Feb 07 2009
Cracked paw pads and how to heal them
Cracked paw pads are a fairly common occurrence in dogs. in most cases, the problem is just due to excessive walking on rough surfaces and is not severe enough to warrant a vet visit (bleeding, deep cracks and real pain are indeed signs a vet visit is needed for this).
I would start treating at home by soaking the paws in a chlorhexidine or betadine (iodine) solution diluted 1 part to 10 parts water. This will help soothe the pads and disinfect any debris which has entered. Pat gently dry and when completely dry, there is a product you can find in most pet supply stores and pet stores called bag balm which is used for exactly this purpose of cracked, ripped, torn, and raw pads. It was first used on farm animal hooves but worked so well on dog pads it is used widely for this purpose now. I’ve included a link here for you to see what it looks like:
If you can’t get this right away, Vaseline will be helpful, but bag balm is thicker and will work faster for this. I would definitely apply some booties to your dog’s feet for walks and keep your dog rested as much as possible the next few days and off his/ her feet as much as possible for best healing if this cracking was severe. If needed for any ‘painful’ walking, you could always apply a soft, loose padded bandage to the foot just for outdoor walks, but take off when not walking so the foot doesn’t swell.
Christine, LVT
It is interesting to know that cracked paws are common. In the 30 years I have had dogs, not one of them has suffered with cracked paws. The bagbalm is a common remedy for all kinds of skin conditions in animals and humans. I have used the stuff for years for my own chapped hands.