by Felix + Fetch
Health
Did you know your dog's paw is made up of 5 key components: claws, digital pads, metacarpal front and rear, dewclaw and carpal pads. Dog’s paws do so much more than provide padding for walking… they help regulate their entire body’s temperature, protect them from various terrains, and provide essential stability. So, lets break down how to care for your pet's paws.
If you let your dog’s nails grow too long, this can affect the way their weight is distributed, the way they walk, and cause discomfort. This can put unnecessary stress on their joints and skew the alignment of the skeleton. Ideally a dog's nails should be trimmed every 6-8 weeks, however if your dog walks frequently on concrete, concrete acts as an all natural nail file and will decrease how often you need to trim their nails.
Walking on bitter cold or blistering hot surfaces without proper protection can damage your pets paws. Consider purchasing dog shoes for your pet or limit time on these extreme surfaces and be sure to check your pet's paws upon returning home for any debris or cracking.
If you notice your dog repeatedly licking or chewing their paws, it could be a sign of an injury or irritant. This can also be very dangerous after cold weather due to chemicals that are put down to help with snow. If you find your pup excessively licking, wipe their paws down with an anti bacterial hydrogel or warm cloth. If the licking or chewing continues, contact your veterinarian for further treatment advice.
The hair between the pads on your pet’s paws can get matted and painful, so make sure to brush it out and keep it trimmed to the same height as their paw pads. A good rule of thumb is to do this the same time you trim their nails to make sure everything is balanced and even.
Not only will your pet love you for giving their paws a special spa day, but they’ll also feel better because moisturized paws are softer and less prone to injury or cracking. Massaging will help improve circulation to the paws as well. Try rubbing gently between paw pads and in a circular motion with your thumb on the back of the paw.
Our go-to remedy for healing and soothing dry, itchy skin is the perfect paw care component! This all-natural formula is crafted from soothing oils and rich butters that help bring moisture back to your bestie's snout and paws. It helps