paw ointment (its in a red tube and humans use it for all sorts of skin problems)

You can buy it in most chemists, health food shops and alot of supermarkets. It is completely natural, so if licked off will not cause any problems.

Yep, Paw Paw ointment works a treat on cracked paws. I would use it before the cracks get any deeper and become painful.

About six months ago my Cavalier boy had some mild hyperkeratosis on his nose. The Paw Paw ointment fixed it up in two days. The rough tissue just wiped away and he's never had a problem since. I applied the ointment twice a day.

[mutt lover]

Years ago when my brother used to own and race greyhounds he used mutton fat on their pads would take a jam jar and get it from a butcher and rub it in after they raced as the sand really made their pads crack and would often bleed and he was recommended this by the greyhound vet he used to take them to.

[giraffez]

thanks all. I'm not too worried about he climbing on me, more about if i leave it unattended now, it could get worst. I'll check with the vet next time. As for the paw paw ointment, i think its not a bad idea to get a tube and keep it in the house just in case.