kelpiecuddles Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 (edited) For the third time in just a few months my kelpie has a split pad on one of her toes. She's a quiet, well behaved girl and generally not into the sort of carry on that would cause this and she's managed to get to 9 years without ever having done it before! I've checked the yard thoroughly and haven't found anything that might be the cause so i'm now starting to wonder whether there can be some other cause. Anyone know if there is anything medical that can cause splitting of pads and if so what I could do about it? Is there much chance of her keeping a shoe on at this point if she has never worn them before? I'd consider buying her a set if this is going to be ongoing problem but they are expensive if she won't wear them. :) I spoke to my neighbour who is the local vet nurse the last time she did it and she agreed with my thoughts that it wasn't worth a vet trip for a simple surface split toe pad as the vet wouldn't be able to do anything for it but she's going on Thursday anyway for a checkup so I'll talk to her about it further then. Edited June 22, 2013 by kelpiecuddles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yonjuro Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 My vet recommends Lucas Pawpaw ointment. tI is brilliant for healing. http://www.lucaspapaw.com.au/ Many husky owner swear by "Mushers Secret" which is therapeutic and also protects the paws from cuts, cracks and worn paws. Do a google, I am sure it is available from the various mushing supply stores here in Oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 I have some of another similiar brand to lucas', might have to see if she'll wear one of my daughters old socks otherwise she'll just lick it off though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 Well I put some paw paw ointment on and found a little sock that just covers her paw but going by the expression on her face you'd think I just wrapped barbed wire around her foot LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yonjuro Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I have found it to work really fast overnight, so if you can manage to get some on while asleep ????? You might be surprised at the results. In any case I am not sure how tasty it is ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 (edited) She's leaving it alone now. Luckily being a smart, mummy-focused kelpie I only had to tell her once and she lay on her bed and left it be so hopefully she'll wear the sock over night as she's sound asleep now. Edited June 22, 2013 by kelpiecuddles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yonjuro Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 great! Please let us know how the pawpaw goes for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 Thanks for the tip. If anyone has any suggestions of what may be the ongoing cause i'd be very interested. Our backyard is mostly grass with a painted concrete patio so even the concrete isn't rough enough to cause scrapes. She's only outside during the day when we are at work, when we are home she comes inside and chooses to spend most of her time relaxing on her bed then. She wasn't limping or favouring her foot when my husband fed them before and now suddenly the pad is split and hurting so it seems to have been rather unexplained. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yonjuro Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I hope someone can help you with reasons. If it is an ongoing problem invest in a jar of Mushers Secret as it is mainly a preventative and protector. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 If the same pad is splitting repeatedly, my guess is that it's not healing completely before your dog puts pressure on it and reopens the wound. Sometimes stitches are needed. A boot might be a good idea. But logically, the first place to visit is your vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 Of course. We followed the previous advice the first time that it was best to just let it heal on it's own, I used to vet nurse myself and thought that would be the recommendation and basically just spoke to my neighbour for confirmation. Given it has now happened yet again she can wear the sock until we can get her to the vet and we'll get her to determine whether it does in fact need further treatment or just some longer term protection while it heals. She's booked in to see the vet on ths week anyway to discuss some continence issues that have resurfaced from back when she was desexed so it can just be yet another thing to add to the check up :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 Of course. We followed the previous advice the first time that it was best to just let it heal on it's own, I used to vet nurse myself and thought that would be the recommendation and basically just spoke to my neighbour for confirmation. Given it has now happened yet again she can wear the sock until we can get her to the vet and we'll get her to determine whether it does in fact need further treatment or just some longer term protection while it heals. She's booked in to see the vet on ths week anyway to discuss some continence issues that have resurfaced from back when she was desexed so it can just be yet another thing to add to the check up :) Not sure a sock will be enough support. You want something that will cushion the paw and prevent the toes from spreading. If it's just the one foot you won't need a full set of boots. Front or back foot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 Front foot, she's just hopping anyway, not really putting any weight on it. It's a baby sock so it's fairly tight. I don't have anywhere here I could get boots from before the vet appointment anyway as we are in a regional area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 (edited) Front foot, she's just hopping anyway, not really putting any weight on it. It's a baby sock so it's fairly tight. I don't have anywhere here I could get boots from before the vet appointment anyway as we are in a regional area. Got any vet wrap? If you cannot ensure the sock stays dry, I'd take it off. Edited June 22, 2013 by Haredown Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I know a few people that use a booty for a splitting pad. They come in silver and gold :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 (edited) She's inside so it's staying dry, they are only put out when we aren't home but they are well behaved so no reason she can't just stay inside if we are only out for a few hours. i don't have any vet wrap unfortunately and I'm not sure that the vet is open tomorrow unfortunately. Edited June 22, 2013 by kelpiecuddles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 (edited) She's inside so it's staying dry. i don't have any vet wrap unfortunately and I'm not sure that the vet is open tomorrow unfortunately. You can buy vet wrap or its cheaper equivalents at horse supplies and rural stores. It's water proof. It's going to get wet when she goes to the toilet isn't it? Edited June 22, 2013 by Haredown Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 (edited) I work at the largest pet supply shop in town and I know we don't stock it and the rural store is closed on Sundays. Unfortunately at the very least I think we are stuck until Monday, one of the downsides of the local shops consisting on an IGA and a few strip shops and the next largest town being 35km away I guess! She seems to be coping OK and is in good spirits so she might just have to suck it up until we can get a better solution. The sock has atleast discouraged her from licking at it so combined with the paw paw ointment it might be feeling a little less sore by the morning. I have about a dozen pairs of the socks that my daughter grew out of long ago so I can swap the socks as often as needed, might put a little baggy on her paw when i send her out to the loo :) Edited June 22, 2013 by kelpiecuddles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I work at the largest pet supply shop in town and I know we don't stock it and the rural store is closed on Sundays. Unfortunately at the very least I think we are stuck until Monday, one of the downsides of the local shops consisting on an IGA and a few strip shops and the next largest town being 35km away I guess! She seems to be coping OK and is in good spirits so she might just have to suck it up until we can get a better solution. The sock has atleast discouraged her from licking at it so combined with the paw paw ointment it might be feeling a little less sore by the morning. I would be toileting her on lead and avoiding any fast exercise until you see the vet. If you have to take her outside, put a plastic shopping bag over the sock, tape it around the pastern and cut off the excess above the tape. It will keep it dry. I would add vet wrap to your home "dog first aid kit". Very handy stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 She won't run when I take her out to the loo, about the most sedate kelpie you could ever meet, I've had people ask me what I have done to make her so relaxed but that's just how she is. LOL Which is particularly useful when she's needing to rest her foot :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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