Paw Care Guide

There are a few super important things you can do at home to protect your dog's paws.

The most important one is to carry out regular paw checks. Check the condition of your pet's paws. Look for any injuries such as a cut paw pad or any other obvious problems. After every walk (or every visit outside for your cat) lift up all of your pet's paws and examine them. Check for swollen paws, stones, or other bits of debris. Sometimes your pet pal can step on bits of glass or gravel. Remove any pieces that you find carefully or contact your vet if they are deeply embedded. Some owners swear by paw-cleaning rugs which help to shift the dirt and debris off the bottom of their paws when they come back into the house.

Keep nails trimmed. A dog's nails are supposed to be short enough so that they don't touch the ground when they walk. If you hear your dog's nails scratching the ground when they move about, they may need a little mani/pedi treatment! Always take care when trimming your pet's nails as there is a huge blood vessel in the center of the nail that can bleed a lot if cut by accident.

Keep hair between the pads nice and short. This is to prevent mats from developing as this can be super painful for our pet pals. You can brush it to combat the tangles and trim it with scissors to make sure it’s kept short.

Make sure you groom your pet's paws. This is also a great opportunity for you to bond with your pet and have some valued one-on-one time. You can buy dog paw cleaner to wash your dog's paws, which is especially useful after they get muddy on a walk!

Lots of our furry friends really enjoy a little foot massage. You can rub moisturizer or dog paw balm into their trotters. This helps to soften up the pads and prevents cracking and fissure formation. It can also improve circulation to the feet. Some pets absolutely love this special spa day while others won't tolerate it, so go along with what your pet is comfortable with.

Puppies are very energetic and use their paws to scamper about and explore their environment. Puppy's nails can be super sharp so it’s important to keep your puppy's nails short so that they can't scratch themselves, or anyone else.

It’s a very good idea to start handling your pup's paws as soon as you bring them home so they become familiar with them being touched. This way, if your vet needs to examine them, they will be used to having them handled and will allow an examination.

It’s very important to be extra careful when walking your pup in extreme temperatures. If the surface they’re walking on is too hot or too cold, this will cause unnecessary trauma to their paws.

Kittens tread across a variety of different things in our homes. They step in and out of their litter tray and often play in it too. It's not uncommon to find bits of litter stuck between their paw pads.

They also will walk across rough terrain outside such as stone and gravel. There are sharp objects they may step on such as thorns and pieces of broken glass. Kittens that go outside will also potentially walk through harsh chemicals such as de-icing agents used on cars. Therefore, it is super important that we give their little kitty paws a thorough inspection when they come in to clean them. Kittens are very inquisitive and use their paws to explore their environment. It is important they are kept in tip-top condition to allow them to carry on doing what they love! It’s also beneficial to both you and your furry friend if you start to handle their kitty paws from a very early age. This way, the same as for pups, they’ll be used to being touched and having their paws examined. This means they are more inclined to let us vets handle them should there ever be a problem.

There’s a lot of wear and tear on older dog's paws as they age. Older dogs are not as active as younger pups so their nails are prone to overgrowing if you don't keep a close eye on them. As they age, their pads become thinner and dryer. This makes them more prone to cracking and drying out. It’s really important to moisturize older dog's paws or use a dog paw balm.

Some older dogs benefit from dog paw protectors which can be worn over their paws to protect their sensitive feet from rough terrain.

Keep your elderly dog's hair short around the paw as longer hair can attract debris. In the winter longer hair can collect ice balls which are super painful and can cause great discomfort between the toes.

 

Older cats can often sustain bites and cuts from being out and about fighting with other cats in their neighborhood. When inspecting your cat's paws, if there are any cuts or grazes you can bathe them with saline water or an antibacterial wash. If you think your cat has been injured or has a deep cut or even an abscess, or if they have a swollen paw, it’s important to take them to your vet to get checked out as these things can turn nasty.

Be aware that older cats may not be able to clean themselves as well due to creaky joints from arthritis or other mobility issues. If this is the case, you may have to step in and help your cat by grooming their paws (and the rest of their coat) and brushing them daily. It is super important to keep their claws nice and short as they are likely to be less active if they are older, so won't be wearing them down as well as a younger, more active cat.

We need to look after our pet’s paws just as we would our own hands and feet. Pets can get all sorts of issues with their paws if they are not looked after properly. Always check your pet’s paws regularly and if you have any concerns, do not hesitate to contact your vet to arrange a check-up!