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hurt paw

My brother took my dog for a 6 mile hike on Friday and she seemed fine during the hike, according to him, though after she got home she began limping badly. I looked at her paws and the right paw has a worn, reddish area that seemed to have a lot of friction on that spot. On her left paw, the main pad is split right open. The best way I can think to describe it is like when you get a blister and it pops open, it has that extra skin just hanging there, well it looks like that. My poor dog is in quite the amount of pain walking on it. I've put neosporin on it and wrapped her left paw with gauze and medical tape to try to help it heel. I really don't know what else I can do for her. I've been trying to put on her booties we bought for her, but they don't stay on well at all(she's part basset hound and has those weird front feet) and she also hates the booties, so she'll chew at them and try to take them off herself. Is there something else I can do or should do for her? She's definitely not going on any walks/hikes any time soon and she won't be going on any long distance walks/hikes either. I hate seeing her hurting. Suggestions?
Best Answer
974371 tn?1424653129
Sorry to hear about your dog.  Is the dog used to hiking regularly?  Sounds like she has some sore feet going on there.  You can wash the feet with an antibacterial wash and dry thoroughly.  You can get some bag balm and put in on the sore spots on the pad.  You can add some extra gauze against the bottom of the foot for extra protection/padding.  Do you, by chance, have any baby socks?  If not, you can pick up a couple of cheap ones.  Put those on the dogs feet (or bandages) and use some Vet Wrap (you can buy that at PetSmart, etc.  to keep her from licking the salve off.  In a pinch, you can use Vasaline.  Dogs, especially when they are unattended or when you are asleep, will work a bandage off.  If you don't have an E-collar, you might try taping the top of the bandage (and you need to go up part of the leg with it) with surgical tape.  Sometimes dabbing a little vinegar on top of the tape will deter them from chewing on it.  In a pinch, you can always try petroleum jelly.  IF that wrapping stays on, it will need to be kept dry and changed every day or two because dogs do sweat through their pads and it will become damp.  As for the split, that may need to be seen by a Vet and, depending on how deep it is, may need to be stitched.  Important thing is to keep it clean so it won't become infected.
Sorry, hard to explain some of these things in writing.  
And, let the dog rest. This may take a week or two to heal.
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974371 tn?1424653129
Great news!!!  Tell you brother to find a new hiking partner.  LOL   (wink)
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Avatar universal
Nope, never I ended up taking her. Her paw has healed up nicely. I looked at it again today and the loose skin part has now adhered back to the pad and the more raw/new area is toughening up. It all looks good. Yay!
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974371 tn?1424653129
I take it you didn't go to the Vet? Well, keep doing what you're doing, keeping it clean and dry and covered. Depending on the severity, it can take up to a couple of weeks.
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Avatar universal
Yea, it didn't do a thing. lol. I even tried a small amount of hot sauce, didn't work either. She'll lick and chew away.

The extra "skin" (don't know how to describe it) from the broken open pad fell off last night and she seems to feel a bit better today, actually wagging her tail again. Though it still has some parts of the pad that are hanging there, more extra "skin" that is still attached from her "blister" on the big pad of her paw. I don't know if that is going to heal and attach back or if that may fall off as well. I have her paw wrapped again, though I know she'll tear it off tonight when I go to bed. Do you know how long it normally takes for the pad to heal?  
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974371 tn?1424653129
Vinegar didn't work, huh?  LOL!!!!
Well, keep it cleaned and dry and use the petroleum jelly or bag balm.  You may have to buy an E-collar for her if she won't leave it alone when you can't watch her.
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Avatar universal
Thanks. She's just been lying around the last couple days. I'm hoping it can heal up well. She normally does not go on super long hikes, but she's a hyper 3 year old, so he thought it would be good to get her energy out. Though it back fired now that she's been hurting with her paws. I don't think baby socks would fit her large paws. She is a Beagle and Basset Hound mix. Her front paws are the typical basset feet, outward turned and large in size. Right now she has the paw wrapped and I put her bootie over the wrapping, hoping she'll leave it alone, though I have a feeling it will all be off by morning. I had tried using vinegar before to deter her from chewing, but she just makes a weird face and continues to chew. She can be one stubborn little dog. I know that if her paw isn't looking any better in a few days, I'll take her in to see the vet. Just hoping it will begin to get better, if she'll just leave her paws alone.
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