Schedule a visit with your vet as soon as possible. Healthy dogs should be able to grow new cells easily. But because paw pads are made up of tough keratinized epithelium the healing process can take up to three weeks.
Contain the wound by applying a bandage. Use gauze pads to cushion the bottom of the foot and absorb blood. The gauze padding will also decrease the pain of walking on the foot. To keep gauze in place, wrap the entire foot in a self-sticking product such as Vet Wrap.
Paw pads can take anywhere from 14 to 21 days to heal, but it depends on the wound and the reason for the bleeding. Deeper punctures will take longer to heal than cracked, dry paw pads and may require your dog to take it easy for a few days so as to not put too much pressure on the paw.
The pads of dog feet have specialized skin that does not heal in the same way as normal skin and that may require veterinary evaluation and treatment for moderate to severe injuries and conditions.
It's not an emergency, but you don't want an infection to get going. Cut pads, with just a small slice that isn't bleeding, can be cleaned at home and wrapped to protect them for a few days. Keep the paw dry and keep your dog fairly quiet; no rough play right now.
Control any bleeding- If you notice that the wound is bleeding, it is important to control the bleeding so you can determine if your dog is going to need to see a vet. If the wound does not look large or deep, you will need to hold pressure on it until it stops bleeding.
Scrapes and cuts on your dog's paw pad that are minor can often be managed at home, however, deeper cuts will have to be cared for by a veterinarian. If your dog's cut is deep, ragged, or has debris lodged in it you will need to head to your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary hospital.
Also, walking on an open wound can delay healing, and infection may occur. If this happens, the dog could end up with a bigger problem. If you notice an injury, you should apply first aid and take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Never leave a bandage on for longer than 24 hours unless applied by a Vet. Avoid the bandage getting wet as this will make it tighter and can lead to the wound becoming infected. Avoid taking your dog out in wet conditions.
A paw pad tear is a common injury in dogs. It can occur from stepping on foreign objects like glass, rocks, or metal, and in the winter, ice is often the cause. Along with four toe pads, dogs have a larger pad in the center of their paws, as well as carpal pads on both front legs.
Cleaning / Soaking the Paw
Exposing the wound to air will help it heal faster. If the cut is larger or bleeding, first flush and clean it with antimicrobial liquid. A diluted betadine solution (few drops of betadine in warm water) works well. The best way to flush a wound is to soak the foot for 3-5 minutes.
During the inflammation and proliferation stages, you can encourage faster healing by keeping the wound covered, create a proactive antimicrobial barrier to prevent infection, and keep the wound moist. Do not wrap your dog's wound too tightly. This can restrict blood flow to the area and impede the healing process.
Wherever possible, a wound will be closed and sutured in order to speed healing. However, if there is gross contamination or deep infection present, the wound will be left open for topical treatment and to ensure drainage.
Aquaphor and Vaseline are safe for pets. Aquaphor is a petroleum jelly-like product with extra oomph for superficial stuff like crusty noses, peeling paw pads, and scaly elbows.
Our veterinarians may need to stitch your dog's paw if:
The wound is jagged. It's a clean cut, but it's fairly deep and long. The wound is bleeding a lot, or it won't stop bleeding.
To apply betadine on your dog, gently wipe the wound with a washcloth saturated with the betadine solution. You can do this up to twice a day for minor sores or skin infections. One great thing about Betadine is that it is completely harmless if it's ingested.
realigning the fractured bones and securing them in place with a combination of plates, screws, pins and wires. Depending on the type of surgical repair used, a splint may be needed for four-to-five weeks after surgery. Casting the paw for eight-to-ten weeks after surgery is another option.
This foot soak will encourage healing and drying out the inflamed, moist dermatitis lesions that can occur between the toes. Be sure to rinse well with clean water after the soak; don't leave the salt on the skin.
Add a small squirt of liquid hand soap or dish soap to your dog's paw while rinsing to help kill bacteria. Another good way to clean a cut on your dog's pad is to rinse the wound is with an antiseptic such as diluted chlorhexidine solution.
If boots don't feel right for your best friend, try Vaseline or a paw balm such as Musher's Secret. Before walks, coat the balm on your dog's paws to create a barrier that prevents snow, ice, and salt from getting between your pup's toes. The balm or Vaseline also keeps their paw pads hydrated.
For dogs licking paws, try placing a specially designed paw bandage, or even one of your socks wrapped with adhesive surgical tape, over the irritated paw. Putting a T-shirt on your dog to cover a wound provides loose protection that also lets air reach the spot. You can purchase a recovery suit to protect your dog.
Although relatively safe in humans, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can be extremely harmful to dogs. Poisoning may happen when pets get into the owner's medications. In some cases, owners may administer ibuprofen to treat their pet's pain prior to consulting a veterinarian.