Labrador Retriever Care: Paws
One aspect of labrador retriever care that needs regular attention is the feet and paws. Like most large dogs your lab will want to be outdoors a lot of the time and at any opportunity the dog will be into thick brush and bushes where he can pick up thorns, cuts, burrs or small stones in the pad of his paw. So the pads need checking after most long walks. It is important to instill this as a daily routine when the dog is young, otherwise you will have difficulty when there are any foot problems because the adult dog will not like having his paws inspected if he is not used to it.
You can probably easily remove most foreign objects from the pad and paw using sterilized tweezers. Clean the area with a mild antiseptic afterward, and if there is a cut or abrasion, limit him to shorter walks until it has healed so that he does not pick up an infection.
If a thorn or other small irritant remains unnoticed in the paw, it may become infected and painful. If you see that the dog is limping, this could be the cause. Look also for cuts. If there is no sign of a cut and no swelling or redness but the limp continues, you should check with your veterinarian as your dog may have injured a bone or tendon in the foot.
Pain and sudden limping while you are out walking may be caused by an insect bite or sting. In this case take the dog home and apply ice to minimize swelling. The pain will soon pass but if the dog stepped on the insect he may not be able to use that foot normally for a few days. When treating stings, watch for any breathing difficulties as this can be the first sign of an allergic reaction.
You will not normally need to trim your dog's nails if he is active and getting plenty of runs. Hard and rough ground will keep them short. However if the nails grow too long they can affect the way the dog walks, causing possible problems in the joints. So when dogs are less active due to old age or health problems they may need to have their nails cut occasionally.
You can buy dog nail clippers online or at a pet shop or grooming parlor. There are different sizes for different sized dogs and you will want a medium or large size. Having his nails trimmed is painless for the dog just as it is for us, if it is done correctly. However you do need to get it right so it is a good idea to have the veterinarian or parlor show you how to do it the first time. If you cut the nails too short there may be bleeding. Apply pressure with a cotton swab for a couple minutes to stop the bleeding and then treat with a mild antiseptic.
If you live in a colder area you should take care in winter because the dog's paws can be damaged by the chemicals used to melt snow on the sidewalks and roads. If this is allowed to remain it can cause acid burns to the dog's pads. He may try to lick it off in response to the pain and of course this makes the situation worse as he gets it on his mouth and possibly into his digestive system. So wash his paws thoroughly with warm water as soon as you reach home. Then apply petroleum jelly to soothe and protect the paws. If these chemicals are a regular problem in your area you can buy a protective cream that you can apply before you take the dog out.
Giving regular attention to his paws as part of your labrador retriever care routine will keep your dog's feet healthy and prevent most common problems.
You can probably easily remove most foreign objects from the pad and paw using sterilized tweezers. Clean the area with a mild antiseptic afterward, and if there is a cut or abrasion, limit him to shorter walks until it has healed so that he does not pick up an infection.
If a thorn or other small irritant remains unnoticed in the paw, it may become infected and painful. If you see that the dog is limping, this could be the cause. Look also for cuts. If there is no sign of a cut and no swelling or redness but the limp continues, you should check with your veterinarian as your dog may have injured a bone or tendon in the foot.
Pain and sudden limping while you are out walking may be caused by an insect bite or sting. In this case take the dog home and apply ice to minimize swelling. The pain will soon pass but if the dog stepped on the insect he may not be able to use that foot normally for a few days. When treating stings, watch for any breathing difficulties as this can be the first sign of an allergic reaction.
You will not normally need to trim your dog's nails if he is active and getting plenty of runs. Hard and rough ground will keep them short. However if the nails grow too long they can affect the way the dog walks, causing possible problems in the joints. So when dogs are less active due to old age or health problems they may need to have their nails cut occasionally.
You can buy dog nail clippers online or at a pet shop or grooming parlor. There are different sizes for different sized dogs and you will want a medium or large size. Having his nails trimmed is painless for the dog just as it is for us, if it is done correctly. However you do need to get it right so it is a good idea to have the veterinarian or parlor show you how to do it the first time. If you cut the nails too short there may be bleeding. Apply pressure with a cotton swab for a couple minutes to stop the bleeding and then treat with a mild antiseptic.
If you live in a colder area you should take care in winter because the dog's paws can be damaged by the chemicals used to melt snow on the sidewalks and roads. If this is allowed to remain it can cause acid burns to the dog's pads. He may try to lick it off in response to the pain and of course this makes the situation worse as he gets it on his mouth and possibly into his digestive system. So wash his paws thoroughly with warm water as soon as you reach home. Then apply petroleum jelly to soothe and protect the paws. If these chemicals are a regular problem in your area you can buy a protective cream that you can apply before you take the dog out.
Giving regular attention to his paws as part of your labrador retriever care routine will keep your dog's feet healthy and prevent most common problems.
posted by Margaret at 9:52 AM
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