Dogs paws and Autumn

In the UK we are now in Autumn time and weather changes occur.  Usually wet and dampness.  Dogs paws can be continually wet if they are running on grass.  Mud can even flair up skin conditions.  Sometimes we get frosts and councils put salt down on pathways and our dogs paws come into contact with them.  So its time to think about paw health. 

Buy yourself a mud daddy, they are brilliant and I fill mine with warm water and keep by the back door or I take out in the car. I also have one in the caravan.  When we get back I wash down the paws to get rid of salt from pathways, or mud.  I then dry with a towel and send the dogs to bed to dry off. 

To keep paws in a good health you can buy paw balm which helps keep the pads moisturised. Paw wax can even protect paws outside.  You can also buy from www.groomersonline.co.uk fizzing tablets which you drop into water, and place the paw in.  It conditions the paw. Some have tea tree oil in which helps with bacteria. 

You can purchase dog boots if weather is bad, or your dog has reactions to mud.  Or you can buy now little rubber boots which stretch over the paws for £19.99 from pet shops. 

I keep in my first aid box skin glue which can be used if your dogs out and rips a bit of fur.  You can even glue nails together.  

Epsom salts are a life saver for dogs paws.  Some dogs get interdigital cysts and if you get some hand hot water and dissolve the salts, then when water is Luke warm place the paw in it.  Swill it around and it helps the sores on the feet.  This also works well for pad injuries. 

Trim your dogs nails so they are not too short, but not long either.  Their is a current trend to shorten the nail so much that the dog can not use the nails to grip on surfaces.  Yes they need to be trimmed but not to the point of stubs. 

Check nails daily as their are more injuries to nails in the Autumn time only because dogs skid in wet grass then come across a stone.