My dog has a problem....help!

Hello All,

Thank you for opening this thread. I have recently made my dog a flirt pole and today was the FIRST day we used it. I saw on here, in the archives how to make one. 10' pvc, rope, etc. So, I made one and attached Jake's favorite toy to the end. (One of the screaming monkeys, makes noise, etc)

He and I played w/ it for about 15 minutes in the yard and he went FREAKING CRAZY! He loved it.

Jake gets worked quite a lot. Weight pull, bike riding, walking, etc. After we used the flirt pole, we went inside and got a drink and I noticed that his pad (not sure what it is called, but above his foot on the backside) was ripped wide open!! Red, not bleeding, but very red and the outer skin was ripped off.

I know he'll have to take it easy for a week or so, let them heal, but in the meantime anyone know of stuff I can put on it or use so it heals faster/better/etc?

Triple antibotic cream? Bag baum? Anyone's dog ever ripped their pads like this before?


Any input would be greatly appreciated.


Andrew
(Sorry so long, I am long winded and a fast typer)

 

Pad injuries will happen, and they generally won't let on the pain while driven.

Flush it out, keep it clean and dry, and apply bag balm. It will heal in no time, pads are tough....just don't over do it and work too soon. This is why it's important to never work on hard surfaces like cement and concrete, or in real rocky places.

If it's a yard dog, you may consider kenneling during the day. Housedog-just limit mobility.

 

Thanks 14rock. 57 views and one response. When you're talking about working on cement, that is somewhat tough considering I live in the city. I hand walk and bike ride on the cement w/ my dogs. You think that is too much? If so, I really have no other alternatives.

He is a housedog and he's just chilled the past 18 hours or so. We just went for a walk, only 1.5 miles and he seems to be doing fine. He's already torn off the excess skin that was there.

By the way, do you know what the pad I am talking abouts name is? Is there a special name that it has or is it just a pad, like the ones on the bottom of his feet?


Andrew

 

After he heals up get some pad tough and put that on his feet if youre going to be doing road work on concrete. They sell it at most feed stores...

 

Pad Tough. Is that the name brand or just the name of what I should buy. Petsmart, Petco, Tractor Supply Company, would it be at those places?

Andrew

 

try not to work on hard surfaces too much, they are bad for the joints and the pads for the dog, if you are in the city and have backyard, handwalking your dog would be the best exercise, but if you can afford a mill than that is a good option.

 

the tractor supply will be the best place for you to look. you should also get a spray bottle with some iodine and perocide to keep it clean

 

Jeffers pet, or most any vet suppliers sell pad toughners as well.

"Pad Kote" "Tough Feet", mushers formula, very familiar product for working dogs

 

Thanks everyone. I did not know such a thing existed. I do have a mill, just recently. As I recently made a flirt pole. That is going to give him SO much exercise. I think his pads got hurt because there is NO RAIN in Michigan. I was at my parent's house and their grass is so hard and stiff. I think all the stopping and starting on that did it. I have a sprinkler system, so my grass is like a golf course. I'll try it out here, once he's healed.

I know about being on the concrete. The food that I give him has glucosamin and chondroitin (I think that is what they're called) in the food. I hope that helps.

There are some dirt roads around, but I think that would be just as hard because of all the rocks and whatnot that are made up in dirt roads.

Thanks everyone!

Andrew

 

You should use peroxide as a initial cleaning ONLY. Do not keep using peroxide on any wound because peroxide will dissolve new tissue. If you have to keep putting something on a wound use rubbing alcohol, any antibiotic creme or iodine but DO NOT keep using peroxide.

 

i agree on the pad kote:
http://www.beebarb.com/productnumber194.htm
and as far as the glucosamine and chondroitin in his food, adding these will actually help in cartilage formation=the glucosamine, (a form of amino sugar) and the chondroitin, which will give the cartilage its elasticity, hence used to basically help with dogs who are dealing with arthritic/stiff joint issues, but i've heard and read they do help with tissue repair, as well. so adding it, imo, can't hurt. (some info)~
http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/arsupp_W.html

 

Suki,

Thanks for the post. Should I add some "extra" gluc/chon or should I just stick with what is already in his food? I know WWII sells something like that on his website. Below is what it says about the gluc/chon on the back of the bag. I am not sure if that is enough or if some 'extra' needs to be added. What do you, Suki, or anyone else think?


<TABLE class=listTable><TBODY><TR class=light_row><TD>Glucosamine Hydrochloride *</TD><TD>not less than 750 mg/kg</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=dark_row><TD>Chondroitin Sulfate *</TD><TD>not less than 250 mg/kg</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

These are the 15th and 18th things listed on the ingredients list, just incase you wanted to know that as well.

Andrew

 

unless your vet specifically specified that you add additional supplements, then i wonder why the need then? how old is he? (sorry if that's in here and i missed it)...

 

The Trac/Supply here doesnt carry pad tough. I dont know how many feed stores you have in Michigan but thats where I found it here in FLA. ps, dont where good shoes when applying the tough. You'll look like youve been stomping smurfs.

 

I use fura-zone mixed with dmso to like a slick paste. Use surgical gloves as the fura is a carcenagene to humans, and apply with a paint brush.
Concrete is okay if the dogs pads are built up, I actually like concrete as the pounding makes the bones get stronger. Learned that from being around race horses. To get a horses bones stronger in their legs, they will lope them on concrete.

 

Suki,

He is 4.5 years old. I just wondered if it needed to be added because of all the cement/concrete work that I have to do, considering I live in town. I do make it to my parent's house 2-3 days per week, but we use that time for weight pulling on the cart. The vet has not said he needed it. However, sometimes while getting into the car, on the bed, couch, etc, I do hear his joints pop and crackle, just like ours do on occasion.


Thanks,
Andrew

Gamebred: I am going to purchase some of it online, most likely. I go to the vet tomorrow, for my other dog's shots and stuff. I will see if they have it there, if not, i'll probably go online to find something like that.

Purplepig: Thanks for the post as well. Concrete work really can strenghten bones and stuff? Huh, didn't know that. It's easy on here to learn a new thing every day.

 

As far as I know that pad up high on their back legs is called the stop pad. That's what we call it anyway! Wallace tears his once in a while when he's chasing, turning, and stopping for the disc. He has sensitive pads anyway so we've gotten used to seeing blood once in a while. We just try to keep it clean and let it rest for a few days. When we had a springpole in the garage we had to put booties on Wallace's feet or it looked like there was a bloody massacre in there. Good luck!

 

Booties? Oh yeah. I wonder if that is something I should consider. Where'd you get them from if I may ask.

Stop pad. That makes perfect sense.

Andrew

 

Ruffwear makes some nice boots: http://www.ruffwear.com/Products/dog_bootsAlso, dogbooties.com: http://www.dogbooties.com/
There are lots of different kinds out there, just make sure they fit right and don't compress your dog's feet too much.

 

I can't help you with the pad problem, but it seems many have...I do suggest you keep the mill hidden out of sight as much as possible, and keep your flirtpole activity hidden out of sight, since you said you live in a city, and the cops think that those two things are fight trainers, even though, those are not your objective with them. The police tend to be narrow minded on it. Just a heads up.