Just taken our 13 week old spaniel pup for a walk...

[BettySweaty]

We walked a bit in path/Road then into the fields. It's our usual route. She's been running about far more but has been chewing her back paws since we got back and can't settle.

We assumed there was some irritant on her paws, nettles / grit/ ice??? I've bathed her to see if that would help, she was fine in the bath but did get nibbly again. She's just nodding a bit now, she's shattered, but isn't settling as she usually does.

Just looking for a bit of advice really, bit concerned ....

Bathe it again, have you got any sudocrem? Spaniels are notorious for grass seed injuries so check between each of her toes to make sure there is nothing sticking in there.

Ah, right...thanks bloodywhitecat.

She will probably lick the sudocrem off though! But worth a try... Its OK for a pup?

I would get some paw balm and put it on next time before your walk

The grit/salt really irritates some (I noticed our spaniel was chewing at his paws and he had slightly cracked paw pads - a few days of balm and he's a lot happier).

I got one that was safe for licking as ours is still a pup too

Is she getting long fur between her toes as that can irritate them when they walk too especially if that fur freezes a bit

Did you go near any farm land where she might have trodden in manure? Our last dog seemed to be allergic to it and we'd have to bathe her paws and give her piriton if she trod in any.

Yes, yearinyearout one of the fields has cows on it from time to time...

She's managed to go to sleep now, thank goodness!! I've just found some paw balm, ill try that on her when she wakes up.

Her fur doesn't seem particularly long between her pads...

Always wash paws after a walk. Could someone have thrown salt down?

It's likely salt on the oaths - you'll need to wash her paws when she gets in from walks - licking salt can damage kidneys

There's salt and grit, been really icy and we are on a gritting route.

She seems a bit more settled now. Very strange all of that. I will start washing her paws.

Keep the fur between the paw pads short. I use Mushers secret on my dogs paw pads before he goes for a walk in snowy/icy weather. It helps with the grit and gives him grip on the ice.

we have a spaniel who is generally tough as old boots, and we do lots of walks, so his pads are pretty tough.

About 3 weeks ago he went out with my dh to a new place, a field/common land, rough growth /grass. He was reluctant to cross, and went round the edge.

When he got home he was scrapping his feet on the carpet and chewing his feet, veyr unsettled and obviously not happy.
I washed them in warm water, which seemed to help, but he still fussed for about another hour until he fell asleep, then was fine.

We have no idea what it was, but think it might have been a plant which was an irritant. We won't go back to that field in a hurry.

Heads up - new nettle growth in the spring stings their feet, he avoids the undergrowth for a few weeks each spring.
I don;t usually wash him when we get in, unless he is covered in mud, then he gets hosed!

Steppe mum, that sounds exactly like the problem we had. I've got some paw balm and we've stayed out of that field since!