Skin-care products are a hot-selling ticket item these days. Numerous brands, types, and benefits exist for any skin type imaginable. It’s always a treat to find a new skin-care product that soothes dry skin and smells and feels good. But what about your dog?
Your dog has a nice, furry coat, so you might not think about the underlying skin. Dogs don’t normally apply lotion after a bath, after all. But dogs can get dry skin as well. Their paws especially can get dry and cracked.
Paw care for dogs is important, and there are ways to ensure your dog’s feet are just as healthy as your own.
Why Does Your Dog Need Paw Care?
Paw pads on dogs are made for walking over all types of surfaces, so it’s easy to think that paw care shouldn’t be necessary. After all, they are built for living in the wild, so why would their paws need care?
The truth is, while paw pads can build up calluses and get tougher over time, they can also get damaged and injured. Paw pads are an important part of your pup’s daily life because they:
- Protect the bones in the paws
- Provide traction and stability
- Necessary for dogs to live a happy life
Healthy paws on dogs should be smooth to the touch and free of any cuts or scrapes. If your dog has rough, cracked, dry paws, this is not healthy for your dog. Dry, cracked paw pads can lead to excessive licking, which can lead to infection.
Can My Dog’s Paws Indicate Other Issues?
Your dog’s paws can also be an indicator of overall health. According to veterinarian Dr. Donna Raditic, the cells in a dog’s paws have a high turnover rate. Since they require a lot of nutrition and blood supply, other health issues can show up in the paws first.
When Should I Be Concerned?
If you moisturize your dog’s paws on a regular basis but they still don’t improve, make an appointment with your vet. There are certain types of issues, like liver diseases, skin issues and metabolic problems that could be at the root of the paw problem.
What Causes Rough Paws on Dogs?
An underlying medical issue could be the problem behind dry, cracked doggie feet. However, most of the time, it’s caused by one of four things:
Hot pavement: Asphalt and concrete can cause blisters on your dog’s paws. Sand and salt water can also damage paw pads. Walk your dog during cooler hours of the day and avoid mid-afternoon beach runs.
Wintery conditions: Dry air in the winter can cause your dog’s paws or nose to dry out. Also, walking on ice, salt, or snow can cause issues with your dog’s paws. Moisturize your dog’s paws regularly in winter, and let them wear booties outside.
Exposure to chemicals: De-icing products on sidewalks and roads can be harmful to your dog. As can fertilizers and pesticides in the summer. They can damage your dog’s paws, and also poison your dog if ingested.
Allergies: Environmental or food allergies can cause dry and cracked paws, just like allergic reactions in people. This can lead your dog to excessively lick and chew on their paws, which damages them even more.
What Is Safe to Use on Dog Paws?
It’s easy to say a pet owner should be sure to keep their dog’s paws moisturized. However, dogs chew and lick, some more than others. Anything applied to their paws may not stay on long and if your dog licks it off, it could harm them. Neosporin and lotions for people are not recommended. They can make your dog sick if they ingest them.
Here are some doggie-friendly paw care ideas:
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil gets the top spot for doggie moisturizers. It has anti-inflammatory properties, and can even be added to your dog’s food. So, ingesting coconut oil won’t harm your dog and will actually benefit them. Be sure to apply it to cold paws only. If you apply coconut oil to warm paws, the oil will melt and end up a sticky mess.
Organic Paw Balm
Look for products made especially for dogs at your local pet store or online. There are products like Paw Soother that are safe for dogs to lick.
All-Natural Moisturizer
Moisturizers that contain only natural ingredients, like olive oil, Aloe Vera, and Vitamin E oil, are safe to use on your dog. Be sure to check the list of ingredients on anything you use. Make sure it’s pure and doesn’t contain any additives that are harmful to your dog.
Final Thoughts
It may be difficult to keep any moisturizer on your dog’s paws long enough to be effective. Try to distract your dog for a while after applying to give the moisturizer time to work.
You can give your dog a new chew-toy, long-lasting treat, or bone to distract them. You can also have some special cuddle time while watching your pup’s favorite show. Just remember to check your dog’s paws regularly to ensure they’re always in the best of health!