A dog's paw pad, when broken, usually cannot heal on its own and requires careful treatment. Generally, it takes about a week to recover. When dogs walk, their paw pads are constantly in contact with the ground, which can lead to the broken area becoming infected with bacteria, thus hindering wound healing. Therefore, upon discovering a wound on a dog's paw pad, you should clean and disinfect it. If there are any foreign objects, they should be removed promptly. Additionally, have your dog wear an Elizabethan collar to prevent licking, which can cause infection and delay healing.
What to Do When a Dog's Paw Pad is Broken
1. After discovering that your dog's paw pad is broken, pet owners should first put a collar on them to prevent them from not cooperating with wound treatment due to pain or from licking the wound. Next, appropriately trim the hair around the wound to prevent bacteria on the hair from infecting the wound and to facilitate wound treatment. Then, clean the dog's wound with saline, carefully checking for foreign objects within the paw pad, and removing any if found. Afterward, apply hydrogen peroxide or povidone-iodine to the wound for simple disinfection.
2. Once the wound is cleaned, to prevent the dog from moving around, have someone hold it steady. Then, sprinkle pet-specific wound powder on the surface of the wound, cover it with some cotton pads, and finally, use clean gauze to wrap it up, protecting the wound.
3. Keep the wound dry and clean, prevent the dog from licking and scratching the wound, and avoid letting it stay in a damp bathroom or outdoors on rainy days to prevent the wound from getting wet and infected. During this time, avoid strenuous exercise for the dog to prevent the wound from tearing and increasing the difficulty of healing.
4. Supplement your dog's nutrition. Pet owners can prepare some low-salt, nutritious, and delicious food, such as rib soup, fish, beef, and fruit puree. You can also directly feed the dog some nutritional pastes or canned food to accelerate the healing of the wound. Adequate nutrition is key to faster recovery.