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How long should I skip walks for a dog with cut paw?

11 replies

tooearlytobeup · 13/11/2012 20:06

My Springer cut the pad of his paw on a walk on Sunday. He didn't show any signs of pain while we were out but started limping when we got home Sad

I've bathed it in salt water and it is clean with no sign of infection. Hes fine with me touching and checking it and does seem to be putting weight on it sometimes.

Should i wait until it is completely healed before taking him for a walk? Or is it ok to walk him when he is putting weight on it properly?

He seems ok with staying in at the moment (still goes in garden whenever he wants) but I dont think it will be long before that wears off. He runs and bounces constantly when out so I am afraid he may split it open again if I take him out too soom

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tooearlytobeup · 13/11/2012 20:09

Oops too soon.

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RedwingWinter · 13/11/2012 20:12

What did your vet advise you? When our dog had a cut paw, we were told we could only walk him on grass for a week (no hard surfaces). Actually for the first few days we couldn't really walk him - just had to let him limp around a bit on the lawn. He would set off at top speed, then come to a sudden halt and look sorry for himself.

I hope he's better soon.

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tooearlytobeup · 13/11/2012 20:26

I haven't taken him to the vet. Happy to do so if he needs it but to be honest I dont think it does. The cut itself is more like a slice so clean edges and is not open iyswim. Doesnt need stitches and hes fine with me checking and bathing it. No sign of infection at all. I was thinking to stick to off lead walks on grass for a week or two when we do go out and not take his ball to reduce the running but wasnt sure how long I should leave it before doing that. Thank you for answering Smile

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RedwingWinter · 13/11/2012 21:20

That's good. When ours hurt his paw, it was pretty obvious he had to go to the vet; it sounds like yours isn't so bad then. Keep him on the grass for a bit, and keep an eye on him. Hope he heals up nice and quick!

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pimmsgalore · 14/11/2012 08:14

When mine cut his paw he had a week of grass walk only then we used paw protector cream and let him walk on hard surfaces. His was a slice and looked ok but 2 days later we were at the vets he had a thorn in his pad and walking on it caused the thorn to come out the other side of his pad (giving him 2 cuts). He had antibiotics and the vet suggested the paw cream just as a precaution. He is mad and likes to charge through undergrowth so vet thought it could easily happen again

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tooearlytobeup · 14/11/2012 09:13

Oh no! That sounds awful. Can you buy the protector cream in a pet shop or is it vet only? I think that would be a good idea for my dog.

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shoutymcshoutsmum · 14/11/2012 10:38

We got told no walking on gravel as that would exacerbate it. Admittedly though pup was also given stitches by the vet and we were told to keep him on the lead for a few days.

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pimmsgalore · 14/11/2012 13:23

I got the paw protector cream from the dreaded pets at home Blush but vet said that was the cheapest, quickest method of getting some. I still use it now every now and then as he gets quite rough pads, which scratch when he jumps up (working on the not jumping up still) and it really softens his pads nicely. We do walk on a lot of chalk and sandstone paths so he does rough his feet up a lot

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wildfig · 14/11/2012 14:03

Clearly I am a soft touch for both my dog and my vet. Blush My dog got a deep cut on her front pad while out walking (blood everywhere when I got her home) and I rushed her in to be bandaged up and antiobioticed. She had a comedy bandage on for about four days until it healed. She doesn't mind a leave-off games though, and being quite a big dog, there was a fair bit of weight going onto the cut...

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tooearlytobeup · 14/11/2012 15:06

Thanks Pimms will head there now. I seem to be there all the time anyway.

Wildfig I took our guinea pig to an emergency vet appointment last year in tears as she had a bald patch and I thought she was going to die. Apparently medical googling is as bad for pets as it is for humans Blush It was mites. I'm a soft touch too

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Incapinka · 14/11/2012 15:11

My lurcher always self harms her paws when she goes off chasing something she shouldn't. Sometimes they have been pretty bad and she hobbles about and I let her dictate what she wants to do. As in off the lead and out to the field behind the house. She soon makes it clear when she is up for more which is usually about a week. After a few days there is usually a big improvement. Haven't taken her to the vet yet for this but do keep it clean with salt water and lots of fresh air to let it heal over. Good luck!

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