Cut paw pad, advice please

[TigsytheTiger]

My Rhodesiam Ridgeback, Merlin cut his paw pad whilst out on Tuesday just gone, one of the rear pads has quite a deep slice to it. I washed and bandaged it and took him to the vets on Wednesday. She thought it looked like it would heal well as it seem to have stuck itself back in place and re bandaged it and gave a course of antibiotics.

So, we have limited his walks to on the lead, and protected the bandage with a plastic bag and sock when he is out, but he is a very energetic 3 year old who jumps around and yesterday we noticed the bandage has ridden up and the cut has re-opened but not bleeding although still looks raw inside. We did bandage it again but he has wrestled it off overnight.

When the bandage is off he licks it like crazy but I am not sure whether to let him carry on and let the air at it or whether to re bandage and see if the flap reseals again. Any ideas, thoughts please?

[TigsytheTiger]

Sorry that's a rear pad not a near pad!

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I always bandage these for at least 10 days sometimes longer changing the bandage every 4 to 5 days.

[tabulahrasa]

I'd stop him licking it as well - even if that means using a buster collar.

[SilverShadows]

My 13 month old weimaraner recently cut her paw. We had to try to keep her as calm as possible, gentle walks, no playing and absolutely no licking it.

It was hard, I won't lie, but the only way it will heal. We would wash in a salty solution then leave the bandage off when under supervision to let air get to it.

[TigsytheTiger]

How did you walk her, I've ordered some doggy wellies as socks/sandwich bag combo just falls off. It's easier when it's dry but it's been wet the last couple of days!

[EvenBetter]

I have some rubber socks for dogs, they look like balloons. Any other type of fucking dog boot I've ever tried has never stayed on. The rubber ones did. If you're interested I can go and hunt for where they are and find out the name.

[readmylips1]

Our Springer cut his paw on a piece of glass. £500, 3 general anesthetics later and 5 weeks later it healed. It was a nightmare trying to keep it dry.

[GobblersKnob]

I have a whipped who is slightly prone to pad injuries, I have to admit I have never done anything any of them bar bathing them with salt water after a walk and before bed.

They do take a while to heal, but they always do in the end.